Quote:Most home Windows machines may download drivers automatically via Windows Update by default. In the best case scenario, users do not need to install any driver manually to ensure their devices are working properly and offer the best performance. This was not always the case, and you had to install drivers from floppy disks or CDs, or download them from the Internet to get certain peripherals or hardware working properly.

Quite a few programs exist to manage Windows drivers. These usually let you export lists of drivers and check driver information, something that Windows offers as well, but not as straightforward.

When you monitor the installation of drivers, you may notice Windows installing drivers that look to be very old. It is puzzling, so much, that Microsoft decided to publish a new FAQ on its support website to reveal why this might be happening, and why it is usually nothing to worry about.

Here is Microsoft's answer to "Why did Windows install an old driver?": "Driver dates might look old, but that is not true. The driver date is descriptive info set by the driver provider and can be any date they choose. When determining which driver to install, Windows Update uses targeting information set by the provider inside the driver files to determine the best driver. This lets the device provider promote the best driver, regardless of the chosen date. "

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