Nice piece of software, works great
If you reinstall the OS and then use the auto driver exe some drivers don't work like the graphics, for me it needed a file that was not copied.

@67 hipockets... funny!!!
But Giovanni, seriously, don't give it up! Sometimes the "lag time" can be pretty bad from the GAOTD servers!!! I know... I thought they'd "censored" my posts but it was merely a time-delay from the time I posted to the time it showed up on the website! In fact, I thought they had censored or "lost" my post from earlier but when I checked 3 or 4 hours later, my post was there. These guys are busy so, give 'em a chance!
Love hearing from you, Ashraf, Fubar, Bubby, Mike, Happy Person... and the list goes on!
Thanks to all!!!

#37 Giovanni
I am a regular visitor to this site to this site and while I am often looking for good software to download and try, one of my most important reasons for coming here is to read the opinions of well informed and knowledgable posters such as yourself. The knowledge that I gain is often more valuable than the software itself. Your posting of today has appeared here and I dont know why some of your previous postings have not appeared but its possible (and I hope) that this has been some glitch error or other problem rather than any attempt to censor your postings.
From time to time I can see that posters here do not always agree and I suppose where complex issues are being discussed and subjects that are not 100 % black/white or 100 % right /wrong then disagreements can be expected. But where that happens I hope that posters can "agree to disagree" and still carry on in a cordial manner. All opinions and suggestions are valuable and very much appreciated and I really hope that you Giovanni and the other knowledgable posters here such as Fubar, Mike, Ashraf and several others (can't list everybody sorry if I missed anyone off) will all continue to post your valuable contributions. I read every one and where your opinions differ then thats fine I can test and form my own opinion. Thats how we all learn.

Although I believe the constant updating of drivers is overkill. It is very wise to keep an original backup of your drivers. Keeping one in an executable file is also a smart move. Watch for major updates. Video drivers are the most frequently updated. These are the ones I keep constantly backed up. Get the wrong one and your in deep trouble unless you have a stable backup.

Cheers
Wdhpr

USE LicenseCrawler make an HKEY_ALL scan and there it is the serial number....

Sorry, usually I don't use the comments to talk with or about other users.
But I have to answer # 37 Giovanni:

It seems that you sometimes don't know the original source of your recommended "freeware", therefore you have been informed several times via PM that it is not allowed to propagate warez in the comments or the forums. You ignored those messages.

Competent comments to the GOTD software and to comparable freeware are always welcome. Invitations to theft / warez and offence against other users will be deleted in the forums and here. When you have to criticize an administrator or a moderator, please do it via a Personal Message (PM).

I hope we will find those comments written in the typical refreshing Giovi style even in the future - but please do your homework. We don't want that you or other users will fall for rogue software and get a nasty surprise.

notblocklox

GIOVANNI - PLEASE DO NOT QUIT! The information in your posts is, 8 times out of 10, right on the mark. Perhaps the solution to keep you, and to not have your posts deleted, is - Post your comments, but do not include any negative reference at all to previous posts or posters. Another way of saying it -- review just the GAOTD offering, not another reviewer. PLEASE DO NOT QUIT! {Would it help if I told you you're actually 9 out of 10? No? Well, then, howabout - I'm a 5"3", 118 lbs, blonde, blue eyed, and single female? I'm none of those things, but would it help? :>) }

Thanks Ashraf, all I do now is read your comment and if you like it then I have a closer look. Thanks digger.

#51
You can export the drivers to an auto installing executable that will run w/o the original program...

Owned this one for 5 years . Works like a charm. FREE upgrades . and good company backing.

If you can aford it now days it is worth the price. I have had it for years. All updates are free and if you lose the program & the key show proof you bought the program and they will send your key and you can download the newest version. the program is great and the company is too. My key would not work on the new version .I emailed the company . they e mailed me a new key free! That is backing a product! This version works on 2000 , XP , Vista,

I was looking at the registry key where the registration information is kept when I noticed another key in this location endtimetrial that leads me to believe that the software author is only offering a trial and not a full version. I may be wrong and hope I am, but if this is the case they are deceiving us users and probably GOTD also. I have considered registering this software many times in the past but always found something else that could do the same things (like Asraf and Giovanni pointed out). In the end if they are trying to deceive is then it's just one more reason I would not spend my hard earned money on Driver Magician.

