Windows Updates is mostly concerned with security updates, and drivers show up only as optional updates. So when you get the message that windows is up to date it means that security updates are up to date, drivers may or may not be up to date.

Hello, If Windows Update of my widows 7 Home Premium says "Windows is up to date", does it mean that all my drivers are up to date. Do I have to search for them on the internet periodically. Thank youmelita

Hello, For drivers, I would recommend downloading the latest ones from your manufacturer Official Website. Windows drivers may, sometimes, be not up-to-date. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Designing and Providing Volume Licensing Solutions to Large Organizations Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Trainer

Windows Updates is mostly concerned with security updates, and drivers show up only as optional updates. So when you get the message that windows is up to date it means that security updates are up to date, drivers may or may not be up to date.

Hello Mr X, Thank you for this. This is my first time with drivers. Could you instruct me on the steps to open up the correct pages on the computer for this? Also on what web sites can I access the above list you have given? Best regards.melita

http://support.acer.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?tab=1&modelId=3677 This page is for Windows 7 32 bit. You may need different downloads for the 64 bit version. http://support.acer.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?tab=1&modelId=3677

They make it hard to post a link, but here is the driver download site for your model http://global-download.acer.com/Step5.aspx?Step1=Notebook&Step2=Aspire&Step3=Aspire%205250&BC=Acer&SC=PA_6&LC=en

1. Short answer: probably not, longer answer is that you might want to only install the drivers for the components that are actually in the system 2. Anywhere you want, I typically do a c:\drivers folder. 3. No, you may have to run the installer or unzip the driver and then run the installer 4. You can if you want, this is up to you. 5. It appears that tool will tell you what components it detects so that you may not need to download all of the drivers... perhaps a better answer to #1

ATI and AMD merged, so they are the same company now. Otherwise, it sounds like you have identified what you need...

Hi, What is your computer's manufacturer and model? -- Mike Burr Enterprise High Availability, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity Planning Learn to Troubleshoot Windows BSODs

Hello, Sorry, I should have included this. Acer Aspire 5250-BZ479 Regards.melita

http://support.acer.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?tab=1&modelId=3677 This page is for Windows 7 32 bit. You may need different downloads for the 64 bit version. http://support.acer.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?tab=1&modelId=3677

They make it hard to post a link, but here is the driver download site for your model http://global-download.acer.com/Step5.aspx?Step1=Notebook&Step2=Aspire&Step3=Aspire%205250&BC=Acer&SC=PA_6&LC=en

Thank you for this. I checked the list of drivers. Please answer the following because I am new to this. 1. I am going to download all the drivers. Is there anything wrong with it? 2. What is the most suitable place in the computer to 'save' them? (when prompted). 3. Is it automatically installed? 4. After installing, do I delete the files from their saved locations? 5. The web page also has a download "need to know the hardware on your system........" How do I use this information? Regards. melita

1. Short answer: probably not, longer answer is that you might want to only install the drivers for the components that are actually in the system 2. Anywhere you want, I typically do a c:\drivers folder. 3. No, you may have to run the installer or unzip the driver and then run the installer 4. You can if you want, this is up to you. 5. It appears that tool will tell you what components it detects so that you may not need to download all of the drivers... perhaps a better answer to #1

I downloaded vender detection. There are only three items, which means only these 3 components are in my system. LAN------Atheros VGA------ATI/AMD (In the downloads there is only AMD for vender. Is it OK to download that? Wireless LAN------ATHEROS (for this there are 3 venders. I should download Atheros Regards melita

ATI and AMD merged, so they are the same company now. Otherwise, it sounds like you have identified what you need...

