Driver Support is a Windows utility and subscription service for identifying hardware and finding the drivers that belong to it. Its current consumer offering, DriverSupport ONE, uses the computer’s make, model and installed components to select updates. The service combines driver recommendations and installation automation with notifications when suitable updates become available.
Device matching
Driver Support builds an inventory of the PC before selecting drivers. That inventory includes the manufacturer and model, processor, memory, motherboard and BIOS information. The software and its online service use these details to match the machine against manufacturer driver information, rather than treating a newer driver date as sufficient reason to replace an installed package.
The scan identifies missing or outdated drivers and produces recommendations for the detected hardware.
Subscription and support
Driver updating requires a paid subscription. The charge covers the service that finds and applies the drivers; the drivers themselves are also available free from their respective hardware manufacturers.
An active subscription includes chat or email assistance for using Driver Support itself. Hardware and peripheral troubleshooting that requires the device manufacturer’s technical support falls outside that assistance.
Update notices
Driver Support notifies users about new drivers applicable to their devices. Users choose which updates to install and when to apply them, so an available replacement can be considered before changing the computer’s working configuration.
Monitoring continues beyond the initial scan. Driver Support watches for newly installed hardware and plug-and-play events that may require another driver. A device added later can therefore be included in the same matching process as the computer’s existing components.
Driver archives
Driver Support can archive the computer’s driver configuration and return to it if a later change causes problems.
The online account also holds driver download information, backups and information about changes made to device drivers. Users can access this account from another PC, making the stored records available beyond the machine on which the original scan ran.
PC cleanup
DriverSupport ONE offers Optimize & Clean alongside its driver tools. This service handles application optimization and removes system clutter. Access to these functions can require an upgraded subscription beyond driver updating.
PageBoost
PageBoost addresses web browsing by blocking advertisements and limiting advertiser tracking. It forms part of DriverSupport ONE’s additional services, which can carry a separate upgrade fee.
