How to update your PC Driver

Frequent system crashes, slower performance, peripheral glitches, or unexpected shutdowns are issues that most PC users encounter at some point. While these problems may seem random, they are often rooted in something as simple yet critical as outdated or faulty drivers. 

PC drivers are software programs that act as a communication bridge between the operating system and various hardware devices connected to it. These drivers work as an instruction manual for the OS, and without these drivers, the operating system would have no way to communicate with hardware, leaving devices like printers, speakers, or graphics cards completely unusable. 

Similarly, an outdated driver can cause a host of issues that directly impact system stability, compatibility with new software, and overall security, making timely driver updates essential.

This article overviews what PC drivers are, how to update drivers on PCs, and why it is an essential step. 

What are PC drivers?

PC drivers are software that allow communication between the operating system and a device’s hardware. They act as a translator between the OS and hardware components, enabling the OS and applications to use the hardware’s functions without needing to understand the hardware’s technical details.

If an application needs to access data from a device, the request first goes through the operating system. The OS, in turn, passes this request to the device driver. Since the driver is typically created by the hardware manufacturer, it contains the specific instructions required to interact with the device and retrieve the necessary data.

For instance, when you plug in a USB flash drive, the USB driver tells the OS how to read and write files from the storage device so you can easily transfer data. Similarly, when you open your laptop’s webcam, the camera driver interprets instructions from the OS and translates them into signals the camera hardware can process, allowing video capture in real time.

Drivers can be broadly categorized into:

Kernel-mode device driver: Not just “generic software,” these drivers are tightly integrated with the OS kernel. They run with full system privileges, giving them direct access to hardware and critical resources. Some examples include storage controller drivers, network adapter drivers, and GPU drivers. 

User-mode device driver: These drivers are executed in user space instead of the operating system’s kernel space. They are often required for devices that users connect externally, such as printers, USB drives, or cameras. They interact with hardware via system calls and abstractions provided by the OS.

Why do you need to update a PC driver?

Updating a PC driver is essential because outdated drivers can make your computer slow, cause hardware malfunctions, create security vulnerabilities, and even lead to system crashes. New driver updates contain security patches for recent threats and several more advances that influence the performance and stability of the system. 

Reasons why you should update drivers on PCs include:

• Security: Old drivers can leave vulnerable gaps in your system that hackers can sometimes exploit to get unauthorized access. Updates fix bugs and errors and provide new security patches to protect against evolving cybersecurity challenges.

• Performance efficiency: Outdated drivers can cause lags, longer load times, or even overheating issues. Updating drivers ensures hardware like graphics cards, Wi-Fi adapters, and storage devices run at peak efficiency, often unlocking speed boosts and new features released by the manufacturer.

• Compatibility: Driver updates ensure compatibility with new software and hardware. Sometimes the system is unable to recognize outdated drivers, especially when the OS is recently updated or new software is installed. In that case, updates become quite necessary. 

• Increased stability: Erratic system behavior, data loss, frequent crashes, or other device malfunctions are often linked to outdated drivers. Bug fixes in updated drivers help prevent such system crashes, freezes, and errors.

Additional reads: How to talk about IT security with clients

How to back up drivers before updating?

Before you initiate a driver update, it is important to create a backup of your existing drivers. So, in case the new driver causes any compatibility issues or system instability, you can quickly roll back to the previous version without disrupting your work. Here are some methods that help with driver backup. 

1. Using the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) command-line tool

Open CMD or PowerShell, create a destination path, and run the command “dism /online /export-driver /destination:C:\DriverBackup” DESTINATION_PATH”.” A folder with the driver files will be created for each exported driver within the destination folder. 

2. Using the pnputil program

Create a folder as your backup destination and run the command pnputil /export-driver * “DESTINATION_PATH” in CMD or PowerShell. 

3. Using the Export-WindowsDriver

With the “Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination “DESTINATION_PATH”” command, you can use Export-WindowsDriver in PowerShell to back up device drivers. 

How to update your PC driver?

There are several methods you can use to update drivers on PCs. Some of them include: 

1. Using Windows Update

Windows Update is a built-in Microsoft service that automatically searches for, downloads, and installs updates for Windows and related Microsoft software. It can also help with driver updates. Here is how you can update drivers with it. 

• If you are using Windows 10, go to “Settings,” then click on “Update & Security,” and then go to “Windows Update” on the left-hand side. 

