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    Can some one please tell me where I can find a FREE driver scaning and downloading program?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by calintz333, Jul 29, 2009.

  1. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    I don't know much about computers so when I install drivers often times I find I install the wrong ones and cause a ton of more problems...

    I find all these handy driver downloading tools but none of them are actually free or even tell you if they are not until you already downloaded and installed them.

    This is getting me really really pissed off now.

    Iv been downloading these damn tools all afternoon and have yet to find one that is actually free.

    Im trying to do things the "right" way even though I could have gotten what I wanted already.

    So Since they make it so damn hard to get these things, I want to ask you guys.

    Im sure a few of ya know about some sort of FREE legit online Driver scan and download system, site, program, or what not. Can you please point me to it?
     
    calintz333, Jul 29, 2009
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  2. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    Theres no need for any of that nonsense, just give me your specs and hardware and ill assist you in finding drivers for your system. ;) Theres no need to waste any green on useless software that might end up giving you more problems. Also try using your manufacturer's site for drivers.
     
    Saisei, Jul 29, 2009
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  3. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    I wish I knew how to tell you exactly what hardware I have...

    Iv also been looking for a FREE program to tell me what hardware I have
     
    calintz333, Jul 29, 2009
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  4. dbam987

    dbam987 wicked-poster

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    Give Driver Max a whirl. I haven't tried it myself yet though.
     
    dbam987, Jul 29, 2009
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  5. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    You can use device manager to see what hardware you have.
     
    Saisei, Jul 29, 2009
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  6. darnatl

    darnatl Notebook Guru

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    I've recently tried driver max to identify "unknown" hardware. You have to register an account, but it appears to be free and does do a good job of identifying all hardware and the appropriate driver versions.
     
    darnatl, Jul 29, 2009
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  7. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Who made your laptop? What's the model number? Do you have the packing slip that came with the computer, or a copy of the original order form?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 29, 2009
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  8. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    Well Most importantly I would like to get a properly working driver for my graphics card, an Nvidia 256 8600m GT. I got the newest one from Nvidia but it keeps causing distortions in my gaming and some odd graphic problems that I cant honestly explain. Like color squares all over my screen after a few seconds of lag in a game.
     
    calintz333, Jul 29, 2009
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  9. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Who made your laptop? What's the model number? Do you have the packing slip that came with the computer, or a copy of the original order form?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 29, 2009
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  10. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

    laptopvideo2go.com is also good.
     
    Saisei, Jul 29, 2009
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  11. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    Dell did but I am unable to install their drivers. I tried downloading them from the main site and it does not work.


    I can honesty not explain it to you guys. Ill just tell you what happens step by step

    I click download

    I get the download screen

    The download completes

    I click on the download to launch it

    It gives me a little window with some symbol as if to connect to the internet

    It gives me a screen named Dell driver download manager, All downloads saved to: Documents

    Then a small screen saying There are no files to download. Please go to drivers and downloads to select file(s). Then makes me close the program.

    I go to my drivers under documents, and also check under downloads, it both said "This folder is empty" so then I proceed to want to rip my hair out.
     
    calintz333, Jul 29, 2009
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  12. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    You answered one of my questions. We now know that Dell made the laptop. How about you tell us the model number?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 29, 2009
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  13. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    Do you have vista or win7? Also your suppose to goto the drop down boxes in the nvidia link.
     
    Saisei, Jul 29, 2009
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  14. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    Inspiron 1520 Windows Vista 32
     
    calintz333, Jul 29, 2009
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  15. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    Saisei, Jul 29, 2009
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  16. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Do you have the original packing slip, or the original order form? Either will list the hardware that shipped with your laptop.

    Dell provides a restore partition with their laptops. You can restore your laptop to the original shipping configuration by pressing ctrl+f11 during the boot process. This replace your existing system with an image of the original system - all data will be wiped out. If you choose to do this, make sure to back up all of your data to an external device (CD/DVD/USB hard drive/USB flash device).
     
    kegobeer, Jul 30, 2009
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  17. calintz333

    calintz333 Notebook Geek

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    Here is a picture of my problem that happens all the time. This is imo ether

    A Hardware failure
    B Software/ Driver error

    By the way it only started happening about a month ago...out of no where.
     

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    calintz333, Jul 30, 2009
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  18. EnterKnight

    EnterKnight Notebook Evangelist

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    It's an 8000-series GPU. Looks like the heat got to it... get Dell to replace it.
     
    EnterKnight, Jul 30, 2009
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