This is good, but I would recommend Driver Genius

#32,35,45, mike, I agree with some of what you've said but also disagree with some of it. Regarding knowing what hardware you have, I do keep track of that when I build or buy a PC and when I install new hardware. Normally, you don't need to disassemble a PC, and critical chips can be under heat sinks. There are plenty of system information utilities which can tell you what you have, although checking the OEM's website for documentation is often sufficient.

Regarding ATI drivers, they all suck, which is why I'm sticking with nVidia. Their drivers suck too, but not nearly as much. All newer versions of Windows support driver rollback (separate from System Restore), but I would only use that on a boot failure. Otherwise, if you don't like a new driver, you may be better off to try reinstalling the old one, if doing a System Restore would be undesirable. As to what you need to do when installing a driver, read the documentation carefully. For most drivers, I recommend going to the manufacturers' websites, rather than using the often-ancient ones from Windows Update, although some drivers are only available via Windows Update. As for Win7, hopefully the problems that you're experiencing are because you're using a pre-release product. If you install a new nVidia driver and Windows crashes more than normal, keep checking the nVidia website. If Microsoft receives a bunch of automated crash reports (which you should always send), they'll tell the appropriate major vendor, who will issue a fixed version, generally without comment (i.e., if there's a new driver release shortly after another new release, and it doesn't say anything about new features, then you know that it's a serious bug-fix release). One irritation of nVidia drivers is that they will often release an unsigned version, then later release the same version signed, but upgrading doesn't change the driver status in Windows to signed.

It's always necessary to check and often reset/change settings after driver and firmware updates. That means that you need to record settings, which generally needs to be done manually or via screen-capture, before upgrading. A BIOS or other firmware update may not function correctly without resetting to defaults prior to making other settings changes. Settings saved to files via whatever "Save Settings" feature is available generally won't work properly with newer versions.

I don't have any horror stories to tell about BIOS and firmware updates. You always need to be very careful about those, as there's always the chance that you'll brick your hardware. It can be repaired, but that can be very expensive. Always use a standby/uninterruptible power supply when doing firmware updates. As I've been using name-brand computers lately, BIOS updates have been very few. BIOS-update utilities which run within Windows stop Windows.

Regarding hardware-driver updates, I update my video, audio, and TV-tuner drivers very frequently. A major issue with drivers is that many of them are software-related, not hardware-related, and those can significantly destabilize your system. Those you have to keep track of yourself, as driver-update software won't. When I upgrade to Windows 7 in about a month, I'll probably quit installing most GOTD giveaways, especially any that have drivers or global codecs. I'll probably just disable most application shell extensions rather than try to determine which ones are causing problems.

I wouldn't use third-party tools to modify optical-drive firmware. Writing faster than factory settings is always less reliable. Read speed limits have nothing to do with DRM, they're always much faster than realtime. Read speed limits are to limit drive noise, which most people want to minimize. In general, most optical media isn't "good" or "bad", specific media will function well with some hardware models and poorly with others. Check CDRinfo for reviews of your specific model and what media was tested with it. Note that what works well for writing/reading with your optical-drive model may perform poorly when played back on another model. Software has no impact on write quality as long as it supports the features of the drive. Writing slower is nearly always more reliable. Data conformance is up to the software. As for mike's remark about Mainconcept codecs the other day, I've always thought of them as being cheap and not very good, which is why they often show up in off-brand software.

FYI, Microsoft released the free Security Essentials today, if you don't have anything better. It's possible to write a very secure OS that wouldn't require security software, but it's tough to start a new OS when you're up against the Microsoft monopoly on one side and the free Linux on the other.

As for people asking about Driver Magician, it tells you the user name, and the serial number is available, but I don't talk about that stuff because people use it to circumvent the GOTD terms. As I've repeatedly said, GOTD isn't a freeware site, although they have a freeware library.

