When Windows starts to run slowly, blue screens appear , or a component behaves erratically, many people immediately think of formatting and reinstalling the system from scratch . However, in a vast number of cases, the problem lies with one or more conflicting, improperly installed, or outdated drivers, and it can be fixed without wiping the entire system.
The good news is that Windows itself, along with some free and paid utilities, offers powerful tools for locating, checking, updating, and rolling back drivers without having to reinstall the entire operating system. However, caution is advised, because modifying certain critical drivers without knowing what you're doing can render your PC unusable.
What are drivers and why can they cause so many problems?
On any modern PC, drivers are small programs that allow Windows to communicate with the hardware : graphics card, network card, USB, chipset, audio, printers, etc. Without them, the system wouldn't even know what device was connected or how to use it.
These drivers contain all the information about the capabilities, access paths, and operating mode of each component. That's why they are delicate: if a driver is corrupted, incompatible, or faulty, it can cause anything from minor errors to complete crashes or boot problems.
Not all drivers are equally critical. Chipset, storage (SATA/NVMe), graphics card, and network drivers are especially sensitive: a bad update in these areas can result in data loss, blue screens of death, or Windows simply failing to boot.
At the same time, these drivers typically receive security patches and performance updates . Letting years go by without updating them means living with open vulnerabilities, performance below the hardware's capabilities, and even higher than necessary power consumption.
That's why balance is important: update when necessary, but sensibly , knowing how to revert changes if something goes wrong and avoiding installing generic or faulty drivers.
Safety precautions before touching any controller
Before aggressively removing, reverting, or updating drivers, it's advisable to take a couple of basic precautions to minimize risks if something goes wrong during the process.
The first step is to create a System Restore Point . This built-in Windows feature allows you to revert your system to a previous state without affecting your documents, in case a new driver prevents your PC from booting or causes widespread instability.
In addition to creating a restore point, it's highly recommended to back up your important data (documents, photos, projects, etc.) to another drive, an external hard drive, or the cloud. A storage driver failure can trigger file system errors, and it's not worth taking the risk.
If you're going to change critical drivers like those for the SATA controller, chipsets, or GPUs, it's a good idea to note the current driver version and date . That way, if the new version is worse, you can find the exact previous driver on the manufacturer's website.
Finally, before installing third-party driver software, make sure it comes from official websites or trusted sources . Some installers include adware or try to sneak in unnecessary programs if you keep clicking "Next" without checking anything.
How to view and manage drivers from Device Manager
The basic tool included in Windows for managing hardware is Device Manager . Understanding it well is key to locating conflicting drivers without affecting the entire operating system.
To open it, you can right-click the Windows Start button and choose "Device Manager," or use the Windows + X shortcut and select it from the menu. You can also access it from "This PC" → right-click → "Manage."
In the window that appears, you'll see a list of categories (display adapters, network controllers, Bluetooth, etc.). Within each category, the detected devices and their associated drivers are displayed . If any of them have problems, Windows usually marks them with a yellow warning icon.
Double-clicking on a device opens its Properties window . On the "General" tab, you can see if the device is "working correctly" or displays a specific error code, which provides clues about the problem.
The "Driver" tab contains several important options that allow you to act on each driver without touching anything else in the system :
- Driver details: shows the files that make up the driver and their path.
- Update Driver: allows you to automatically search for newer versions using Windows Update or specify a downloaded driver file.
- Revert to the previous controllerUseful if something has started to malfunction after updating; restores the previous version if available.
- Disable device: Turns off the device without uninstalling the driver, ideal for testing.
- Uninstall device: removes the driver and device from the system; upon restarting, Windows will attempt to install it from scratch.
When you suspect a specific component is causing crashes, you can temporarily disable it and see if the system stabilizes. If you need to take drastic measures, the uninstall and restart option usually causes Windows to load a generic driver or download a suitable one from its servers.
Detect conflicting drivers using CMD, PowerShell, and msinfo
Device Manager is fine for going component by component, but if you want a global view of everything that's installed (including drivers that aren't active at the moment), it's best to use CMD, PowerShell, and system information tools.
From a command prompt, you can run `driverquery` to get a complete list of drivers. Press Windows + R , type "cmd", and in the black window type:
driverquery
This basic command displays a table of all installed drivers. For more details, add the ` /v` parameter to see expanded information, including memory usage, build date, and status.
driverquery /v
This view allows you to detect drivers with disproportionate memory consumption (possible memory leaks) or drivers with very old dates that may need updating, especially if they are essential such as those for the GPU or CHIPSET.
