needs driver updates, newby need direction,

i have resently began my venture in learning computers, i am very new to all this, as of two weeks ago i didnt know what a driver was, lol so b gentle. i have dun a scan of my drivers useing program called driverwizard, the scan indicates i need 5 critacal updates, im trying to bypass spending money i dont have and was instructed to not buy b/c it is free anyway. so i did as i was told and went to google and found the company and driver that i needed, my question to u is how do i know wich download is really free? im trying to break the habbit of downloading this so called free stuff that i have to pay for after in the end, im sure there is a simple way to do this i just dont know how, any tips id b greatful ty. jason.

Welcome
Just read this slowly. Any questions, just ask
This is the best and free way to get drivers. Stay away from software that will tell you what you need.
Just read, try to understand and then post any questions.

I know that I gave this to you before, ask questions if you are having problems.


How to Find Drivers
search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- visit the web site of the manufacturer of the hardware/program to get the latest drivers (DON'T use Windows Update or the Update driver function of Device Manager).
- if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone - will help you search Google for the name of the driver
- compare the Google results with what's installed on your system to figure out which device/program it belongs to
- - if there are difficulties in locating them, post back with questions and someone will try and help you locate the appropriate program.
- The most common drivers are listed on this page: http://www.carrona.org/dvrref.html
- - Driver manufacturer links are on this page: http://www.carrona.org/drvrdown.html
and here
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/the-vista-master-driver-list/
To remove any left over driver remnants, especially from graphics cards, use driver sweeper
www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/
You can also locate information about your driver using this information
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96442-device-manager-finding-unknown-devices.html

If you go to the website of the manufacturer it will be free.

well again ur advise worked, man im greatful for all ur help rich,

You seem to appreciate what we try to do for you, so heres something extra.

Go to search
type cmd
in cmd type driverquery.

All drivers that are older than 2008, Check them out, make sure they are up to date. It may be a big job so do one or two a day. It will get done.

If Microsoft is the Manufacturer, forget about that one for now.

Rich46 Still unable to rep you but I would for that if I was the OP

TY guess you liked the driverquery. Well when you can, keep me in mind. Always appreciated.

Man I've tried several time to rep you over the past few days
That rule that says I have to rep 15 other people first is hard

The rule has been changed, just rep one and then its ok.

Sweet, done.

Very much appreciated, you went through quite a bit to get it done. A very big thank you.

well looks like my last post didnt post, hmm. thanks for the tip on the drivers older than 08 il get on that asap. question about how i got the list yesterday of the drivers that needed updates... i used a scan thats not recomended one of the one that will clean ur house and moe the lawn all for free, lol. thinking mayb they didnt really need updates. so if they dont give u a good reading(or mayb they do, idk yet) and device mang isnt recomended to use for that either, how do u find out what drivers really need work? i know i should have thought about this b4 i used that free scan, lol, next time. thanks

To do things the right way it takes work. You start with a driver, go to the website and if there is a more current version, go for it.
Use if for a while, if the computer works properly try to update the next. We want to know which, driver if any, causes problems.
Make a system restore point first, to go back in case of problems.

sounds like a plan on the driver problm. hey i nwas reading the post about spywarebuster, very eyeopening for me, cause origanaly i came here to this forum cause i had a worm or something and didnt know how to rid of it, i always thought if my security is on, updated, im good nothing to worry about. ok il get 2 my point after i sign up hhere to the vista forum i went to google and found this way to remove unwanted ware, click start, go to computer and right click, then click systems proprties, in left panel click system protect, under protection settings click the disk were protection is on then click configure, click turn off system protection and then click on.. thankfuly this worked, looking back (il add that my new addiction to computers had not surfaced yet,) i feel i was a lil careless in following the directions. was that safe or should i have done a lil more research?

To start use Malwarebytes
Microsoft Security Essentials
and Spywarebuster.
The if something is found that they cannot remove, have the security experts, here help remove it the right way.
By the Way, common sense is a necessary part of that mix. I think we all know which are the most dangerous sites.

yes we do, lol. i wish i understood the basics of virus and mal&spy ware, its very interesting to me, when a person like me with only a week of trying to understand this seeming limitless machine called a computer trys to imagine a virus, i think of a group of letters, numbers, symbls, grouped together causing chaos. is there a more basic and simple way to view what these things are, and how there formed?

This is the most basic, although a bit confusing
Computer Worm & Computer Virus Information | eHow.com
They are written by computer nerds, who should seek psychiatric care, for both immaturity and insecurity complexes. These virus are written by the very insecure who need to build their ego by being the best at hurting others. They have meetings once a year to show who wrote the virus that affected the most computers.

wow thats crazy, its a shame that a person with the gift of being that intelgnt would waste it on that