#53, Andre: don't forget that there are no updates for most, if not all, of GotD's software. If you accidentally choose 'YES' to update the program when you subsequently run it (in this case, the driver update database), the software WILL revert to a trial version.

You might want to download and install this again, if you liked it. Just remember to click 'NO' each time you run it.

Installed and activated ok but program fails to start on windows vista 32 system sp2

Driver Magician has been offered on GOTD I believe twice before. The 1st time that I saw this program on GOTD I downloaded it, installed it, ran it, and unfortunately depended on it to restore my drivers. Driver Magician was not offered as a time limited trial program. I never performed any action that would change Driver Magician from a working program into an expired trial program. No updates of the program were ever attempted. It was simply used to backup drivers on a few occasions.

Driver magician drivers using a proprietary filesystem. You must have a working driver magician program to restore drivers. Unfortunately my driver magician program turns itself into a trial program. Using the original unlocking coding was no help. Driver Magician was an expired trial program it could not be re-energized.

Relying on this backup system for my drivers was foolish. I did not try to restore drivers until the time that I really needed to restore them. No joy. My drivers were locked up in an archive and without a working Driver Magician program there they were destined to stay.

If you will search the forums you will find that my experience with Driver Magician is not the only bad one. I left out all the trials and tribulations that I went through trying to restore my drivers and get cooperation from the developers of the program. What a sham - I do not mean "what a shame".

Bigun

Giovanni, #37, our Italian friend, please, do not allow the self-serving and self-important few dissuade you from visiting and sharing your knowledge, insight and comparisons of the software offered here at GAOD. I have always appreciated the reviews that you have contributed and would definitely see your absence as a lossmorning I usually pay most attention to the assessments and evaluations of those who are not promoting sites of their own; I look for those who, IMHO, (Fubar and Mike for example) are just giving a good, honest critique. Your capitulation would definitely be a liability to the purpose of GAOD and their allegiant followers and contributors.

Having said all that, as a computer software amateur and freeware junkie, after recently spending an entire afternoon trying to locate a small list of missing DLL and ActiveX devices, I find today’s giveaway very useful indeed.

Have a great day!

Is anyone else having the problem of following the instructions in the "README" file: "Run SETUP.EXE, then run ACTIVATE", etc., and getting the "usual" GAOTD msg box, saying the "Activation was successful", but upon opening, or closing/re-opening the program, I still get the box from the program telling me I'm in "Trial Mode" with (date) to go?

What am I doing wrong THIS time?

:o(

The last time GOTD offered this, mine worked for a few months and then reverted to a 15 day trial version.

#37 giovanni.
You are one of the few Tech man who provide a very clear, honest and informatics analyses in this page.
Please remember, no one can restrict your comment and coming to this page rather than yourself.
If you want to leave here because of this and/or that, I have a very strong good reason to do not it and it is, be here for others.
A man from free IRAN.
Sina

I would ask GAOTD to make the registration code and user name available so this program can be used .I for one think the best part of such a program is to be able to backup my drivers and reinstall.If I cant reinstall with out the registration info this is not a backup program and should not be described as one..We are told that we get software that we would normally have to pay for here at GAOTD.Who would pay for this if you cant reinstall the drivers.Pulling out the main feature (secretly)and still describing this as a backup is not very nice.I think I have a backup and when I need it it is not usable.
So this FREE version becomes the PAID version.Be honest with us and STATE that this is not going to back up unless you pay. This site is for free apps and this offering should not have been here as it wont work for free....I have no problem with a developer wanting to be paid for their app ,but I dont like being misled and neither would you ...thanks Pat

Every time I try to install this (using either the GAOTD exe or the trial from the developer website, I get this error message. I clicked ignore, then activated, but nothing runs.

---------------------------
Error
---------------------------
C:\WINDOWS\system32\XCEEDZIP.DLL


Unable to register the DLL/OCX: RegSvr32 failed with exit code 0x5.


