Not all users are aware of what DriverPack Solution is. Feedback about it can often be both positive and negative. This is due, first of all, to the fact that many entry-level users simply do not know how to use it. Let's look at DriverPack Solution 13 and 12 in a bit more detail and will proceed from comparing several major versions.
What is Driver Pack Solution
Few people know that the package is quite difficult to use. The same Windows installation distribution such as Zver DVD does not always contain the necessary drivers for the devices available on the system.
In fact, DriverPack Solution 7, which was developed once before, although it was a more or less workable version, the developers abandoned it. This was due to several shortcomings, which were fixed in 10 versions. Take at least DriverPack Solution 12. There are many changes, not only in terms of support for the most advanced devices, but also the corresponding software, which will be discussed later.
Why is this package needed?
Today, DriverPack Solution 14 is the most relevant. The reviews speak for themselves. The fact is that this software product contains the maximum number of drivers for all devices.
Of course, you can try Windows verification options, but this method may not lead to absolutely nothing. In the best case, the system will display a message stating that the driver was not found in the root directory, and it will need to be installed from the disk or from the specified location using the "Browse ..." button.
This is far from always the right method. If you use the same free DriverPack Solution, you can be sure that it will work. Here it is worth paying attention to the package itself. Depending on the version, DriverPack Solution may have several major differences between versions.
Automatic driver installation
Consider the general principles of the DriverPack Solution program. Feedback about it may not be the most flattering, from the point of view of the user, but not everyone understands what the application itself is based on.
To begin with, at the first launch after installation, the application scans the system and automatically searches for hardware or virtual devices, for which, in fact, you need to install the necessary drivers. Take DriverPack Solution 14. For example, reviews of this application indicate that the system is scanned for available components quickly enough, and the program itself supports more than 820 thousand drivers of different versions.
Upon completion of the first process, it will be proposed to install the necessary drivers for the found devices from its own data archive.
It is clear that when installing the application, you will first have to burn it to a two-layer DVD-ROM (after all, the volume is more than 9 GB), and then install the databases on the hard drive.
The process of driver verification and installation will take about 5 minutes, no more. However, one must be careful here. The fact is that not all versions of DriverPack Solution support some types of virtual devices. For example, it can be MIDI keyboards or virtual drivers such as Guitar Rig or Kore 2. They are installed exclusively when starting the installation of the programs themselves. So expect something supernatural from the same DriverPack Solution 13.
Moreover, some specific devices may not be detected during the scanning process. In this case, manual installation is required.
Manual installation
If such a situation arises, you can use the standard methods by going to the "Control Panel" and selecting "Device Manager" there. As this usually happens, components with incorrectly installed drivers or without them at all will be highlighted in yellow. Here, a right click on the device comes in handy, followed by selecting the “Properties” menu, where you have to use the “Install ...” command, and then specify at least the root folder in which the database of the same DriverPack Solution 12 (or any other version) is located.
If a suitable driver is not found, you will have to use the original disk that came with the device itself. But this is not common. It is worth noting that with regard to DriverPack Solution, the feedback from any user suggests that the driver base in almost any version is so vast that you can find almost everything.
However, as you can see, you will have to create a system restore point . You can do this either from the program itself or using standard Windows tools in the Control Panel.
Benefits
Speaking about the main advantages of the DriverPack Solution application, it is worth noting the explicit automation of driver installation, which is focused on the user with minimal PC knowledge. Neither the installation process of the software package itself, nor the installation of drivers, as a rule, causes problems for anyone.
Moreover, the application, when it is restarted or automatically started together with Windows, can automatically determine not only its own updates, but also the “updates” of already installed drivers. This feature is very convenient in that it allows you to update the device driver without using third-party utilities such as Driver Updater. The application itself turns to the official source, or rather to the manufacturer’s website, after which it suggests installing the appropriate update.
disadvantages
As for the shortcomings, there are almost none. The only thing that can cause some problems for inexperienced users is the issues of writing to an optical disk (if the data needs to be saved for later use) or specifying where the databases should be saved. In the case of recording, you must use a two-layer DVD media (and not double-sided).
Otherwise, nothing will work. Recording can be done using programs such as Nero Burning ROM, UltraISO, Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools, etc. In principle, the procedure is standard.
Reviews
The driverPack Solution software package review on the same official forum may contain quite incorrect information. Just those who do not know how to use this type of program, and write that they could not do it, that it did not work. In fact, a person who knows how to install drivers can easily cope with all versions. After all, you can just go into the settings and update the application to the latest version. Another thing is which version to use.
Regarding the comparison of program versions, it is worth noting only that newer modifications and releases simply support an additional number of drivers from different manufacturers. The principle of the program remains unchanged to this day.
Install or not?
The installation issue is resolved only in favor of the installation. Well, where else can you find such a collection of drivers for all occasions? Here are just among the versions you can find a distribution kit to install on your hard drive and an online version. The latter is characterized in that the PC is scanned for uninstalled drivers or updates when connected to the Internet. First, the application scans its own database, and only then addresses the manufacturer’s website if some component is not found.
In principle, manufacturers are clearly interested in promoting this software product. And the updates that are created constantly refer to this particular package. Another thing is that Microsoft does not include it in the main distribution, and you have to install it manually. But I think this is not a problem, especially since the program itself, along with the databases, is free.
Using Winchester
As for the hard drive, many do not want to store the amount of data on the order of 9 GB. Although if you look, with modern media with space in terabytes, you can not worry about this. In addition, even if the system “flies”, the installation of drivers after recovery will be performed automatically. You will not even need to insert a disc with information.
Moreover, the image of the hard drive itself “weighs” much more than the original database of the DriverPack Solution program (this means the created image or data backup, if included).
Antivirus Issues
Sometimes unforeseen situations may arise when antivirus software installed on a computer terminal or laptop can, to put it mildly, “spit”, believing that during the installation of the next driver or “update” unwanted content is installed. Of course, it all depends on the antivirus.
On the other hand, this problem is solved quite simply. Using the right mouse button on the anti-virus icon, in the bottom panel of System Tray, you can call the context menu where the short-term protection protection command will be indicated. For example, in NOD Smart Security, the minimum time is 10 minutes, after which the protection will be switched back on automatically. But even this time is enough for the main application to work.
Conclusion
In general, only basic concepts and nuances related to the operation of DriverPack Solution software product were given here. If you dig deeper, there are still a lot of things that relate to the so-called "thin" system settings. But it should be noted that such functions are useful to more "advanced" users. But as a standard tool for an inexperienced user, this package is best suited. After all, it is clear why browse the Internet in search of "firewood" if you can install all this in a few minutes from the "screw" or from a DVD? That is why I would like to note that this package is one of the best today. Perhaps no one has yet “surpassed” him.
Well, as for the intricacies of installation and use, here each user must understand himself. True, in theory, no user of any level of training should have any difficulties. By the way, it is not recommended to change even the factory settings, because the entire DriverPack Solution system is oriented precisely at full automation in work. But where to store the basic information, it is up to everyone to decide. In principle, the best storage option is not even on a DVD, but on a flash drive or a removable USB hard drive, since such devices are not subject to physical impact in terms of mechanical damage such as scratches, fingerprints, etc., after which it will simply be impossible to read information .