  

Source: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-to-update-setting-in-windows-10/ 

• On Windows 11, go to Settings and then click on “Windows Update” from the sidebar. 

  

• Click “Check for Updates.”

• Windows will download and install most driver updates automatically. However, some specialized drivers, such as graphics cards, peripherals, and gaming, may need to be downloaded directly from the manufacturer. 

2. Update with Device Manager

The Device Manager is the place in Windows where you can see a list of all the devices on your computer, including which drivers are installed. It provides a manual way of updating drivers. 

• Right-click the Start button, and then select Device Manager.

• Expand the category by clicking on the small arrow for the device you need to update the driver for. This will show the specific manufacturer and model for each device. 

• Right-click the device you want to update and click “Update driver.”

  

• Choose “Search automatically for drivers.”

  

• If an updated version of the driver is available, follow the subsequent prompts to install the latest driver. 

3. Download from the manufacturer’s website

Directly downloading the driver from the manufacturer’s website is the best way to ensure that only the latest version of the driver with all significant advancements, bug fixes, and performance enhancements is being installed.

• Locate the model number of the hardware device. This information is usually printed on the device or listed in your system specifications.

• Go to your device’s brand site (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Realtek, HP, Dell).

• Find the “Support” or “Drivers” section.

• Enter your device’s model number and select your operating system to find the correct driver.

• Download the latest driver version and review the release notes to see what improvements, bug fixes, or new features are included.

4. Automation tools 

Automatic driver update tools streamline the process of keeping your device drivers current. They typically scan your system to identify all hardware and their corresponding drivers, detecting outdated or missing drivers. 

The next step is to check for the latest versions and install them with minimal manual effort. You can schedule these updates during off-peak hours to avoid interruption with your workflow as well. 

These automation tools are also capable of backing up existing drivers before applying updates, allowing for a quick recovery if needed. 

Additional reads: 7 automation-driven ways SuperOps can maximize your MSP’s productivity

How do you know if a driver needs to be updated?

Different drivers may show different symptoms when they are in need of an update. For example, display drivers might cause blurry graphics, screen flickering, or crashes during gaming. Audio drivers may result in distorted sound or no audio output, while network drivers can lead to frequent disconnections or slow internet speeds. 

Here are some of the common signs that signal the need for driver updates:

1. Error messages, such as “device driver error,” “driver not found,” or “This device cannot start.”

2. Frequent system crashes, freezes, or blue screen errors.

3. Performance issues like slow startups, unexpected shutdowns, sluggish response, screen flickering, graphics distortion, or audio glitches.

4. Hardware not functioning properly or not recognized.

Additional reads: 5 MSP cybersecurity threats to keep an eye on

How does SuperOps help manage driver updates?

SuperOps, an integrated IT management platform, helps manage driver updates through its patch management features. It automates the detection, approval, scheduling, and deployment of driver updates across all managed Windows devices. 

Here is how IT professionals and MSPs can utilize the patch management feature of SuperOps:

1. Automate driver update deployment: You can set policies to automatically scan for and install the latest driver updates on your client’s devices, either immediately or on a set schedule.

2. Control patch approvals: Approve, defer, or reject driver updates at global, client, site, or device levels, ensuring only tested and safe drivers are deployed.

3. Customize reboot actions: Configure if and when devices should reboot after a driver update, with options to prompt users or enforce reboots for critical updates.

4. Monitor status and compliance: View detailed patch status reports for drivers, track which assets need updates, and ensure compliance for all endpoints.

5. Manual and ad-hoc updates: Trigger driver updates on demand outside the regular schedule if urgent updates or fixes are required.

How are driver updates different from BIOS updates?

A driver update is used to update the driver that lets the OS communicate with specific hardware (e.g., GPU, printer, network card). They are routinely released to add new features, fix bugs, or maintain compatibility with the latest operating systems and applications. Keeping drivers up to date ensures your hardware works smoothly and reliably with your OS without any compatibility or stability issues.

BIOS updates, on the other hand, update the firmware (BIOS/UEFI) stored on the motherboard, which is responsible for initiating the boot process. BIOS updates are less common and usually only recommended if you are experiencing specific hardware compatibility issues, adding support for new CPUs or RAM, fixing critical bugs, or improving system stability.

What are the issues that arise while updating drivers?