Thank you for your patience and the prompt responses. Some time I feel awkward to ask such basic questions. Once I install the drivers, I like to ask you a few more questions, to clarify a few things about drivers. I will mark the answers after that, because I can use the same thread for those questions if I don't mark the answers now. Best regards.melita

Hello I am back! I downloaded the drivers, but did some more investigation before installing. The caption on the driver downloads page says This page shows only drivers that are not contained in Windows 7. Yesterday when I checked at - Need to know the hardware on your system to choose the right drivers? only LAN, VGA and Wireless LAN were shown. Checking through Device Manager, I found that the Audio and TouchPad drivers are also in the computer. all the drivers match the version number in the driver download page with one exception - computer Wireless LAN is 9.2.0.316. On the download site it is - 9.2.0.439. (although mcrosoft says driver is up-to date) So "Need to know the hardware....." is not reliable. Also the above "This page only shows drivers ....." is also wrong. They are all in Windows 7 Home premium. This leaves only the Card Reader not in my computer. I could not find it. But I am not sure about it. I checked all items by clicking "Update driver". They all said "Microsoft has determined the driver for this device is up-to date" Advice? Best regards. melita Basically, if you have drivers installed for every device in your laptop, you don't really need to update them. One way to tell: look in Device Manager. If no devices show a yellow exclamation point, then everyhting has a driver.

Hello I am back! I downloaded the drivers, but did some more investigation before installing. The caption on the driver downloads page says This page shows only drivers that are not contained in Windows 7. Yesterday when I checked at - Need to know the hardware on your system to choose the right drivers? only LAN, VGA and Wireless LAN were shown. Checking through Device Manager, I found that the Audio and TouchPad drivers are also in the computer. all the drivers match the version number in the driver download page with one exception - computer Wireless LAN is 9.2.0.316. On the download site it is - 9.2.0.439. (although mcrosoft says driver is up-to date) So "Need to know the hardware....." is not reliable. Also the above "This page only shows drivers ....." is also wrong. They are all in Windows 7 Home premium. This leaves only the Card Reader not in my computer. I could not find it. But I am not sure about it. I checked all items by clicking "Update driver". They all said "Microsoft has determined the driver for this device is up-to date" Advice? Best regards. melita

Hello I am back! I downloaded the drivers, but did some more investigation before installing. The caption on the driver downloads page says This page shows only drivers that are not contained in Windows 7. Yesterday when I checked at - Need to know the hardware on your system to choose the right drivers? only LAN, VGA and Wireless LAN were shown. Checking through Device Manager, I found that the Audio and TouchPad drivers are also in the computer. all the drivers match the version number in the driver download page with one exception - computer Wireless LAN is 9.2.0.316. On the download site it is - 9.2.0.439. (although mcrosoft says driver is up-to date) So "Need to know the hardware....." is not reliable. Also the above "This page only shows drivers ....." is also wrong. They are all in Windows 7 Home premium. This leaves only the Card Reader not in my computer. I could not find it. But I am not sure about it. I checked all items by clicking "Update driver". They all said "Microsoft has determined the driver for this device is up-to date" Advice? Best regards. melita Basically, if you have drivers installed for every device in your laptop, you don't really need to update them. One way to tell: look in Device Manager. If no devices show a yellow exclamation point, then everyhting has a driver.

Please confirm, as long as the drivers are installed for every device, there is no necessity to update them at all, ever. In "Device Manager" there is a sub heading, "Up date device drivers". Then, in "Device properties" I find a selection "To update the driver software for this device". That why I am asking this. **Could you also tell me what those 12 entries are, that appear in "Mr X's posting of April 16th above. They appear to be some links. In what way can they be useful to me? I think it is ok to ask you becuse he has not replied to me after that. Best regards.melita

The update driver function through the device manager only updates the driver if there is a driver package downloaded locally (in the form of an inf file and some others) or if the updated driver is on Microsoft's Update site (most vendors don;t use this) As far as Malek's things under his disclaimer, not useful. He listed certifications that he may or may not have (there is no validation of this in the forums).

So it is not necessary to do driver updates, for drivers that are already installed in the computer, as long as they are working ok? Regards.melita

Correct, if the system is running properly, there is generally not a need to update drivers.

Hello, Now I have got it straightened out. At last you are going to be rid of me. Thank you for all this and best of luck. melita