Click Retry to try again, Ignore to proceed anyway (not recommended), or Abort to cancel installation.
---------------------------
Abort Retry Ignore
---------------------------

Am trying to download Driver Magician. It appears to download, but nothing is appearing on my desktop. I have tried with both Firefox and IE, same result. Can anyone help please? I'm running Win XP SP3

This is a great tool, and the antidote for all those fakers out there who claim to get your drivers then put restrictions on what you can get or extort money from you once they determine what drivers you need.
Jackson, Web Developer

This program is awesome. It's been available on this site several times, each times I mail to all my friends to download it :) Perfect when reinstalling the computer and not wanting to have to download all the drivers agan :)

This prg looks like something that could be VERY handy to have, barring the comments of: "It's useless if the machine crashes and you don't have the prg available to get your drivers BACK, because it wants the Reg Code, which we don't GET when the prg is obtained from GAOTD";
Someone mentioned that there's an entry in the Registry for it, so that may lead to, or BE, what's needed to "ressurrect" your drivers;
Or, you may want to try contacting both GAOTD via email + the s/w publisher to point out that GAOTD states the software is supposed to be "the full version", and so could they please provide instructions on just HOW to get your drivers back in case of a crash?
I mention this since GAOTD hasn't commented on this issue yet (as of the time of this post), and I didn't see anyone else having said anything about it...

I get the feeling that "we're missing something here", so I'm willing to try it, as I know how hard it is to "put the machine back to it's "out of the package" state, them start with all of the updates to both Windows & to anything else that needs it...

The reason that I think "we're missing something", is that making the EXE file, which SHOULD run without anything like a Reg Code, is the whole point of making something into an EXE file;
That way, if you need it, you don't need to do anything more than RUN it to "get everything back", since you couldn't have MADE it without the (registered) program in the first place;

(I'm also going to check on that comment about "There's an entry in the Registry", since that may be the "key" to extracting the drivers).

Another "try it & see" approace is to change the EXE to ZIP & see if an unZip prg will then show all of the drivers, and if so, then see if they'll be available after being UnZipped, for re-installation;

While it may or may not be exactly what is advertised, it may be one way of at least having your drivers to re-install, if you should need to.

re: "DriverMax":
I've had DriverMax for some time now, but found that, (unless you paid a fee for the "PRO-version"), the "free" version often takes from "within a day" to "a few days" to "never" to GET a driver, and they DO warn: "No Guarantees!",
...plus, DriverMax (free version) does something that's downright illegal, (although YOU shouldn't get in any trouble for it), which is that they "inspect your machine and copy all of your drivers, to share with others";

Since drivers are "Computer Software", (which makes them all "Copyrighted"), it's theft! (And unless they told you ahead of time, and not in some EULA that's a mile long and in 2-pt print), you won't know they're going to DO that until they already HAVE!
And do you really want some unknown people poking through your entire machine, "looking for drivers", when they can also be "looking for anything else of interest as well"?
I'm NOT saying that they do that! I can't emphasize it enough, I'm only pointing out that they CAN if they wanted to! I have NO reason to believe that they've ever DONE anything like that, either!

Driver updates: I've always gotten ALL of the drivers I NEED through the automatic "Microsoft Update", (which usually installs them, too). (Not to be confused with "Windows Update");

Both are available for free from Microsoft. I'd suggest going with "Microsoft Update", since it'll update your other MS programs as well as Windows; Whether or not "Windows Update" will get any updated drivers that your machine needs is something I'm not sure about, because I just don't remember.

The one time I went to my video-card-maker's site, & got an update for my video card, (which the PC maker managed to cram into my laptop), I lost some functionality of the "manual overrides" which let me save on battery power when I needed to;

(I should've relied on the Laptop Maker's website).

Firmware updates: ALWAYS have the version you're already running available, "just in case", so you can "flash" it BACK to that, if the update "breaks" something;

And other than very occasionally, the only things that may need firmware OR driver updates, are:

(1) Mobo's, and more frequently
(2) Optical drives; For anything else (except maybe an occasional Modem), you shouldn't need to update the firmware for much of anything;

Optical Drives: After years of using them, we've found that Optical drives normally only last two years on average...