Updating drivers is not always a smooth process. There are certain obstacles you may encounter that disrupt system performance or even cause hardware to malfunction, such as:

• Compatibility issues: Sometimes a driver update is designed for newer versions of the OS and may not fully support your current OS. This can cause problems such as devices not being detected, display resolution errors, or conflicts with other existing drivers that lead to system instability.

• Driver not installed: Updates can fail if the downloaded file is corrupted or incomplete, if the wrong driver version is selected for your hardware model, or if the installer does not have the required administrator permissions to complete the process.

• Automatic updates overwriting preferred drivers: Windows Update can automatically install drivers that may not be optimal or that overwrite manufacturer-specific drivers, leading to issues like device control panel malfunctions or degraded performance.

Additional reads: Patch management — a quick introduction

How to troubleshoot common driver update errors and messages?

Even with careful updates, driver installations do not always go as planned. Errors and warning messages can pop up for a variety of reasons, from compatibility conflicts to missing files. Understanding what these errors mean and how to address them can save a lot of time and prevent unnecessary system downtime. 

Here is how to troubleshoot some of the most common driver update issues: 

1. Windows could not find drivers for your device

Cause: Windows setup cannot find the necessary storage drivers to detect your device.

Fix: Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it from the “Browse my computer for drivers” option in “Device Manager.”

2. Device Not Configured Correctly

Cause: No drivers installed or misconfigured.

Fix: Go to Device Manager, update the driver automatically, or download the latest version from the manufacturer’s website.

3. Device Cannot Start (Code 10)

Cause: Outdated, corrupted, or mismatched driver.

Fix: Restart PC, uninstall the device in Device Manager, then restart to let Windows reinstall the driver automatically. If it fails, manually download and install from the vendor site.

4. Device Driver Cannot be Loaded (Code 31)

Cause: Missing or failed driver load.

Fix: Update the driver via Device Manager, or manually install it from the manufacturer's site.

5. Windows Has Stopped This Device (Error Code 43)

Cause: The device fails to respond properly due to driver issues.

Fix: Uninstall and reinstall the driver in Device Manager; if unresolved, contact hardware support.

6. Driver is not digitally signed

Cause: The driver was created or modified by an issuing authority that did not sign it with a certified digital signature.

Fix: Temporarily disable driver signature enforcement or install the driver in test mode.

7. Driver installation failed

Cause: The driver file is corrupted or incomplete, or there is a conflict with existing drivers or software on the system.

Fix: Download a fresh driver copy, install it in Safe Mode, or clean temporary files.

8. Access denied during installation

Cause: Lack of administrative privileges to install or modify system components.

Fix: Run the installer as administrator or check group policy restrictions.

General troubleshooting steps:

Before diving into advanced fixes, it is always wise to start with a few basic troubleshooting methods for driver-related issues. These initial steps can help resolve common driver-related issues quickly and prevent unnecessary complications.

-Restart your Windows PC to clear temporary issues.

-Use Windows Update to check for the latest patches and drivers.

- Go back to the previous driver version if the new update causes problems.

-Use manufacturer diagnostic tools (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce Experience, Intel Driver & Support Assistant).

-Run System File Checker command, “sfc /scannow,” in the CMD to fix corrupted system files affecting drivers.

-Disable and re-enable the device in Device Manager to refresh the hardware connection.

Additional reads: 6 best practices to optimize patch management for your RMM

Tips for safe driver updates

While not every driver-related issue can be prevented, many risks can be minimized by following best practices and taking a few precautionary steps before, during, and after the update process. These include:

• Creating system restore points before installing new updates.

• Avoiding unofficial driver sources to download the updates.

• Ensuring driver compatibility with your OS version.

• Skipping unnecessary updates if your system is stable and running without issues.

• Reverting to the previous version if the new update causes instability or errors.  

• Backing up existing drivers so they can be restored quickly in case of failure.

Summing up

Updating drivers should be seen as an essential part of routine system care, as it delivers enhanced performance, stronger security, better compatibility, and improved stability. Be it via Windows Update, Device Manager, direct downloads from the manufacturer, or automation tools, this small but important step goes a long way in ensuring consistent performance and safeguarding your system. 

For MSPs and IT teams, handling software and driver updates for their clients demands careful oversight. Managing these processes across different systems while juggling different tools can be overwhelming. 

Onboarding with SuperOps, a unified RMM+PSA IT management platform, can simplify such technical functions, where updates, patch management, monitoring, and alerting are automated, allowing teams to stay proactive instead of firefighting issues. 

Book your free trial today.