Downloads

It's always a good idea to keep you machine up-to-date with the latest drivers or software patches, available as they come out on the internet. Below is a selection of links to hardware and software web-sites for components that we supply or have supplied in the past.

Hardware Drivers			Software Updates
Printers	Display Adapters	Motherboard	Operating System
Scanners	Sound Adapters	Misc...	Programs

Before you start...

Before you start to update your PC component's software, its essential (if you don't know already) to know your operating system. We supply Microsoft Windows, however there are different versions. You can check by: viewing your Desktop (so your wallpaper is in view), find the My Computer icon and right-click it. A popup menu will appear - from this, select Properties. The next dialogue box that pops up will display a little bit of information about your system and the version of Windows you are running. For example: "Windows 98" Next, have a copy of WinZip installed and at the ready because many driver updates come compressed as a .zip file, so you'll need it to uncompress them - go to www.winzip.com to download a free evaluation version.

Hardware Drivers

Printers

HP Drivers - this link will open a new window to HP's driver database. Enter the model number located (usual at the front) on your HP device, and you will be presented with a list of drivers available for download. You will only need to download the latest driver for your operating system. Once downloaded install and follow the on-screen instructions.

Epson UK Drivers - clicking here will open a new window to Epson's UK driver database. Select the type of product you wish to update, then on the next page select your model number (usual visible at the front of your device), operating system, click Search and you should be presented with the appropriate latest driver. Once downloaded install and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Scanners

See also manufacturers/instructions under Printers.

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Display Adapters

NVIDIA Latest drivers - The Detonator XP drivers support the following adapters: TNT, TNT2, TNT2 Pro, TNT2 Ultra, Vanta, TNT2 M64, Aladdin TNT2, GeForce 256, GeForce DDR, Quadro, GeForce2 GTS, GeForce2 Ultra and GeForce2 Pro processors. Select the operating system that applies and once downloaded, install and follow the on-screen instructions.

Matrox Latest drivers - Recommended, however these drivers are for experienced users only. You are presented with a table that is self explanatory. Download the correct drivers for your card and operating system and once downloaded, install and follow the on-screen instructions. There's also a link there to help you identify your card if you don't know.

Matrox WHQL certified drivers - A safer option, if you want to be assured of system integrity is to go with the certified Windows Hardware Quality Labs tested drivers. Follow above instructions for downloading your drivers.

Matrox Unified drivers - If you're not exactly sure what card you have, and you're having trouble identifying it, you can download a generic driver here for you card's series (e.g. the G400 series)

Intel740 - On Intel's i740 driver page, select the operating system that applies to you, and select only 'driver' for download. Click Search and you should be presented with the appropriate latest driver. Once downloaded install and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Sound Adapters

Sound Blaster drivers - We supply Sound Blaster audio cards in some of our older machines, the industry standard. Select the operating system that applies to you, then your product is likely to be one of two, the PCI128 or a Live!. Get the files, and you should be presented with the appropriate latest driver. Once downloaded install and follow the on-screen instructions.

Newer machines are coming with sound components built directly on to the motherboard...

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Motherboard (experienced users only)

Periodically motherboard manufacturers release updated drivers, including BIOS revisions, to take advantage of new processors, technologies or software enhancements as they happen. To make to most of your PC experience, it's a good idea to keep your motherboard drivers as up-to-date as you can. This can be very tricky and you're unsure as to what you are doing, don't know the model number of your board, we recommend you drop the computer in to us and ask us to update your drivers and BIOS. For more information please click through to our Computer Support page.

ABIT Motherboards (select a download from the left)

Intel Downloads

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Miscellaneous

For the more savvy among you, many drivers can be found by simply searching the internet; it's important that you know the make and model of your device and if possible, chipset information. Failing that, please contact us to arrange for us to take a look at your PC - we can give you a cost to repair or overhaul your PC with the very latest drivers, and you're not obliged to take up the offer.

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Software Updates

Operating System (OS)

Microsoft Windows Update (recommended) - The easiest way to keep your operating system bang up-to-date with the latest fixes and patches is to visit the Windows update web-site. It will do a scan through your machine (whilst maintaining your privacy) to see what your system is and what needs updating and then automatically display which items you can update along with files size and estimated download times. Select the items you wish to update and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you wish to update you machine manually, or you would like more information, help or tips on your current operating system, these web-sites are available.

Microsoft Windows 95

Microsoft Windows 98

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

Microsoft Windows 2000

Microsoft Windows XP

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Programs

Adobe Reader - Enabling you to read PDF files (Adobe's Portable Document Format ), it's very handy because many web-sites on the 'net present rich content brochures for you to download and print through Acrobat Reader. We use it for our Acer range of Notebooks / Laptops, packages and the secure electronic delivery of our quotations and proposals. Find out what Adobe has to say about its security and reliability as it asks, What is Adobe PDF?

Microsoft DirectX - For the latest enhancements to your Windows multimedia and gaming environment, visit the DirectX website to learn more and keep up-to-date.

Microsoft Internet Explorer - For the latest enhancements and security updates to your Internet browser, visit the Internet Explorer web-site to learn more and keep up-to-date.

Microsoft Office Update - For the latest enhancements and updates for your Office suite, visit the Microsoft Office web-site. You will interact with this site in a similar way to that described in the Windows Update web-site above.

Symantec AV Centre - Home to Norton's Anti-Virus, you can make sure your machine is up-to-date with the latest database of virus definitions - new viruses are released everyday! It is recommended that you perform a "Live Update" via the shortcut in your Start menu (see the Norton's folder) whilst connected to the Internet - do this at least once a fortnight; depending on your e-mail and Internet usage, heavy users are advised to update more frequently. Remember: No Anti-virus software can give you 100% protection - it's therefore important to be vigilant of strange e-mails (subject lines, sender's address etc), and do not execute programs unless they are from a trusted source.

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