What's the one free Windows 10 driver update tool you prefer most & why?
 

On 9/27/20 12:36 AM, this is what Arlen Holder wrote:
What's the one free Windows 10 driver update tool you prefer most & why?

I'm troubleshooting an intermittent BSOD, where the crash logs
implicate Fltmgr.sys, and, where "some" suggestions for BSODs
related to that file say to update all the drivers.
o Windows 10 BSOD indicates a hardware problem - but what hardware is the problem?
https://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkive.com/oL7PTNKu/windows-10-bsod-indicates-a-hardware-problem-but-what-hardware-is-the-problem
http://www.pcbanter.net/showthread.php?t=1110105

OK. But how do we update all the outdated drivers?

o When I run Windows Update, it says I'm already updated.
Win+I Update & Security Windows Update [Check for updates]

o Every driver in Device Manager says it's already updated.
Win+R devmgmt.msc
And then I right clicked Update Drivers - HID-Compliant Mouse
Search automatically for drivers (but all I tested simply reported):
"The best drivers for your device are already installed"

But when I run the crippleware from Auslogics, it says I need 10 drivers:
https://www.auslogics.com/en/articles/fix-ntoskrnl-exe-bsod/
https://downloads.auslogics.com/en/driver-updater/driver-updater-setup.exe
Name: driver-updater-setup.exe
Size: 12768144 bytes (12 MiB)
SHA256: A9A07BCDF2D9663FC54B42DC2E754BD9AADABD8DA9D7CF4286 18808B7F076F81
C:\Program Files (x86)\Auslogics\Driver Updater
C:\app\hardware\driver\auslogic_driver_updater

When I ran that crippleware, it said:
ATTENTION: 10 drivers on your PC are either outdated or corrupt.

1. AMD SMBus Installed 8/30/2017 Available 9/25/2018 Outdated
2. PCI Standard ISA Bridge Installed 6/21/2006 Available 7/16/2012 Outdated
3. HID-compliant mouse Installed 6/21/2006 Available 4/24/2010 Outdated
4. Disk drive Installed 6/21/2006 Available 8/11/2013 Outdated
5. Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Installed 6/21/2006 Available 11/13/2008
Outdated
6. Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller Installed 6/21/2006 Available
6/28/2013 Outdated
7. Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller Installed 6/21/2006 Available
6/28/2013 Outdated
8. Realtek USB 2.0 Card Reader Installed 3/15/2018 Available 4/1/2019
Outdated
9. Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller Installed 4/10/2015 Available
12/6/2018 Outdated
10. Generic PnP Monitor Installed 6/21/2006 Available 9/16/2010 Outdated

That crippleware only lets you update 3 drivers, before it barfs on you.
(which I didn't know before I used it, so it's essentially worthless.)

Googling for a good free driver update tool, I find this article:

o 11 Best Free Driver Updater Tools
https://www.lifewire.com/free-driver-updater-tools-2619206
1. Driver Booster
2. DriverPack Solution
3. Snappy Driver Installer
4. Driver Talent
5. DriversCloud
6. DriverIdentifier
7. Free Driver Scout
8. Driver Easy
9. Device Doctor
10. DriverHub
11. DriverMax

Before I go off and test them in turn, have you already tested
for the best Windows driver update freeware tools?

What's the one free Windows 10 driver update tool you prefer most and why?

I usually just search the manufacturer's website. Or google the product itself and see if it turns up especially from the manufacturer.
I'm reluctant to use these driver utilities. Not that I know they don't work, just over cautious where they get the drivers.
If you had an image like macrium of acronis, you could easily play.

Al

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Linux Mint 19.3 64bit, Dell Inspiron 5570, Quad Core i7-8550U