How to (easily) update your drivers
0x6A7232
USMembers Join Date: 2016-10-06 Member: 222906Posts: 5,270 Advanced user

If you want a 3rd party driver update solution that's free and actually works, check this list by LifeWire, and look under the columns "what we like / don't like"... looks like the go-to would be DriverHub, so we'll go into that below.
I use Snappy Driver Installer from that list, but it's a bit harder to use, and downloads like every driver, ever, in several huge packs totaling about 8GB, to then install the ones you need.
I'd go with DriverHub (see next paragraph for why) and just watch during initial installation for the "I Agree" checkmark that's on any section labeled "Install Additional Software" (there's like 2, and they're for free anti-virus but you don't need that) and DE-SELECT "I agree" at the bottom and hit next (unless you want McAffee nagging you to buy their stuff, or would like to try Avast! Free Anti-Virus). See picture below.
Why go with DriverHub?
1) Simplest user interface I've seen in a program like this (see Screenshots section below)
2) Minimally intrusive ads (just a banner below the operation section)
3) The bundled click-bait for the unaware wasn't sketchy (anti-virus software, a nuisance for sure, but not harmful or hard to get rid of if accidentally installed)
4) Automatically creates Restore Point before driver install
5) You can switch to "Advanced" mode and see the recommended driver version, alternative driver version for optional selection, and your currently installed version, and their providers and date of release (see Screenshots section).
6) There's a handy section called "Useful programs" on the left-side navbar with shortcuts to Windows functions that not all users are aware of. List:
Screenshots:
DriverHub Main:
DriverHub History:
Driver Restore (if a new driver causes issues):
Simple Mode:
Advanced Mode:
Websites:
Above-mentioned LifeWire list of free driver software and pros / cons
https://www.lifewire.com/free-driver-updater-tools-2619206
DriverHub homepage
Snappy Driver Installer (a bit harder to use and downloads like 8GB of drivers, useful for portable updating of drivers from USB on any computer, not so much for personal updates of one or two computers) | LifeWire review
I use Snappy Driver Installer from that list, but it's a bit harder to use, and downloads like every driver, ever, in several huge packs totaling about 8GB, to then install the ones you need.
I'd go with DriverHub (see next paragraph for why) and just watch during initial installation for the "I Agree" checkmark that's on any section labeled "Install Additional Software" (there's like 2, and they're for free anti-virus but you don't need that) and DE-SELECT "I agree" at the bottom and hit next (unless you want McAffee nagging you to buy their stuff, or would like to try Avast! Free Anti-Virus). See picture below.

Why go with DriverHub?
1) Simplest user interface I've seen in a program like this (see Screenshots section below)
2) Minimally intrusive ads (just a banner below the operation section)
3) The bundled click-bait for the unaware wasn't sketchy (anti-virus software, a nuisance for sure, but not harmful or hard to get rid of if accidentally installed)
4) Automatically creates Restore Point before driver install
5) You can switch to "Advanced" mode and see the recommended driver version, alternative driver version for optional selection, and your currently installed version, and their providers and date of release (see Screenshots section).
6) There's a handy section called "Useful programs" on the left-side navbar with shortcuts to Windows functions that not all users are aware of. List:
Recovery options, Add/Remove Programs, System Information, Display Settings, Power Profile Settings, Network Connection Settings, Computer Management overview, Control Panel, Disk Management, Task Manager, and Command Prompt
Screenshots:
DriverHub Main:





