PC Updater - which is the best?

by johndinz Mar 5, 2009 2:21PM PST

In the past few years it seems like a new PC Updater comes on the market every few months. Some of them update drivers, some applications, and some both. I've tried most of them, including:

filehippo

SUMo

Secunia

GetIt

Appupdater

AppGet

AppSnap

"Windows Updates Downloader"

Driver Detective

DriverCure

UpdateStar

InstallPad

Drivermax

Driver Agent

VersionTracker

Uniblue DriverScanner

RadarSync

Windows Update

Which is the best driver and apps updater? I've been playing with these toys several years, testing them out. So far, I've found that I like RadarSync best, because: a) it's FREE (not just the typical free scan, but the actual downloads); b) it's reliable and finds lots of updates; c) it finds driver and apps updates; d) it links to the vendor websites for the downloads, which makes it much more likely that you're getting clean files.

And you? I'm curious to hear which ones other people are using. (and to debate the pros/cons a little)

Cheers,

JD

Discussion is locked

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Personally, I don't.

by MarkFlax Forum moderator Mar 5, 2009 8:14PM PST

I use Windows Updates, then check each application I use every so often.

I don't use Microsoft to update drivers, and in fact I don't update drivers at all unless I have a specific problem, using the tried and tested formula, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it"

If I want to update drivers I go direct to source.

Mark

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I looked at that list and see pain.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 5, 2009 11:21PM PST

Even the one I do use (Windows Updates) can catch one unaware if you accept a driver update.

-> Let's get back to why you need such a thing. Unless something is broken, why use any of those?
Bob

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if it ain't broke..

by johnrivkinsky Mar 9, 2009 2:48PM PDT

You must update your PC Drivers bc - and not many knows that - a hacker, first thing she/does is looking if you have new version of..., and if not they take a look at the release notes, and see volubility fixes, and hack RIGHT THERE!

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(NT) I prefer not to let hackers in, in the first place.

by MarkFlax Forum moderator Mar 9, 2009 8:33PM PDT

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They search for security flaws not out of date drivers...

by John.Wilkinson Mar 10, 2009 2:03AM PDT

Consider what most driver updates offer: Increased performance and minor stability fixes. Yes, security flaws do exist and get patched now and then, but 99% of the time you do not need to download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card the way you do the definitions for your antivirus application or security patches for Windows.

John

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Agreed . . .

by Coryphaeus Mar 10, 2009 11:54PM PDT

More than once I've had to "roll back" a driver.

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and your parents

by johnrivkinsky Mar 15, 2009 1:46PM PDT

and your parents? do you want to go to their homes regularly and update manually or ... give them automated tool to do that... I prefer the second....

but seriously, I think you are wrong, I think those PC Updaters can save us a lot of time usually. It takes a lot of time to find those bloody new version drivers/apps, I rather read a good book instead.

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And frustration...

by John.Wilkinson Mar 15, 2009 3:33PM PDT

If you have regularly relied upon driver updaters and never downloaded an incorrect or faulty update, you are in the minority. Even Windows Update issues faulty driver updates now and then. You may have been lucky, but most suffer the consequences eventually.

John

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modern drivers

by johnrivkinsky Mar 15, 2009 4:31PM PDT

it's not suppose to be like that. Modern drivers suppose to tell you if they were downloaded into wrong configuration/system, and not to be installed. I guess some vendor/device publishers are not so professional.

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You gave false information

by jarrettdustin Jun 5, 2010 4:05PM PDT

It is not free, you must pay for the full version!

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software Informer is best apps

by ory85 Aug 11, 2010 3:36PM PDT

it is the best software upadte solution.

just intall it & forget abt update solution.

PC Updater - which is the best?

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