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Driver Magician

(9 posts) (4 voices)

Started 17 years ago by triphammer
Latest reply from triphammer

triphammer
Member

I'm constantly modifying my computer (taking out graphics cards, sometimes changing the mobo, cpu, or both... sometimes just swapping out the hard drive and putting it into another computer).

"Driver Magician" works well for most of what it was designed to do, except when using the "update" option it seemed to pick up on alot of things I didn't have installed anymore. I was able to pick and choose what I wanted updated, but a person who is unfamiliar with what they're using for drivers may have a problem if they don't know what they're doing.

In my case the "Driver Magician" indicated I had an ATI graphic driver update. But I'm no longer using ATI... (in fact I uninstalled the software altogether through Windows). I'm using an NVidia card now. "Driver Magician" also indicated I had an Nvidia graphic update as well. If I update my machine with the ATI file that I downloaded through "Driver Magician", I will screw things up for my NVidia card.

I know it's partially my fault for not REALLY cleaning up drivers and software when I uninstall something... but I really don't like deleting shared dll's (as you really don't know what programs are still sharing them or have associated themselves with them even though you've gotten rid of the original program that installed it in the first place). And so I was thinking maybe that's why it's saying I need an update for some of my drivers (even though my computer isn't using those drivers anymore).

Anybody else have similar problems?

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

More than likely in your drivers lists ATI still has an entry thats not used

Thats why it picked it up.

I have used the same hard drive for 6 years, however I have changed motherboard 3 times, graphics card 3 times, now on a router, modem 3 times, added 3 cards, though I know what you're talking about, you just don't select it.

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Sounds like you might have a use for http://www.drivercleaner.net/
It's $10 to register - but there is the last freeware version (v1.5) still floating around if you search (but it is pretty old).

Alternatively http://www.techimo.com/forum/t173194.html explains one method to easily remove unused drivers on XP.

Posted 17 years ago #
triphammer
Member

Thx Bubby... but I'm not trying to clean up drivers on my pc. So I don't need the link, but thx anyway. I have more than enough software to do that kinda thing, and I'm not having a problem... so no need to solve any problem for me. But I appreciate the help.

I was only making a point of conversation to discuss the software. Besides, there's an issue with shared dll's that I don't want to confront with those "cleaners". And I really don't want to get rid of anything in case I do swap in something that may need the dll. Then I can update it then if need be. I know the ones I have now work and I'm a firm believer in not fixing something that works.

It not only picked up ATI.. but a number of other ones as well. I was just using ATI as an example because if i didn't know what I was doing... I would have updated whatever the program said needed updating. And in this particular case with ATI, if I did update those drivers, I would have had a problem with my NVidia card.

But Lee's right... "you just don't select it". For me that's fine (and is what I did), but if I was someone that was just willing to take a program's word for it, then I might end up having problems instead of solving them.

I like the program. I'm also glad it gives you the option of CHOOSING what drivers to update. In an attempt to become more "user friendly", some software companies take out steps that they think their customers wouldn't "need" to worry about. Kudos to the devs for not assuming!

In all respects the program works great. I just think someone not as experienced may have problems if they "update" just because the driver is on the list. Because the list is picking up more than just what you REALLY need. Everybody's computer is different. I know mine is an extreme case because I'm always swapping something to try but less extreme circumstances are posible resulting with the same problem.

Thx for the replies...

Posted 17 years ago #
madman
Member

I ran driver magician in the update mode, and I'm pretty freaked out at what it came up with: For my AMD system (that hasn't ever been anything else), it came up with FOUR drivers/utilities for INTEL. And a whole pile of other stuff that is not relevant to any hardware I have. And an exciting new nvidia graphics driver, v. 93.81, that's so new that the nvidia website hasn't heard of it yet. I shudder to think what that is. Anyhoo, drive carefully if at all with this utility. I will say it was impressively FAST, but I gotta file it under fiction.

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

Probably o.e.m. or a beta driver.

With respect to nVidia.

Is everything in your computer AMD?

I have a weak AMD processor, Sepron 1.8ghz and a K8M800-M2 mobo.

I have lots of other items which driver magician found updates for, for older drivers to an older mobo which was intel.

I find a lot of so called 'driver update' programs do this.

Even when updating to a newer driver you still get told it's out-of-date.

I only use this app for backing up, well it's free so no biggy.

Shame win drivers isn't free like the good old days.

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

93.81 is a Beta driver (still under testing)
http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_downloads_rel70betadriver.html

If you read the release notes (page3) the difference between 93.71 and 93.81 really won't affect most people.
http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/93.81/93.81_ForceWare_Release_Notes.pdf

In regard to getting Intel drivers - Do you have any intel chipsets or maybe network card etc (or have installed them in the past). I treat the driver updates only as suggestions. Driver manager still requires some common sense and a small amout of investigation (eg - check the nvidia drivers) to determine if an upgrade is actually needed.

Driver Magician if given to a "System Tinkerer" to "play with" will probably end in grief. Like you have done with the intel drivers - know your system and use common sense. Use it as a tool to just save time - or you can always do backups and upgrades the hard way.

It's far from perfect, but it's better than nothing at all.

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

New version today b.t.w.

http://www.drivermagician.com/ now version 3.18

Direct download.

http://www.drivermagician.com/DriverMagician.exe

New version does not work with serial which came via activate from here.

Shame that!

Posted 17 years ago #
triphammer
Member

Wow.. I knew that was coming. Doesn't surprise me though. I still like the program. I like the fact that you can back up your drivers to an executable file. It is easy to use and as said already.. it's quick. As Madman said "drive carefully with this one". You just have to be careful with updating. I guess if you know your machine you won't have probs.

Posted 17 years ago #

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