If you only want to see the digitally signed drivers, with more security details, you can use:
driverquery/si
To review all available parameters, simply run driverquery /? and take a look at the command's help.
PowerShell offers a more flexible alternative. Open PowerShell as administrator and run:
Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | select DeviceName, Manufacturer, DriverVersion
This will show you a list with the device name, manufacturer, and driver version for each component. You can copy the contents and paste them into Excel to compare versions with those offered by the manufacturer on their website.
Another useful tool is msinfo32 . From the search box or by pressing Windows + R, simply type "msinfo32" to access System Information. There you'll find a very comprehensive tree with data on hardware, components, and installed drivers . It's somewhat more cluttered than Device Manager, but it provides a very in-depth view of your PC.
How to clean up conflicting Windows Update downloads
Sometimes the problem isn't the driver itself, but rather that Windows Update stubbornly keeps downloading a faulty or outdated version, insisting on reinstalling it repeatedly. In these cases, it's helpful to "reset" the update components.
To do this, open a console as administrator (right-click on Start → “Terminal/PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command Prompt (Administrator)”). Once open, type:
cd% windir%
Then stop the services related to Windows Update by entering these commands one by one:
net stop wuauerv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Next, rename two key folders so that Windows can regenerate them:
ren %systemroot%\System32\Catroot2 Catroot2.old
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
If any error message appears, repeat the command or continue with the following steps; the important thing is that those cache folders are renewed.
Then it restarts the suspended services:
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Type exit to close the command prompt window. Next, clear temporary files with Windows + R → “temp” and delete everything. Then do the same with %temp% and finally, open %windir%\WinSxS and delete the pending.xml file if it exists.
After restarting the computer, Windows Update will recreate the cache and stop forcing some problematic driver installations , significantly reducing recurring conflicts with specific drivers.
Download and install OEM drivers from the manufacturer's website
A common mistake is thinking that the best driver for your computer is always the latest generic one from Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, or whoever. For many laptops, mini PCs, handheld consoles (such as some with Intel hardware), and brand-name computers, the manufacturer releases custom (OEM) drivers with settings specific to that model.
If, for example, you have performed a "clean installation" of the Intel graphics driver and lost optimizations specific to MSI, Dell, HP, etc. , it is recommended to download the driver package designed for your specific model from the manufacturer's website.
To do this, you need to know the exact brand, model, and sometimes serial number or SNID of the device. You can obtain this information in several ways:
- Searching "msinfo32"and reviewing the "System Summary" section."
- Looking at the sticker on the base on the laptop or desktop case, where the model and serial number usually appear.
- Using hardware diagnostic tools such as AIDA64 or similar.
With that information, go to the manufacturer's official support website , enter your model number, and download the drivers for your operating system (Windows 10, 11, etc.). Many websites list several versions, so you might want to try an older version if the newest one is giving you problems.
In the case of OEM drivers for Intel chipsets or integrated graphics modified by the assembler, it is usually best to install the OEM package first and only resort to the generic driver if you have very specific problems that the manufacturer has not yet updated.
Using Windows Update and optional updates
Windows 10 and 11 come with a lot of work done by default: the system is able to detect much of the hardware and automatically download appropriate drivers via Windows Update, especially for critical components and generic drivers.
In Windows 11, in addition to regular updates, you can check for optional updates , which often include device drivers:
- Open Settings.
- Go to “Windows Update” → “Advanced options”.
- Look for “Optional Upgrades”.
- Expand “Driver updates”.
There you can manually select which additional drivers you want to install. It's a very convenient way to update recommended drivers without searching through websites , especially for network, audio, Bluetooth, and other devices.
In Windows 10, the process is similar: go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and check for available updates. Within the "optional updates" list, you may find drivers that are not automatically installed unless you select them.
This automatic update system usually handles the most critical and common drivers . However, it doesn't always offer the latest version available on the manufacturer's website, nor does it cover all peripherals, so it's still advisable to supplement it with other methods.
Uninstall and reinstall drivers without reinstalling Windows
When a device becomes completely unstable, one strategy that works very well is to uninstall the driver and let Windows reinstall it from scratch , without touching the rest of the system.