(Get those Factory Extended Warrantees while you can, if they'll last two or three years or more, and it's on a Laptop or something that you can't easily replace the Optical drive with a new one in! The Extended Warrantee pays for itself, with just ONE replacement Optical drive in a good Laptop!)


Happy Computing!

:o)

#37: "Of course, you can update the DRIVERS from your vendor Driver CD or search for them in the manufacturer’s website, but what if you have lost the Driver CD or you have no idea who is the manufacturer of the hardware device?
After all not all DEVICE DRIVERS are available in the Windows database, are they??"

Hi Giovanni. Totally FWIW, every time I build a PC, or when someone gets a new one & I'm setting it up, or when I'm working on one, this is what I do... I take the side of the case off as necessary, get the motherboard number, & the numbers off any major chips -- usually network & audio are the only ones. The motherboard number allows me to track down the chipset used, like AMD 770 & SB710. I also get the numbers off any cards, writing these all down where I won't lose them, maybe even taping a copy inside the PC case. Then it's normally not much trouble at all to track down drivers. I don't like to go purely off what software (including Windows) thinks it is, because that can be wrong [not often, but it happens].

PC &/or Motherboard Driver CDs are IMHO usually junk when it comes to drivers, with older versions from the 1st few critical months when hardware's new & drivers are being perfected. I don't throw them away, mind you, but assume they are old. Drivers on Microsoft discs & update are usually bad too, not just older but incomplete & especially with win 7, may be experimental -- win 7 drivers at Microsoft update may even damage Windows so it needs re-install, like those for ATI. I advise anyone adding or updating drivers to back up 1st, or at least set a restore point in Vista or 7, testing new drivers thoroughly as possible after install -- Vista & 7 store driver info & setup files, & if the wrong ones are installed, getting rid of the stored copies can be challenging, yet if you don't, you might not be able to install the correct drivers. That's where restoring a backup or restore point comes in. It's also good to learn how to update drivers manually in Device Mgr., particularly with 7 -- often 7 won't find the correct drivers, even if you browse to the folder containing the drivers, because it feels the wrong info is included in the inf file, or the wrong OS is listed, or the drivers aren't signed.

I've used this program on 2 computers, twice, and every time, it corrupted the drivers.

I now use DriverMax, which is freeware. And it works beautifully, but, just like any program of its type, doesn't install the applications associated with the drivers. This can be useful, though, as many installations do not allow you to ONLY install the drivers (HP Printers for instance). When I've had to restore a system, simply use DriverMax to back up the drivers, do a fresh Windows install, and restore the drivers from the backup. Takes about 10 minutes as opposed to digging up all the CD's and hoping they're the up-to-date versions you had before you formatted your system.

Driver Magician is TRASH, in my honest and professional opinion.

I have used this software before and love it :) So glad that I can get a legal full version of it here :) The backup part isn't important for me as I prefer to download again anyways incase new drivers happened to be released.

hi #37 -GIOVANI-i realy hope you dont leave i like very much reading your coments(without involving religion !!!!!!!!!!!!!)pleas keepon writing

No good for me.Everything was fine until I downloaded the recommended drivers.The Audio Manager vanished,my headphones refused to work.I have Vista Ultimate.I had to use a Restore Point to fix this problem.Sorry but this just didn't work correctly for me!

I do like some of these giveaways and I liked the sound of this one.I have Vista Ultimate and it is a nightmare having to check to see what drivers need to be updated then find them on the internet and install them,so I was looking forward to this.Installation was fine,checked my drivers downloaded what I needed checked the download it was ok and installed.That's when I had a problem.The Audio Manager was deleted from the panel,my headphones refused to work,and the only way to correct this problem was to use a restore point.Taking me back before I installed Driver Magician.So for me this product just didn't work correctly,no good for my computer.Maybe I will eventually find something that will work.A big no no for me sorry!

@27 - fahmi,
Windriver Expert 1.90 is NOT freeware! It's 15 day free trial shareware retailing for $29.00 USD according to MajorGeeks.
Regarding todays download offering. I haved used ver. 3.40 and it performed well, had problems with some drivers recommended being older than the currently installed versions and DO NOT like the limitation of the non-functional .exe. I use DoubleDriver to back-up my installed drivers.
Thanks anyway GAOTD! See you tomorrow!

