computer question

[treky]

I keep getting an error message that says 6 DRIVERS OUT OF DATE

so far, I've just been ignoring it because I don't want to sink any more money into this computer unless I have to. The computer seems to be working fine, so is this message important? Can I continue to ignore it? What are the drivers anyway?

[robyrob]

device drivers are the bits of code that tells Windows how to talk to the hardware devices on your computer; like your modem, video card, sound card, monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc.

nothing bad is going to happen if you don't update your drivers, normally driver updates are released to address glitches or problems, sometimes caused by Windows updates - if something stops working or starts having a problem, then you should look at updating a related driver.

sometimes Windows Update, antivirus programs or various utility programs get bored and start recommending driver updates - well meaning but sometimes not the best results. I would normally recommend going to the original manufacturer of the device's website to get driver updates because they are usually going to be more likely to get you the correct version for your hardware (and give you the reason for the update). If you have a name brand computer (like a Dell or an HP for example) go to their website to check for updates related to your computer, you will probably need a serial number or tag# for this.

it is important to note the source of these warnings - messages from Windows or your installed antivirus programs are safe, but anything else could potentially be from malware trying to trick you into downloading something bad. To be on the safe side, update and run your antivirus and anti-spyware programs regularly.