To do this, open Device Manager, locate the problematic component (for example, a network card, WiFi adapter, or USB device), right-click on it, and choose "Uninstall device" or "Uninstall driver."
If the wizard offers to " delete the driver software for this device ," select it if you want Windows to completely ignore the old version stored on your system. This is especially useful if you suspect the stored driver is corrupted.
Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer . Upon startup, Windows will detect the device again and attempt to install a compatible driver from its own repositories or from Windows Update.
This method is very effective when a driver is stuck or when an incorrect version has been installed. In many cases, it's enough to resolve conflicts without having to format or modify other components.
Install drivers manually, step by step
Some devices (especially low-level or highly specialized peripherals) don't come with an .exe installer and are distributed simply as driver files (.inf and associated files) . In these cases, manual installation is done through Device Manager.
First, download the driver package from the manufacturer's official website or a trusted source. Unzip it if it comes in a ZIP file and locate the .inf file inside.
Next, open Device Manager, locate the component (if it doesn't have a driver, it usually appears with a yellow warning icon or as "Unknown Device"). Right-click on it and select "Update driver".
Select the option “ Browse my computer for driver software ” and then specify the folder where you saved the downloaded driver. Windows will search that location for a valid .inf file and, if everything is compatible, will install the driver.
If you encounter an error during installation, the driver may not be compatible with your version of Windows, may be for a different architecture (32/64-bit), or may be corrupted. In that case, the best course of action is to revert to the previous state and look for a more suitable driver package.
Identify the hardware to locate the correct driver
To download the correct driver, you first need to know exactly what hardware is installed in your PC . Windows offers several tools for this, and there are also third-party programs focused on identification.
In Windows, you can right-click on the Start menu and select System to see general information about your computer: processor, memory, Windows edition, etc. It's not the most detailed view, but it serves as a good starting point.
For more complete information, type dxdiag in the search box and run the command. This will open the DirectX diagnostic tool, where the "Display" tab will show you the graphics card name, manufacturer, and chip type —very useful information for finding the correct website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, etc.).
Task Manager also helps identify hardware. Open the tool (Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose “Task Manager”) and go to the “Performance” tab. There you will see:
- CPU: exact processor model.
- Conference proceedings: amount of RAM, speed, type.
- Disc: drive type (HDD/SSD), capacity and performance.
- WiFi/Ethernet: network adapter in use.
- GPU: integrated or dedicated graphics card.
If you need even more detail, there are specialized tools like AIDA64 and other hardware inventory utilities . These applications provide a detailed list of motherboards, chipsets, controllers, BIOS/UEFI versions, and much more, making it easier to find the exact drivers on the manufacturer's website.
Graphics card drivers: a special case
Graphics card drivers are probably the best known, because they directly influence the performance of games and 3D applications and usually receive frequent updates with specific improvements.
Both NVIDIA and AMD (and Intel with its recent graphics cards) regularly release new drivers that provide FPS increases, new technologies, and security patches . For example, some recent AMD drivers have introduced features like AMD Fluid Motion Frames , capable of doubling the frame rate in many DirectX 11/12 games, or latency reduction technologies like Anti-Lag+.
To manage these updates without complications, each manufacturer offers its own accompanying software . In the case of NVIDIA, it's GeForce Experience; for AMD, Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition.
GeForce Experience lets you find and install the latest driver with a single click, as well as optimize game graphics settings and take screenshots or screen recordings. It runs in the background with very low resource consumption.
Radeon Software Adrenalin offers a very complete panel where you can view GPU/CPU temperature and load, adjust fans, apply performance profiles and, of course, update drivers whenever a new compatible version is released.
Although these drivers bring many improvements, there are also specific cases where a newly released version causes serious problems (as has happened with some RTX drivers or certain AMD series). In these scenarios, it's essential to know how to revert to a previous stable version, either from the manufacturer's control panel or using the "Roll Back Driver" option in Device Manager.
Why it's so important to keep your drivers up to date (and when it's not a good idea to do so)
Updating drivers isn't just a "gamer fad" or a whim. It's actually one of the best defenses against hardware vulnerabilities and an effective way to extend the life of your PC without replacing parts.
Any software, including drivers, can contain security vulnerabilities that allow attackers to execute code, escalate privileges, or cause malfunctions. Most driver updates include fixes for these types of vulnerabilities, although they aren't always listed in the public release notes to avoid alerting those who don't update.