I have to agree with other comments. This might be good but it is useless without the registration code and registration name. You would think that with the number of times this program has been offered here that the publisher would understand this.

#20 tcando: While you do have image backups, if you get a corrupted driver or the driver's registry entries that require you to reinstall, you will not be able to install it from your image backup. Usually, you can only extract files from an image backup, but a driver may be made up of several files, and it's doubtful you'd know which ones.

#20: "I have an image backup program, so I do not see the need for additional software to back up my drivers only, or am I being naive?"

IMHO no. AFAIK the only advantage to backing up drivers is to have them available should you re-install a device or Windows. You can just as easily archive them when you download new drivers, & that way have the whole driver set, & if present, any utilities.

Personally before an install I'll collect all the latest drivers, un-zip them etc, & have them ready on a CD. It's quicker finding & downloading them fresh using Google than finding needed drivers I've already got archived, but then again it's quicker to use Google than finding a bookmark much of the time. ;-)

* * *

#23: "Some devices require firmware updates, which may or may not be handled by driver updates (optical drives typically only require firmware updates)."

FWIW... In my experience firmware updates are usually the motherboard bios & as you've said, optical drives. The trend seems to be the latest Bios updates are only posted to the Global &/or Chinese sites -- not those for the EU or US. Bios updates should be researched before being applied -- you could brick your motherboard for 1 thing, & while the risk is small, why chance it if the update is irrelevant or even broken? While Bios updates can now be done in Windows, Many Engineers & techs say the only reliable way is still via Floppy.

Sometime firmware updates turn desirable features off -- another reason to research. Many folks have seen this mentioned re: Blue Ray, but a lesser known example is that some users found they could run their AMD X3 CPUs as quads, only to lose the ability permanently after a Bios update. When a DVD/CD drive's new [& so returnable], I like to run MediaCodeSpeedEdit... this app can update the firmware with a modded version, or modify the firmware itself -- it can fix problems with some brands/models of media, but more importantly, remove the copy speed limit set as an aid to DRM. Very nice when your brand new drive's slow as the old one it replaced.

If the backup requires a registration code and name when trying to restore during an outage and users do not have one, it makes this program useless. Has potential and would be very useful, but with this limitation, I see no point in installing it.

Like #1 Ashraf says, "You need registration code and registration name to restore drivers from the standalone executable if you don’t have Driver Magician installed; problem is you don’t get a registration code and registration name from GOTD to use with that standalone executable."

If you lose your installation with a HD crash, and need to reinstate your driver backup to a new HD, you're out of luck. These standalone EXE backups (as advertised) will give users a dangerously false sense of security.

Brian

Well, I'm sure Driver Magician has it's good points, but even though hunting up drivers manually can be a big hassle, I still won't recommend this sort of program. IMHO driver mgmt software doesn't work because there are just too many variables to handle, let alone handle well. In many cases drivers should never be updated until they've been researched, & then only after a full backup. ATI graphics drivers are a great case in point -- there are whole forums about them & 3rd party tools to scour the registry beforehand. Need to roll back after installing a new version? *Might* have to un-install & reinstall .NET, on top of scouring the registry, & still wind up restoring from backup! For a couple three years ATI graphics may include HDMI, which means a separate Realtek audio chip, & an old Microsoft generic audio driver that often won't install in current, updated Windows.

Motherboard [the main PC/laptop circuit board] related drivers often have issues -- do you use the manufacturer or supplier version, does the manufacturer recommend installation if you're not having problems (they may work less well than Windows own), on a PC which driver do you install (you may need to ID a chip from the # on it), & so on. Then once everything's working, they seldom (if ever) need to be updated -- updates are normally bug fixes, often obscure ones that have no bearing on 99 % or more of users, & stand a good chance of breaking something... they're no longer under active development & any patch isn't going to be tested that thoroughly. If I remember correctly Realtek had network drivers for most of 2008 that were broken, despite monthly updates.

