Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
Your computer system's drivers tell your hardware and software what to do. Without up-to-date drivers, your system won't perform to its full potential and might even experience problems. Obsolete drivers can sometimes even leave vulnerabilities and security holes that have been fixed in updates that you don't have, and why? Because updating drivers is a nuisance falling somewhere between an oil change and a dentist's appointment, that's why; and it's worse still if you're the sort of user who depends on a PC yet has no earthly idea what goes on inside the box (and like it that way, thank you very much). So, get DriverMax from Innovative Solutions. This free cloud-based tool helps you download and install up-to-date drivers practically painlessly. You'll need to create a free user account to make DriverMax work.
DriverMax scanned our PC during setup and displayed our drivers in a compact view, with up-to-date drivers marked in green and those with available updates in red. The scan found eight available updates. We simply had to click Download to get the drivers, select More Options to view an information box with links to other drivers and options, or click a Help icon to access related information. The drivers all come from a variety of sites and often download and install in different ways, too, so the ability to view other available drivers and documentation can make a big difference.
When you download a driver in the free version of DriverMax, a Web page opens with information and a download link. The Pro upgrade downloads drivers directly within the DriverMax interface, but we don't have a problem with an intermediate step since "slow, steady, and careful" (and plenty of info) add up to trouble-free upgrades and smooth sailing from then on. Of course, you can also use DriverMax as a guide for updating drivers individually using their own programs (where available). DriverMax also backs up and restores your drivers (backup = good). DriverMax proved superior to similar driver maintenance tools we've tried, with a quality look and feel; we recommend it for users of all skill levels.
DriverMax - Backup and restore drivers - Download Video Previews: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 5.31 improves 64-bit compatibility and Windows 7 compatibility and increases download speed for all users.
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 2,380 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 87 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Difficult to use"
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
Finds drivers you have that need updating.
Cons
Very difficult to finally DL the upgrade. There are many other programs that are faster and better. Cnet has one of its own.
Summary
I just don't want to take the time plus the free version only lets you download two files a day. Boo Hiss;
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"no problems with software"
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
will keep my drivers up to date
Cons
some problems with links to update drivers
Summary
pretty good software with all update to keep computer running properly
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"suspiciously dodgy program"
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
It is possible to back up all your drivers eventually - but you are left wondering if you have improved matters or made them worse.
Cons
Tedious process being only allowed two drivers per day, the list of required drivers changes daily, some drivers are identical and refuse to install -difficult for a non technical person to be sure they have the correct driver - impossible to buy .
Summary
Have struggled mightily with this for over a week, apart from the one driver which is impossible to install - (I have downloaded it and installed it 4 times) My drivers are now up to date, although my mouse is now acting quite oddly with delayed reactions in dragging and dropping. it still appears on the out of date list. Far far too many hoops to jump through. impossible to buy the pro version - apparently Pay Pal is out of the question - Visa is impossible as it asks for a non - existent registration number right at the end.
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"Looks to me as a "legal spyware""
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
ok, it does something, but...
Cons
it downloads drivers that doesn't excist, acc. to manufacturer of the devise. e.g. for my Soundmax HD Audio it got a driver that totally upset my sound system. The latest version acc. to Soundmax is 5.10, drivermax came with v. 6.10
Summary
Secondly, there is no Pro version. Tried to buy it (foolishly) after a long and frustrating looping around on their page, I finally came to payment. Verified by Visa - ok - pressed the button "pay" - and I got up an almost blank page, with the message, that a cookie was missing. The money was charged, but no license. On their homepage there is nothing mentioned about a Pro version, you have to install the freeware first, and through their nagging screen, you get access to the so called Pro version. Then uninstalling the Drivermax is a pain. So as said earlier, looks to me as a "legal spyware".
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"Came up with all my laptop's info."
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
There is a large variety of items to d/l.
Cons
It lists so many things that appear similar. I'm not sure which items to d/l.
Summary
Many of the downloadable items have the same information/titles. The only differences being that they are different sizes. Some of the reviews indicate that people who have donwloaded reccomended itemshad lots of trouble afterwards.
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"Seems to have good potential, but VERY cumbersome"
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
Is able to locate many versions of drivers, and gives the user the opportunity of selecting the one desired
Cons
Download, using the free program, is VERY cumbersome. Instead of downloading the driver directly, an intermediate file is downloaded which controls the driver download in small pieces at a time, even on a fast internet connection.
Summary
Will have to try the program a little more, particularly backing up my current drivers. With only 2 driver downloads per day and very a cumbersome download procedure, this freeware is really crippled. It is clear they want the user's frustation level to drive then to the purchased version. I don't like that philosophy!
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"Great Program -- Dreadful (DANGEROUS) Service"
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
The driver backup extremely convenient -- especially if you have to do a clean re-installation (see below)! I'd recommend using this for backups to anybody so long as you prevent the program from starting automatically with windows.
Cons
The associated web page which recommend "updated" drivers is dangerous. Of 4 machines, not 1 recommendation was confirmed by manufacturers' sites. Worse, 1 of the few drivers I DID try on an old machine was the clear the source of a root kit virus.
Summary
Use the backup function only - a handy function. Do NOT download drivers from their links. If their site identifies a "new" driver for your hardware, go to the manufacturer's site and double check. Usually the horse will tell you your current drivers are the latest. Trust the manufacturer -- not the Drivemax site.
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"Finds most drivers which need updating."
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
Simple, easy to use and fast.
Cons
Misses some driver updates, and gets some wrong. It had trouble identifying some drivers for my Asus laptop.
Summary
Good, but not perfect.
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"Bekvämt att slippa leta själv."
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
Bara trycka på en knapp så sköter DriverMax söker DriverMax sökningen efter senaste versionerna av mina drivrutiner.
Cons
Det tar ett tag för mig att förstå eftersom allt står på engelska.Är inte så hemma på detta språk,missuppfattar mycket.Vet inte alltid vad som syftas.
Summary
Jag är en relativt ny användare av produkten.Men min erfarenhet av den är bara positiv.Då jag blir mer rutinerad överväger jag faktiskt att köpa produkten.Det är bekvämt att bara trycka på en knapp så sköter DriverMax resten.
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"I've used this for years and it works."
Version: DriverMax 5.31
Pros
It works - nothing else to say!
Cons
Doesn't handle installing multiple drivers very well but then this isn't always a good idea!
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