Driver Scans

[macnext1]

I've seen sites that want to do a driver scan on your PC. Are any of them legit or are they scams? My Dell laptop had an error yesterday and one of the possibles mentioned was outdated drivers. So I wanted to do a check for drivers but didn't know where I could go to get it done.

Mac

[Evan]

I personally don't ever use any online driver scans.  I've used a program called Driver Magician in the past but normally I just check for updated drivers periodically.

Since you are talking about a Dell then you easily look at their site and use your service tag (located on the bottom on the outer case of the computer) to find specific drivers.   

Do you happen to know what driver might be causing trouble?  Or rather...what specifically was the error that you had?

Evan

[macnext1]

We didn't take any notes so I don't have specific error information. MS has a bunch of optional HW and SW updates so I am installing a few at a time. We'll see.

Mac

[Evan]

If MS has a hardware (driver) update then I recommend you just go to the manufacturer's website and download the driver from them.  Often times you will find a newer one and it is more reliable than using Microsoft Update. 

Evan

[macnext1]

Before I got around to reading your post I had already started the process of installing optional updates from MS. I've installed several (one or two per day) that seemed relevant to my system and some I wasn't sure applied to me but seemed safe enough. Today though I installed one on the Gateway and now I can't get on the internet and not sure where to start to troubleshoot. My connection is Ethernet to Trendnet and then from Trendnet to DSL. All other systems are working fine -- just the Gateway and I'm sure I have shot myself in the foot. Where to begin?

[Evan]

Do you know specifically what update you applied? 

If it was for a driver (I am assuming your network card) then just go to device manager and find your network card and look at the properties of the card and you will see a "driver" tab.  Go there and rollback the driver and that will put the card back how it was before you updated it.   

If it wasn't a specific driver or you don't know then you can use System Restore (if you have it enabled) to put your system's updates back to their previous state. 

Let me know what you try or if you need to do something else.

Evan

[macnext1]

It was (according to MS) a hardware change. I assumed that really meant microcode on the network card. Is that a correct assumption or is it really a large code change that is billed as hardware? Anyway because I guessed it was microcode I also guessed that a system restore to yesterday would not roll it back so I didn't try that. If it had been called a software change I would have done that right away. Bad guess on my part? If you think a system restore will fix it I'll do that, it's easy.

Driver rollback; implies that somewhere they have kept the old driver. I didn't know that (if so it is cool). So next is the -- how do I find the device manager? I know I have gone there before but can't remeber how to find it. As to the specific change - no of course I don't remember, I just know that I had installed 2 other hardware changes to same thing(one a day past two days). First one caused some headache with the monitor that I figured out how to fix, second one was no problem. Third one bit me.

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? Ours was super - youngest daughter and family came to visit.

Mac

[Evan]

Do you know what type of Network card you have?  If you can provide the specific make and model then I can find your the correct firmware and you try that.  Since it can't network though you are going to have to "sneakernet" it over there.   

Evan

[macnext1]

Uh, how do I find out make and model?

Mac

[macnext1]

Did a system restore to Wednesday and problem fixed. Now I need to know how to get the 9 critical security fixes that MS released on Wednesday restored. Plus I'd still like some answers to the other questions I asked in this item.

Mac

[Shane]

I haven't been watching this one. If either of you want me to chime in just let me know

Shane

[Evan]

Okay...so the restore got you fixed as far as your network card's driver (the micro code).  That means you need to check the device manager to find the model.  You can find the device manager in the Windows control panel (you can also bring up a run command and type "devmgmt.msc"...which is what I prefer).  Once you start device manager look down the list and expand the *Network Adapters* item.  You will see a list for each wired and wireless card.  It will look something like the attached image.   

Once you find get that either post a screen shot or tell me the exact name of the devices.  The we can look at the website of the manufacturer for the correct firmware.  Often this is going to be more recent and more reliable to install (firmware updates don't always work over Windows update).

To get those security updates you are missing due to the restore, just run Windows Update again and they should come up.  If they don't then you either don't need them or they are installed.   

As for Thanksgiving...we had a good one.  We ate out for the first time this year which wasn't as good but it was cheaper and easier and my good friend, Shane, sent me a text message wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving.  So, all-in-all it was good.   
My son ate everything that was put in front of him.  I'm glad he isn't picky like I was. 

Let me know if I overlooked anything you wanted clarified.

Evan

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[macnext1]

It's terrible to never be able to retain information any more, I used to be a walking knowledge bank, LOL somebody robbed the bank. Which is another way of saying "I forgot how to get a screen shot".

Mac

[Evan]

Wow, you sure do get up early!

Don't feel bad...until I tell you what to do.   

You press the "print screen" button on the top left of the keyboard and then go to paint (or any similar program) and paste the picture.  When you hit print screen it saves it to your clipboard so you still have to open something else to paste and save it.   

(You can also hold down "Alt" when you press Print Screen to only capture the current window.   

Evan

[macnext1]

Geez -- well that sure didn't make feel any smarter, thanks. Ok, so in theory you now have a screen shot of dev manager network card. LOL -- we'll see if reality matches theory. Can't upload .bmp -- try jpeg

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