While a fair bit of hardware does their own update checks, like Microsoft, Logitech, & Epson to name a few, finding others (often in forums or obscure, often Asian sites) & sometimes modding them to install is not something Driver Magician is going to handle. Why modded driver installs? Throw away your older Creative gear otherwise [just one example]. Want a backup for when/if you reinstall Windows? Burn this stuff to disc when you find it for one thing. Don't re-install Windows at the drop of a hat for another -- Windows doesn't degrade on its own, but can get messed up by the user... so don't mess it up. Windows update often has drivers -- these are normally cut down versions, may even be a branch of the real thing, & in 7 can near irreparably damage Windows... be warned.

Like #1 Ashraf says, "You need registration code and registration name to restore drivers from the standalone executable if you don’t have Driver Magician installed; problem is you don’t get a registration code and registration name from GOTD to use with that standalone executable."

This severely limits the scope of this program. If you lose the installed copy (when your HD crashes for instance) there is no way to restore drivers to the new HD from the standalone .exe backups. Not realizing this will give the user a false sense of security... THINKING they have working backups, but NOT in reality.

Brian

PROS:

* Downloaded, installed, activated fine on Vista Home Premium x64 SP2 OS.
* Smooth program access without needing to use Admin Mode.
* Simple, clear, easy-to-understand, easy-to-navigate GUI.
* Help guidance (and developer contact information) located within program.
* Easy, efficient, intuitive program operation.
* Quickly and automatically listed my non-system drivers upon launch.
* Easily, swiftly and effiently backed up drivers to specified folder.
*Supports 5 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian).
* Allows user to backup drivers to: folders, compressed files, executables (exe) and automatic extract/launch executables(exe).

CONS: - Nothing significant to note at the moment.

SUMMARY: Works well, as described, and as expected. Thanks, GOTD and Gold Solution.

FREEWARE OPTION:

DriverMax 5.3 - CNET Editor Rating 5/5

This seems to be a good program. It installed and activated very easily on Win Vista Ultimate 32 bit. It runs well and does as it states....mostly.

However, in the description it states:
**Clone all drivers to an auto-setup package (.EXE), so you can restore drivers without installing Driver Magician.**

GOTD users are NOT given the registration information to use that function. Yet they choose to include that function in their description anyhow.

A way to trick everyone into buying? Being truthful works better and creates valued customers!

My opinion is this: If it's NOT usable to those they are offering it to they should clearly state that it's not a fully functioning program they are offering, exactly what features can be used by those here at GOTD, and why it's limited.

While it's a good program without that feature being accessible to us, it's also NOT very HONORABLE of the company or developers. Not very "customer friendly" in that respect.

**Note to the company and developers: Word of mouth and customer satisfaction go a long way and can greatly impact a company.**

Thank you GOTD for today's offer. It's a good program.....for what it allows us here at GOTD to do.

I've been using drivermax too and seems to work well, just recently 64bit driver support was added. the free version limits you to downloading 2 driver per day

This software works great.
Those who missed to download this driver magician,I suggest you to
try other freeware software that has same function with driver magician
like:
Windriver Expert 1.90(freeware)

I already have version 3.40.
Will download this as an update.
Thanks GAOTD

@1, and others: Look for DriverMagician in system registry.

Does this also take into account the vendors 'applets' that come with some hardware or does it simply take the INF, DLL and drv files - what about registry based machine specific configuration settings - does the registry restore feature allow for selective restores or do you simply get access to the keys?

Agree it is a big step to install this one and rely on it.

Thanks folks - always a pleasure.

I bought this program years ago. Comes with free upgrades for life, if you lost it in a crash , contact them they give it back. Good program, good company. Very pleased with this program.I keep my updated drivers on a C.D.,saves a lot of time if you crash one.

I've never found this type of software to be useful, and I did test this version. About the only thing it's good for is reminding you about some rarely-updated drivers for your mainboard and some of its components.

