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Automatically download and maintain drivers on your Windows desktop without having to manually search for driver up dates

Automatically download and maintain drivers on your Windows desktop without having to manually search for driver up dates

Vote: (16 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: driverdoctor

Version: 6.0.0.17181

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(16 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Version

driverdoctor

6.0.0.17181

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Device driver scan
  • System information tool
  • Intuitive and easy to use

Cons

  • Outdate UI

Driver Doctor is a useful tool to help you find and install Windows device drivers.

Device drivers are small programs that let your computer components communicate with your operating system. If a driver is missing, incorrect or out of date, then that particular component may lack features, run poorly or not function at all.

Driver Doctor—stylized Driver Dr—is a program that intends to make it easier for the casual Windows user to keep his or her device driver current. This program works with Windows XP, Vista, 8, 8.1 and 10. It is supported by a driver database that is more than 8 million entries deep and which is updated on an almost daily basis.

The program is simple to install. It can be executed on demand, but it can also run in your system tray so that it can automatically scan your PC on a schedule. It can even create a restore point, download drivers and install them all without any interaction from you, which is very convenient.

In the settings, you can hide devices, which is handy for the few occasions where there is an incompatibility be a particular driver and Driver DR. The primary way to use Driver DR is to active a scan or occur a scan to occur on a scheduled basis. Scans are quite fast, and when the scan is complete, the program will indicate drivers that are missing, incorrect or outdated.

The program is very intuitive and easy to use even if you opt to download and install drivers manually. The user interface is well-organized but was created during the XP era and has not been updated since so it does look a bit garish from modern standards. It includes a system information that gives you a lot of valuable information about your PC in a single location.

There is no integrated help, but an extensive knowledge base and other support is available on the Driver Doctor website. Licenses last for one year, and at the time of this writing, renewals were charge at 50 percent of the purchase price. In addition, there is a 60-day moneyback guarantee should you determine that the software is not working as expected or you just do not want it.

The biggest knock against Driver Dr and other tools like is that Windows has come a long way in this area over the years. There was a time when a program like this was invaluably convenient. Windows 10, however, does such a good job that programs like this have become a lot less useful.

Pros

  • Device driver scan
  • System information tool
  • Intuitive and easy to use

Cons

  • Outdate UI