Furthermore, many manufacturers take advantage of new versions to refine performance and efficiency . In the case of graphics cards, changelogs often mention specific FPS improvements for each game. For other components, latency is reduced, power consumption is optimized, or features that were initially disabled are added.
Updates also fix bugs introduced by previous versions or by changes in Windows. If you start seeing strange errors after a major system update, it's well worth checking if the manufacturer has released a new driver compatible with that version of Windows.
That said, it's important not to go to the opposite extreme: installing any newly released driver without checking anything. Sometimes, a hasty update can break things that were working fine before . If your computer is critical for work and everything is running smoothly, it might be wiser to wait a few days, read other users' experiences, and if something seems off, keep a previous, stable driver.
The best strategy is to rely on the manufacturer's official tools (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA utilities, Logitech software, Corsair, etc.), which usually notify you when there is a major new version and even allow you to revert to a previous version in case of serious problems.
Third-party tools to locate, update, and back up drivers
If keeping everything up-to-date device by device seems like a chore, there are programs that analyze your system, detect missing or outdated drivers, and offer automatic or semi-automatic updates . They're very convenient, but you should use them wisely.
Among the most popular free options is Driver Booster by IObit . This tool scans installed drivers, compares them to an extensive database, and shows which ones are outdated. With the free version, you can update many of them with a single click, and it also offers the option to remove old drivers and clean up leftover files.
Another well-known utility is Snappy Driver Installer Origin , an open-source, portable application. It features a "Lite" mode (downloading only what's needed at any given time) and a "Full" mode (several GB of drivers for offline use). It even allows you to automatically create restore points before applying changes, providing an excellent safety net.
Tools like InstalledDriversList (from NirSoft) offer a different approach: they focus on providing a very detailed list of all installed drivers, including name, startup type, grouping, file size, version, modification time, and memory execution data. This is useful for auditing the system and detecting suspicious or unnecessary components.
There are also commercial programs such as AVG Driver Updater, Driver Easy, Driver Talent, Driver Reviver, Slimware DriverUpdate, DriverMax, and others. They often add features such as:
- Driver backups to restore them if something goes wrong.
- Schedule of automatic checks of updates.
- Very large repositories of drivers from hundreds or thousands of manufacturers.
- Additional verification of signatures and security of the downloaded files.
The biggest risk with these types of tools is that, for convenience, we tend to let them update everything at once . This can lead to some devices receiving a "compatible" driver but not the exact one they need, causing conflicts. The wisest approach is usually to update only what you actually need (for example, your graphics card or a problematic sound card) instead of letting them install 30 drivers simultaneously.
On systems without an internet connection, solutions like DriverPack or the full versions of Snappy allow you to install drivers from a USB drive , which is very practical after formatting when you don't even have the network driver yet.
Drivers worth keeping a close eye on
Not all drivers deserve the same attention. Some rarely change, while others have a very direct impact on the stability, performance, and security of your computer, so it's a good idea to review and update them more often.
In the case of the motherboard , there are usually several important driver packages: chipset drivers, integrated network card drivers, audio drivers, USB port drivers, and SATA/NVMe controller drivers. Keeping these up to date helps prevent bottlenecks and failures in essential peripherals.
As we've already mentioned, the graphics card driver is the star performer in terms of frequent updates, especially if you play games or use video editing applications, CAD software, etc. This is where the performance improvements between versions are most noticeable.
SSD storage controllers (SATA, NVMe) and firmware affect both performance and data integrity. Manufacturers sometimes release critical updates to fix bugs that could cause data corruption or unexpected crashes.
Meanwhile, advanced peripherals like gaming mice and keyboards, headsets with spatial sound, and RGB lighting devices usually come with their own software. While these drivers aren't typically as critical as chipset drivers, manufacturers do introduce improvements, bug fixes, and new features, so it's always a good idea to let their official applications update when necessary.
Finally, chipset drivers are often overlooked. They are responsible for coordinating communication between the CPU, memory, storage, and many peripherals, so updating them can make a significant difference in overall stability and the resolution of seemingly inexplicable bugs.
With this arsenal of tools integrated into Windows, official manufacturer utilities, and specialized third-party programs, locating conflicting drivers and tidying up the system is perfectly possible without resorting to formatting: with a little method, a backup on hand, and some patience, you can isolate the problematic component, check versions, uninstall what's unnecessary, reinstall what's needed, and keep the truly important drivers up to date so that your PC runs smoothly for much longer.
