looking for Software like "Driver Genius"

Discussion in 'Software' started by thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010.

  1. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    I have a third party built pc which does not host drivers on their own website. I'm looking for a program like driver genius that will allow me to detect drivers I need to get rid of those pesky yellow question marks (windows update is no help and i've already been on intel's website and used their utility)

    I usually use driver genius to back up drivers before a reformat but in this case I was unable to do so and now am lost in a way to find these lost drivers.

    looking for freeware if there is anything out there. thanks!
     
    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #1
  2. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    tgell, Dec 31, 2010
    #2
  3. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Personally I would not trust any Driver Scanner type application as they dont always give you the correct driver at all, they cannot really know all the driver and hardware configurations that OEMs produce and in the main give you generic drivers, I have seen too many times, someone run one of these and it messes up their drivers or Windows, one main area they dont always get rigth is Audio drivers (this is one to leave alone if already installed ok)

    It is not always best to update drivers if they are working ok, (I know in your case you have missing ones at this point) as dont fix whats not broke, only driver to really update is Graphics Card IMHO.


    The best route for a trouble free driver experience is to just learn a small bit about your PC and in the main all it takes is knowing the make and model of the hardware the 3rd party builder used in your PC, then armed with that you can get all the drivers from the original maker of that hardware as 99% of them supply these drivers freely.


    So how do you do this you ask, well simple, follow the below as written and we can guide you to the drivers and get rid of these yellow ! marks (do tell us what the yellow ! marks are as this is a great help).



    Then from here, with the log that you attach we can work out what the motherboard maker and model is and get most of the drivers, the main one to start with is the Chipset as this allow Windows to recognise most of the other motherboard hardware easily, then after a reboot once the Chipset is installed you start on the others, but attach the log as written above and we can do a step by step for you, then in future you will know what to do.


    *note: do remember when starting a post asking for help that you always add the Windows version and Service Pack you are using and if its a software issue, the software involved and any errors, these things help us alot.
     
    DavidGP, Dec 31, 2010
    #3
  4. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    Thanks for all the info. Here's a copy of the report. The two items in device manager that are yellow question marks are: ethernet controller and PCI communications controller
     

    Attached Files:

    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #4
  5. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi


    Your Motherboard is an Intel Desktop Board and model DG33FB, so all drivers are HERE for the motherboard, any addon PCI cards make have different makers and drivers,

    But install the Chipset from HERE and reboot.

    The Ethernet Controller is HERE


    Your PCI Comms hardware is a LSI SV92PP but in the best traditions of some makers they dont have the drivers direct (hence the .1% deviance in my % figure earlier) but the same modem is used by HP HERE so try this one,

    Then reboot and see if your missing any still?
     
    DavidGP, Dec 31, 2010
    #5
  6. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    Thanks for all your help so far David.

    The ethernet driver worked flawlessly which makes me happy. Though I don't know why this driver wasn't pickup up when I initially ran the driver utility software from Intel's website.

    The driver for the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" did not work however.
     
    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #6
  7. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Hello,
    A company called Agere originally developed that chip and then they merged with LSI. Try this driver and see if it works.
     
    tgell, Dec 31, 2010
    #7
  8. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    Clicking on the "download now" link just takes me to LSI's website. If I do a search for "PCI-SV92PP Soft Modem 6.0.5365.8" there I get thrown into a website with some documentation links but no driver download section.

    These Nobilus PC's will be the death of me....
     
    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #8
  9. satrow

    satrow Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Try the drivers linked from this page - if they still exist ...
     
    satrow, Dec 31, 2010
    #9
  10. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Sorry about that, I should have checked the link. :-o

    Does your Nobilus computer have a model number?
     
    tgell, Dec 31, 2010
    #10
  11. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    It's ok.

    and yes it does, it is - 1022756
     
    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #11
  12. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Just a quick question its not a fix, but maybe a workaround, do you actually use DialUp Modem for your internet or for a fax machine?

    I actually took my DUN (dialup modem) out of my PC as I have DSL and have no need for this hardware.

    But could you do me a favour and in Device Manager, double click on this items yellow ! mark and bring up the properties, then click the Hardware tab, then choose in the dropdwon Hardware Ids and in the value box copy and pate the info into one of your next posts as what the info holds although gobbledgook to most is a signature to a hardware device that can with some searching help find a compatible driver.

    Also have you tried emailing the PC builders site and asking them for the driver, as likely they will have them saved.
     
    DavidGP, Dec 31, 2010
    #12
  13. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    That might be a serial number. I was looking for something like a NB number.

    You might want to try satrow's link to see if it works.

    One more thing, have you done a windows update and look for anything relating to your modem in optional updates?

    The reason I ask is because when I went to the Microsoft update catalog, they had the driver for your modem in the form a cab file. I was able to open it in Winrar. There is a setup file to run.

    If you select the package details tap on the above link, you will see supported hardware ID's. If you go to your device manager and look at the "PCI Simple Communications Controller" and click on properties, you should be able to see if they match.

    Right click My Computer > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Right click the device you want to view > Properties > Details Tab > Select Hardware Id from the list.
     
    tgell, Dec 31, 2010
    #13
  14. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    @satrow: doesn't look like they exist on that website anymore. Thank you though.

    @David: I am unsure if the customer actively uses the modem; I've tried contacting the customer about this issue but with the holidays they have been unavailable and I've been told by the "higher ups" to " just fix the issue". As far as contacting Nobilus, I've tried that but haven't gotten a response back yet. The Hardware ID from the device properties is: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_29C4&SUBSYS_50448086&REV_02\3&61AAA01&0&18

    @tgell: Sorry about that, the only other number on the back on the machine is - 1282. I've gone to windows update and selected "custom" and no updates appear. As for going to the Windows update catalog website, My privliages as a user are extremely limited and I am unable to run Active X controls for that are required for certain websites. Though I haven't tried on the customer machine yet.
     
    thomas_nuffan, Dec 31, 2010
    #14
  15. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Okay, I downloaded and created a zip file. Please find it attached.
     

    Attached Files:

    tgell, Dec 31, 2010
    #15
  16. thomas_nuffan

    thomas_nuffan Private First Class

    This Fixed the issue.

    thanks everyone for all your help!!
     
    thomas_nuffan, Jan 3, 2011
    #16
  17. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Glad you are all good now. Take care and have a Happy New Year. :)
     
    tgell, Jan 3, 2011
    #17

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