How To Have Powershell Scan And Update Drivers

7 min read Oct 02, 2024

How to Have PowerShell Scan and Update Drivers

Keeping your drivers up-to-date is crucial for optimal system performance, stability, and security. Outdated drivers can lead to various issues, including slowdowns, crashes, and compatibility problems. While Windows Update can handle some driver updates, it's often beneficial to manually scan and update drivers using PowerShell. This method provides more control and flexibility.

Understanding the Importance of Driver Updates

Why are driver updates important?

Improved system stability: Outdated drivers can cause conflicts and instability, leading to crashes and system freezes.
Enhanced performance: New drivers often include optimizations and performance improvements, making your system run smoother and faster.
Security enhancements: Driver updates often include security patches that protect your system against vulnerabilities.
Hardware compatibility: Updates ensure your hardware components work seamlessly with your operating system.

Using PowerShell to Scan and Update Drivers

How to use PowerShell to scan and update drivers?

PowerShell is a powerful command-line scripting language built into Windows. It allows you to automate tasks and interact with your system in a more advanced way. Here's a breakdown of how to use PowerShell to scan and update your drivers:

Open PowerShell: Search for "PowerShell" in the Windows search bar and run it as administrator.
Import the required modules: To work with drivers, we need to import specific modules:
```
Import-Module DeviceManagement
Import-Module CimCmdlets
```
Scan for outdated drivers:
```
Get-WmiObject Win32_DeviceDriver -Filter "DriverVersion LIKE '%(Unknown Version)%'" 
```
This command searches for drivers with "(Unknown Version)" in their version string, indicating they might be outdated.
Update the driver manually:
```
Update-Driver -Name  -DriverPath  -Force 
```
Replace <DriverName> with the driver's name and <DriverPath> with the path to the updated driver file. The -Force parameter forces the installation even if the driver version is newer.
Update drivers automatically:
```
Get-WmiObject Win32_DeviceDriver -Filter "DriverVersion LIKE '%(Unknown Version)%'" | ForEach-Object { Update-Driver -Name $_.Name -Online }
```
This command finds all drivers with "(Unknown Version)" and attempts to automatically download and install the latest version online.

Tips for Using PowerShell for Driver Updates:

Backup your system: Always create a system backup before making any significant system changes, including driver updates.
Use a driver update tool: If you prefer a more user-friendly approach, consider using a third-party driver update tool. These tools often have a larger database of drivers and can automate the update process.
Research driver versions: Before updating a driver, research the specific version to ensure compatibility and stability with your system.

Example:

Let's say you want to update your graphics card driver. You can use the following commands:

# Get information about the graphics card driver
Get-WmiObject Win32_DeviceDriver -Filter "Description LIKE 'NVIDIA%' OR Description LIKE 'AMD%' OR Description LIKE 'Intel%'" 

# Update the driver manually
Update-Driver -Name "" -DriverPath "" -Force

Note: Replace <DriverName> with the actual name of your graphics card driver and <Path to driver file> with the path to the updated driver file you downloaded.

Considerations and Alternatives

What if PowerShell doesn't find the driver?

If PowerShell doesn't locate a driver with "(Unknown Version)" in its version string, it doesn't necessarily mean the driver is up-to-date. It's best to check for driver updates on the manufacturer's website directly.

Alternatives to PowerShell:

Windows Update: While not as granular as PowerShell, Windows Update automatically checks for and installs driver updates.
Device Manager: You can access Device Manager through the Control Panel and manually update drivers for specific devices.
Driver Update Software: Several third-party software applications specialize in driver updates, often providing a more streamlined user experience.

Conclusion

PowerShell offers a powerful and flexible way to manage your system's drivers, allowing you to scan for outdated drivers and perform updates manually or automatically. Remember to always research and back up your system before making any significant changes to your drivers. While Windows Update and Device Manager provide alternative methods, PowerShell offers a more advanced and customizable approach for driver management.

How To Have Powershell Scan And Update Drivers