How do you keep your hardware drivers and firmware current?

1 Why update drivers and firmware?

Updating your drivers and firmware can improve the functionality, stability, and speed of your hardware devices. For example, updating your graphics driver can enhance your gaming experience, fix bugs, and support new features. Updating your firmware can resolve issues, add new options, and protect your devices from vulnerabilities. Moreover, updating your drivers and firmware can prevent compatibility problems with your operating system, other hardware devices, or software applications.

2 How to check drivers and firmware versions?

Before you update your drivers and firmware, you need to check their current versions. This will help you determine if you need to update them or not, and avoid installing incompatible or outdated versions. To check your driver versions, you can use the Device Manager in Windows, which lists all your hardware devices and their driver details. To access the Device Manager, you can right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager, or type devmgmt.msc in the Run box. To check your firmware versions, you can use the BIOS or UEFI settings in your computer, which are the low-level software that control your hardware settings. To access the BIOS or UEFI settings, you can press a specific key (such as F2, F10, or Del) during the boot process, or use the Windows Settings app.

3 How to update drivers?

There are different ways to update your drivers, depending on your preference and convenience. One way is to use the Windows Update feature, which automatically downloads and installs the latest drivers for your hardware devices. To use the Windows Update feature, you can go to the Settings app, click on Update & Security, and then click on Check for updates. Another way is to use the manufacturer's website, which provides the official and updated drivers for your specific hardware devices. To use the manufacturer's website, you need to know the model and serial number of your device, and then search for the corresponding driver on the website. You can then download and install the driver manually. A third way is to use a third-party software tool, which scans your computer and detects the outdated or missing drivers. To use a third-party software tool, you need to download and install the tool, and then follow its instructions to update your drivers.

4 How to update firmware?

Similar to updating drivers, there are different ways to update your firmware, depending on your preference and convenience. One way is to use the Windows Update feature, which sometimes includes firmware updates for your hardware devices. To use the Windows Update feature, you can follow the same steps as mentioned above. Another way is to use the manufacturer's website, which provides the official and updated firmware for your specific hardware devices. To use the manufacturer's website, you need to know the model and serial number of your device, and then search for the corresponding firmware on the website. You can then download and install the firmware manually. A third way is to use a built-in updater tool, which is available for some hardware devices, such as routers or printers. To use a built-in updater tool, you need to access the device's web interface or control panel, and then look for the firmware update option.

5 What to do before and after updating drivers and firmware?

Updating your drivers and firmware can be a simple and smooth process, but it can also cause some issues or risks if not done properly. Therefore, it is important to take some precautions before and after updating your drivers and firmware. Before updating, you should back up your important data, create a system restore point, and close all your running programs. These steps will help you avoid data loss, system damage, or interference. After updating, you should restart your computer, check the functionality of your hardware devices, and test the performance of your system. These steps will help you confirm the successful installation, resolve any errors, and optimize your system.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?