Step-By-Step: A Foolproof Guide to Updating Your Motherboard Drivers

 

Introduction

Updating your motherboard drivers is an essential part of maintaining peak performance and stability for your computer. With new drivers, you get access to the latest optimizations, bug fixes, and features from the manufacturer. However, the process of updating drivers can seem daunting for beginners. This guide aims to make updating motherboard drivers simple and straightforward. We will walk through the steps in detail, explain key concepts, and provide troubleshooting tips. By the end, you will have the knowledge to update your motherboard drivers with confidence.

Prerequisites

-Computer with internet access

-Administrative access to the computer

-Knowledge of computer brand and motherboard model

-Backup of important data

-Time to perform updates – can take upwards of 30 minutes

Step 1 – Verify System Information

The first step is to gather information about your computer’s brand, motherboard model, and current driver versions. This allows you to find and download the correct drivers later on.

To find out your computer brand and model, look for a brand name and logo on the monitor, case, or at startup. The motherboard model can be found in the System Information or by opening the case and checking the motherboard label.

For the current driver versions, go to Device Manager in Windows. Expand categories like ‘Processors’, ‘Display adapters’, etc. Right-click each device and select ‘Properties’. Move to the ‘Driver’ tab and note down the driver version, date, and provider.

Step 2 – Download Latest Drivers

With your system information gathered, it’s time to get the latest drivers from the manufacturer website.

Go to the support page for your motherboard or computer brand. For example, if you have an Asus motherboard, go to Asus.com and browse to the support section.

Use the model name or number to find the product page. This page will have a Drivers and Tools section you can download drivers from. Compare versions to what you noted in Step 1. Download any drivers that are newer.

Some essential drivers to update include:

Chipset driver – Manage communications between components

Graphics driver – Enables display and 3D rendering

Audio driver – For sound cards and onboard audio

LAN driver – For internet and networking functions

If unsure, downloading all the latest drivers can help maximize performance and compatibility. Be sure to select the right OS version as well.

Step 3 – Backup Data and Close Programs

With the new drivers ready, take some preparatory steps before starting installation.

First, backup any important data as a precaution. Updating drivers can very rarely cause issues. Be sure to copy important files and folders to an external hard drive or flash drive as a backup. Flash drives provide a quick and convenient way to store backups of critical data before performing system updates. Consider labeling each flash drive with its backup contents to stay organized. Consider getting good wholesale flash drives by buying in bulk online for cheaper deals.

Next, make sure to close all programs and windows. Driver installation requires exclusive access to system files and may restart the computer. Having files and programs open could lead to potential errors or data loss.

You may also want to temporarily disconnect peripherals like printers and scanners. This prevents driver conflicts during the update process.

Finally, ensure your computer has adequate charge or is plugged in. The update process can take upwards of 30 minutes, depending on the system.

Step 4 – Install Chipset Drivers First

When ready to begin, first install the Chipset driver if you downloaded a new version.

The Chipset driver manages communications between core components like the processor, RAM, USB controllers, etc. By updating Chipset drivers first, the rest of the new drivers will integrate smoothly.

To install, simply double-click the Chipset driver download file and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer will guide you through the process of uninstalling the old driver and installing the new version.

Be sure to restart the computer when prompted after the Chipset driver installs. This loads the updated driver into memory.

Step 5 – Update Remaining Drivers

With the Chipset driver updated, continue installing any other new drivers you downloaded.

There is no special order for the remaining drivers. However, we recommend doing one driver at a time to isolate any potential issues.

For each new driver:

Double-click the download file to launch the installer

Follow the prompts to remove the old driver and install the new version

Restart the computer when the installation completes

Verify the new driver version in Device Manager

The process is straightforward and automated for most standard drivers. Just allow time for the uninstall, reboot, and fresh install for each one.

Step 6 – Roll Back Any Problem Drivers

Once finished updating all drivers, your motherboard and system should be running with the latest optimizations and fixes.

However, bad drivers can occasionally slip through quality control. If you experience issues like crashes, hardware failures, or BSODs, a problematic driver may be the cause.

If problems arise, boot into Safe Mode and roll back the most recent driver updated. This reverts it to the previous stable version and can resolve any conflicts.

To boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 or 11:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery

Under Advanced Startup, click ‘Restart Now’

After restarting to the Choose an Option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart

After restarting again, press F5 or 5 on the Startup Settings screen to enable Safe Mode.

Then in Safe Mode, use Device Manager to right-click the problem driver and select Uninstall. On the next reboot, Windows will automatically reinstall the previous version.

Undoing the latest driver update often resolves any issues introduced by the new driver. If problems persist, continue rolling back other recently updated drivers one by one.

Conclusion

Updating your motherboard drivers enables you to enjoy the latest optimizations and fixes from the manufacturer. While the process involves many steps, this guide has outlined an easy-to-follow procedure even beginners can handle. With the prerequisite system information, latest driver downloads, backups in place, and step-by-step instructions, you cannot go wrong. Keep your drivers updated periodically and your system will enjoy improved performance, stability, and compatibility.