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- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: March 05, 2010
- Total Downloads: 2,105,319
- Downloads last week: 18,982
- Product Ranking: #2 in Operating Systems & Updates
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- CNET Community
- This product is on 115 member lists. Add to my list Add to my Watch List
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 821 votes
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CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff on November 08, 2008
Behind a slick interface, this program backs up all your PC's drivers in case you mess up something fierce. From registration to implementation, DriverMax works fast, runs smooth, and does even more than mere backing up.
When you run the app, it asks you if you'd like to run the trial version or apply for a registration key. The key is free, though, requiring only an e-mail address and your name. Once you've entered the key, the program interface appears, with slick button navigation: Driver Operations, Updates and Identification, and Popular Hardware. Mousing over one reveals more choices, so you can export your drivers, import drivers, or view an installed drivers report.
Updates lets you update both the DriverMax software and the drivers themselves, although as of this writing there is a warning label on the DriverMax Web site that downloads are not currently functioning. The program can also identify unknown hardware and point you in the direction of popular hardware options, pointing users to a compilation of statistics about different video cards and processors.
The strongest features, though, relate to driver backup and reinstalls. They function smoothly, offering users the option to back up all drivers or compile a customized list. Reinstalling an "accidentally" deleted driver was as pain-free as could be. As of the version 4.4 update, the DriverMax Agent, which automatically scans for driver updates, works in Windows XP and Windows Vista 32-bit, but not 64-bit. This is a great utility tool that should appeal to newbies, advanced hackers, and everybody in between.
Publisher's description
From Innovative Solutions :DriverMax is a powerful free utility which helps you download, back up and restore the drivers installed on your Windows Vista or Windows XP computer and check if newer versions are available. Download all drivers from one place in just a few steps. Or back them up so you will have all of them in a single place and will be able to reinstall them in a few minutes. This tool can save you a lot of time when reinstalling Windows, especially on older computers for which the original CDs containing the drivers have been lost. You no longer have to track down old driver installation CDs, insert one installation CD after another or spend hours searching for drivers on the Internet. DriverMax is also able to display a detailed report about all drivers (versions, release dates) installed on your system. Identify unknown devices in your computer and get Windows Vista rating information before you purchase new hardware.
What's new in this version:
Version 5.5 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.More popular Operating Systems & Updates downloads
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User reviews
- All versions: 3.5 starsout of 821 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- Current version: 3.4 starsout of 46 votes
- 5 stars
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- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"A Fantastic Driver Update Program."
Pros: This Program Is The Best Of The Rest.
Cons: Nothing That I can Think Or Know Of..
Summary: It is a very easy to use program and very dependable. No after problems etc.
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4 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Very useful for updating but has it flaws."
Pros: Most drivers downloaded do maintain your computer. Allot of intel and realteck drivers are updated. Actually inputed my DELL wireless driver which did not come with my Dell laptop. Covers what microsoft windows can't detect.
Cons: Some drivers do mess up your windows but reboot and rollback works very well. Can only install 1 at time and 2 drivers a day, but it is free.
Summary: Well the program works for what is free. About 95% of the drivers have never messed up my computer. Only 1 so far, but rolled it back and everything was fine. Most drivers I don't know if they properly working but I know that my computer's performance is still very good. Allot of my intel graphics are updated, that the intel website can't update. Overall good for maintance and for what is free.
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2 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"A gem gone bad."
Pros: It works very efficiently. It is accurate and finds drivers that other programs can't.
Cons: I am guessing in a desperate attempt to gain some money, the company that created this software limits the "free" users to 2 driver downloads a day. This in itself is very bad, as there are other FREE options that don't limit you as much.
Summary: DriverMax use to be very good. It was the program I would recommend my clients to use after a harddrive format, but ever since the new version came out which makes you purchase a pro account to download over 2 drivers a day, it has gone downhill. In my opinion the company is a bad mix of very good programmers with really bad managers.
If you need to find drivers, you are better off using google search instead of drivermax. -
4 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Very Useful!!!"
Pros: Good SImple features, no "forced" extra software with download.
Cons: May be some kinks if software is not registered and'or paid for, but a sub $50 price point for a pro copy with use on unlimited machines(like for a PC shop) would likely sell like digital hotcakes.
