HP Update Question

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie on this forums but I've been reading most of the threads where people have asked for help and it seems that this is a great community for any questions regarding laptops. So my question is, I just got my HDX16, and was updating it through the HP Update program, and it only had two updates for me and both seemed not to be very important, so I was wondering about updating the BIOS and the different hardware drivers, is this done through HP Update or do I have to go on their website and download them from the site? Also is there a way I can see what version driver I have currently installed?

 

Welcome....

Before you do anything ... make a copy of the software setup folder, put it somewhere other than on your computer, and run the Recovery Manager to make your recovery disks…. You may need them….

Personnally, I've never found the HP Update program very useful. I don’t think it includes BIOS updates and always seems to miss important drivers. If you're relatively new to computers, and everything is functioning correctly, I would suggest that you're best option is to pretty much to leave the unit as is and not to tinker with it much. The only exception might be a BIOS update if one is available. Follow the directions closely.... be patient....and you shouldn't have a problem.

As far as drivers go, if you must tinker, check in device manager.... then the specific device.... then properties.... then the drivers tab. You'll see the specific driver description there. Compare numbers, and if you need them, stick with the drivers provided by HP for your unit on the driver update page for your unit... download them to a temp folder.... run.... and you shouldn't have any problem there either. Do one at a time... check for functionality... and if you have a problem... use the roll back function for the specific device provided in device manager.

Best advice though is to just remove/uninstall the stuff you don't need or use and uncheck nearly everything that is in startup (run msconfig) with the exception of anti-virus, quicktouch, quicklaunch, mediasmart (if you use it)and anything that says Microsoft. Those two “tweaking” items alone will make a surprising difference in performance. Ccleaner is also useful at cleaning up some of the stuff that uninstalls leave behind and I’ve never had an issue with it. Also search “bloatware removal” on this site and you’ll find some good advice.


Go slow…. Be careful…. And Have fun.

 

Thanks for the advice

As for the removing start up programs I use Tune-Up Utilities 2009 to stop programs from starting up, do you recommand that program or should I still use msconfig?

I do use CCleaner after I've finished uninstalling a few programs, but Tune-Up has the same capabilities as CCleaner, but I still use both just incase one program catches more than the other.

 

You're welcome.... and I hope everything works out for ya.

I have no experience with Tune-Up Utilities so I can't really say one way or the other. In general however, I try to avoid programs that add another software layer. CCleaner only functions when you open the program. If Tune-up is shown running in the task manager after BOOT, then I probably wouldn't use it. Like I said.... I haven't used Tune-up.

Old School.... but I personally just use explorer, ms config, and/or regedit after software installs/un-installs and then follow through with CCleaner. I wouldn't recommend regedit though unless you're comfortable with editing the the system registry.