Find the OEM driver-download websites for you devices and bookmark them if you can't remember them. Put your driver downloads in a folder, you can back them up any way you want (typically, they'll already be compressed). Driver Magician doesn't see a lot of devices, doesn't know about all of the latest drivers, doesn't tell you about beta drivers, doesn't tell you about associated utilities, and doesn't provide documentation related to the drivers. You should definitely handle researching and updating your drivers yourself. Some devices require firmware updates, which may or may not be handled by driver updates (optical drives typically only require firmware updates).

Hi all!!


As I've just said on Ashraf's website there is something wrong in his review today.

I had already told him a few months ago that there are actually a couple of TOOLS capable of updating DRIVERS and in one case even all SW installed in our PC for FREE but he decided to DELETE my message for no reason (and to be honest the same thing occured both here and on the GAOTD forum a couple of days ago for another program).

In my humble view his review is today just for once incomplete and wrong because:


- DRIVERMAX is not 100% FREE since, after the trial period (30 days), if you want to update your DRIVERS you are asked to buy a PREMIUM ACCOUNT otherwise you can update just one DRIVER per day!!


- DOUBLE DRIVER cannot be considered a FREE ALTERNATIVE to this GAOTD since it lacks the ability to search for DRIVER UPDATE which is the main and probably the only reason why people decide to buy programs such as DRIVER MAGICIAN or DRIVER GENIUS PRO (DRIVERMAX and DRIVER BACKUP!2 can also BACKUP DRIVERS with ease for FREE exactly as DOUBLE DRIVER does).

Of course, you can update the DRIVERS from your vendor Driver CD or search for them in the manufacturer’s website, but what if you have lost the Driver CD or you have no idea who is the manufacturer of the hardware device?

After all not all DEVICE DRIVERS are available in the Windows database, are they??

So searching for the RIGHT DRIVERS, before backing them up in a folder, can be a tedious and time-consuming task, especially if in your PC are installed UNKNOWN DEVICES.

That's why programs such as this GAOTD are a must-have tool if you want to keep your (known and unknown) DRIVERS of you system always updated with a couple of clicks.

As simple as that!!


As for the real FREE ALTERNATIVES to this GAOTD I mentioned above, I suggest you taking a peep at the following article (in particular see the second and third tool):


http://mytechquest.com/windows/free-driver-update-software-that-keep-your-computer-hardware-device-drivers-up-to-date/


So my suggestion for today's product is to GRAB this GAOTD until the offer is ON because it's definitely an excellent program.


However, since the standalone executable is not accessible to GOTD users, I also suggest you saving a copy of it on a portable device otherwise you won't be able to track the GAOTD serial number, should your PC suffer a crash, unless you know a (geek) trick to track it down.

In fact if you do not have DRIVER MAGICIAN installed, whenever you try to run its self executable backup, you will be prompted with a window asking you to enter a registration name/code which is the serial number or registration code users get from GAOTD.

But the problem is that if you don't have this registration name/code (and GOTD users don't get it once they have installed DRIVER MAGICIAN on their PC) only the video and network adapters will be extracted, meaning that you can't restore your (backed-up) DRIVERS without installing DRIVER MAGICIAN


As (true) FREE ALTERNATIVES of this GAOTD I suggest this combination of TOOLS:


- RADARSYNC 2009 to UPDATE your DRIVERS as well as your SOFTWARE installed in your PC, since it scans your computer for out-dated hardware device drivers and software in a similar way followed by whatever else update checker application such as FILEHIPPO UPDATE CHECKER.

- DOUBLE DRIVER or DRIVERMAX or DRIVER BACKUP!2 to backup your HARDWARE DRIVERS after being previously updated with RADARSYNC.


Ok, having said that, I profit by occasion to inform you that this is my LAST MESSAGE for you both here and on the GAOTD forum because don't like to be CENSORED for NO REASON by anyone (Ashraf, Bubby included...LOL!!).

Actually it looks like both Ashraf and GAOTD ADMIN such as BUBBY are no longer happy to read my comments and suggestions about the GAOTD released on a daily basis, probably because they have received one or more email from some envious Italian "friends" of mine, who have mistaken the Italian forum of this website for a chat with silly comments released on a daily basis, in which they talked crap about me.


Never mind!!!



Good luck to everybody!!!!



Over & out!!!




Adios!!

Giovanni