Summary: Good features, good network connectivity, in backup mode it could use a create new folder button(laptop right click broken....) . Other than that, easy to use fair performance of wireless NW, easy to understand, a good overall product.
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5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Absolutely fantastic driver updater"
Pros: It's the easiest updater product out there. Click the icon on your desktop to start the program, then click on "Check online for driver updates." It inventories all your major drivers. A browser window opens and the newest versions can be downloaded.
Cons: The Free version doesn't allow more than two downloads per day. Nor does it allow you to use the Agent window where all your outdated drivers can be downloaded at once, no waiting.
Summary: The bottom-line about DriverMax is that it's an innovative and superior alternative to traditional driver update programs and subscriptions. It's foolproof. If the web page shows that one of your drivers is outdated, you click on the download link, which brings you to a page of different versions of the driver you're seeking. The topmost listed is always the latest. But sometimes, the latest driver is so new, Microsoft hasn't approved it yet. Some people don't like to install unsigned drivers. But you can select the next newest version listed right beneath it.
Windows sometimes does not allow an unsigned driver to be installed, as part of its self-contained system security measures. If you insist on having the latest driver and don't appreciate Windows telling you what you can't install, DriverMax has a built-in function that will override Window's rule against installing unsigned drivers.
Just before you install the unsigned driver, DriverMax offers you the option to wait for your permission or to skip the permission screen.
The best feature, in my opinion, is that you can download a limitless number of driver updates (Pro version), and then install them all at the same time. You don't have to install one driver, restart your computer, then install another, and restart again. You can install batches of updates. DriverMax recommends restarting the computer after each install, if you decide to install one driver at a time. But it's easier to download all your needed updates and then install them all at the same time. You check the drivers you want to install. I check all of them and click on Install. Once all of the drivers are installed, I restart the computer.
UNIDENTIFIED DEVICES
Have you ever looked at your device manager and seen a device with a question mark next to it? It says something like, "Unidentified Device"? You look at the properties, but can't figure out what device it is or what drivers might be missing to get the device to work?
DriverMax has a feature that zeroes in on unidentified devices. Simply open the DriverMax program and select "Identify unknown hardware." It finds the device and identifies it. Simply install or reinstall the driver and you're all set.
Finally, the Backup Drivers feature is awesome. If you ever have to reinstall Windows, you're not going to want to download all the latest drivers all over again. DriverMax allows you to save all your downloaded drivers on USB, or external hard drive, or CD. When it comes time to update your drivers after a fresh install of Windows, merely point DriverMax to the Back Up files and it does the rest.
The product is genius. I am in no way affiliated with Innovative Solutions Software, so my glowing review is based purely on my experience with it. -
4 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"works exactly as advertised"
Pros: Was able to easily back up every WIN 7 driver onto a CD and restore it to another drive that crashed. Couldn't have worked any better or been any easier to use.
Cons: Uutomated search for updated drivers isn't free (but using for backing up or restoring existing drivers like I did is free). Would have given 5 stars if automated searching for updated drivers was free.
Summary:
Automated not Uutomated duh. Should have proof read my post for spelling.
Updated on Jul 19, 2010 -
3 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Pretty good product"
Pros: good way to search for outdated drivers
Cons: screens are very "tech-ie" and not the easiest to understand; had one of my computers lock up during a download of a driver, and I had to restore it back to previous settings to get it back up and running.
Summary: I like the ability to check for and update drivers in one place; but it really isn't very user friendly if you aren't technologically sophisticated.
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4 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Good for finding updates."
Pros: I like the fact that it's thorough for finding drivers.
Cons: I believe we should have the option to have ALL of the drivers updated at once or at least have the ability to download each driver one time under the NON-PAID version.
Summary: Bottom-line....Great idea, but not to fair for limiting the downloads.
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5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"Thanks a Lot!"
Pros: Able to find hard to find drivers.
Cons: Too much information.
Summary: Very Helpful.
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5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: DriverMax 5.5
"GREAT PRODUCT"
Pros: - It solves Realtek sound card problem with SP3
- UI's great
- Detailed infos on hardware and driversCons: You've got to register first... It's free, though
Summary: Great, easy-to-use software
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