Websites:
Above-mentioned LifeWire list of free driver software and pros / cons
https://www.lifewire.com/free-driver-updater-tools-2619206
DriverHub homepage
Snappy Driver Installer (a bit harder to use and downloads like 8GB of drivers, useful for portable updating of drivers from USB on any computer, not so much for personal updates of one or two computers) | LifeWire review
Post edited by 0x6A7232 on
UWE Community guidelines | Guide to play in VR with Google Cardboard or Gear | Increase Subnautica view distance | Useful info to post with error reports | Recovery of corrupted saved games | How to easily update your drivers
Crashing, lag problems? Or maybe your old save didn't get the latest update? Upload your saved game folder to help the devs troubleshoot, then try clearing your cache directories | Automatic Cache cleaning tool here | How to use the Debug Console | How to play any version of Subnautica using Steam | Tips for Subnautica beginners | Why can't the devs "just fix it"? - a modding session for you to educate yourself with Want more frames? Try adding this to your launch options: -window-mode exclusive | Solve options not saving or black screens by deleting options file | Possible workaround for Pause / Menu Bug | Rescue a trapped Seamoth / PRAWN
Slow loading / textures popping in? Try moving Subnautica to an SSD | How to switch Subnautica to Experimental mode (clear cache afterwards) | How to run chkdsk on your drive | How to verify integrity of your game cache (in the "Installation" section) | Blue screens or computer freezing up? Try this fix (updates a corrupted DX10 compatibility file in the graphics driver that sometimes doesn't get updated)
Subnautica launches in a tiny window? Use Task Manager to Maximize it (Thanks FlippingPower) | How to place your Moonpool so it connects correctly (includes diagrams) | Want to hang out with fellow players and the devs? Subnautica Discord server ← swing on by! | SuspensionRailway's Modding Emporium ↔ Categorized list of mods, including 1st playthrough-friendly ← Hey, look, mods! → ReShade mods ↔ Subnautica NexusMods | TERRAFORMING mod
Humans don't crush at the depths you might think
Joystick problems? | Xpadder | UJR / vJoy | JoyToKey | Get detailed info for troubleshooting: CPU-Z | GPU-Z | HWiNFO64 | Speccy | Pastebin | Recover the data on your crashed hard disk! | I'm a Total Geek
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Crashing, lag problems? Or maybe your old save didn't get the latest update? Upload your saved game folder to help the devs troubleshoot, then try clearing your cache directories | Automatic Cache cleaning tool here | How to use the Debug Console | How to play any version of Subnautica using Steam | Tips for Subnautica beginners | Why can't the devs "just fix it"? - a modding session for you to educate yourself with Want more frames? Try adding this to your launch options: -window-mode exclusive | Solve options not saving or black screens by deleting options file | Possible workaround for Pause / Menu Bug | Rescue a trapped Seamoth / PRAWN
Slow loading / textures popping in? Try moving Subnautica to an SSD | How to switch Subnautica to Experimental mode (clear cache afterwards) | How to run chkdsk on your drive | How to verify integrity of your game cache (in the "Installation" section) | Blue screens or computer freezing up? Try this fix (updates a corrupted DX10 compatibility file in the graphics driver that sometimes doesn't get updated)
Subnautica launches in a tiny window? Use Task Manager to Maximize it (Thanks FlippingPower) | How to place your Moonpool so it connects correctly (includes diagrams) | Want to hang out with fellow players and the devs? Subnautica Discord server ← swing on by! | SuspensionRailway's Modding Emporium ↔ Categorized list of mods, including 1st playthrough-friendly ← Hey, look, mods! → ReShade mods ↔ Subnautica NexusMods | TERRAFORMING mod
Humans don't crush at the depths you might think
Joystick problems? | Xpadder | UJR / vJoy | JoyToKey | Get detailed info for troubleshooting: CPU-Z | GPU-Z | HWiNFO64 | Speccy | Pastebin | Recover the data on your crashed hard disk! | I'm a Total Geek
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Comments
Drivers are important because they are the interface between the operating system and hardware and updating drivers can resolve conflicts and errors due to the developers fixing bugs and other issues. System performance can also be increased and more functionality be accessed.
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Crashing, lag problems? Or maybe your old save didn't get the latest update? Upload your saved game folder to help the devs troubleshoot, then try clearing your cache directories | Automatic Cache cleaning tool here | How to use the Debug Console | How to play any version of Subnautica using Steam | Tips for Subnautica beginners | Why can't the devs "just fix it"? - a modding session for you to educate yourself with Want more frames? Try adding this to your launch options: -window-mode exclusive | Solve options not saving or black screens by deleting options file | Possible workaround for Pause / Menu Bug | Rescue a trapped Seamoth / PRAWN
Slow loading / textures popping in? Try moving Subnautica to an SSD | How to switch Subnautica to Experimental mode (clear cache afterwards) | How to run chkdsk on your drive | How to verify integrity of your game cache (in the "Installation" section) | Blue screens or computer freezing up? Try this fix (updates a corrupted DX10 compatibility file in the graphics driver that sometimes doesn't get updated)
Subnautica launches in a tiny window? Use Task Manager to Maximize it (Thanks FlippingPower) | How to place your Moonpool so it connects correctly (includes diagrams) | Want to hang out with fellow players and the devs? Subnautica Discord server ← swing on by! | SuspensionRailway's Modding Emporium ↔ Categorized list of mods, including 1st playthrough-friendly ← Hey, look, mods! → ReShade mods ↔ Subnautica NexusMods | TERRAFORMING mod
Humans don't crush at the depths you might think
Joystick problems? | Xpadder | UJR / vJoy | JoyToKey | Get detailed info for troubleshooting: CPU-Z | GPU-Z | HWiNFO64 | Speccy | Pastebin | Recover the data on your crashed hard disk! | I'm a Total Geek
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