How do "driver scanner" applications work?

Question

For example, how does "Driver Scanner" from uniblue work? I mean, I know it's some kind of scam, but they need to provide some kind of service, after people pay for this app. So how does the full version work? Does it really improve anything, or is it a trick, like running windows update?

Windows update is just a trick? Are you trying to provoke an argument? — John Gardeniers, Sep 29 '11 at 12:32
Go easy on the coffee, John: read it again, but more slowly this time. — DutchUncle, Sep 29 '11 at 12:53

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 29 '11 at 11:16

2

Every PCI device (and USB device) has a unique 'Vendor ID' and 'device ID', you can make a database with those unique numbers against known working drivers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_configuration_space

Most of the 'free download' websites are just desperate for eye-balls and traffic to come along and click on the page adverts, so they tend to be a huge waste of space.

answered Sep 29 '11 at 11:16

DutchUncle

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so dirver scanner has a database with VID, PID and urls to working drivers? – d-_-b Sep 29 '11 at 11:20
More or less, throw the OS in the mix and you've got it. – Bart De Vos Sep 29 '11 at 11:21
Correct. they probably bought the database in (from various big vendors, i.e. Intel, AMD, VIA, Broadcom, etc...), and sell the convenience to consumers and amateur PC technicians. – DutchUncle Sep 29 '11 at 11:22
@TiZon: "throw the OS in the mix" -- what do you mean by that? – d-_-b Sep 29 '11 at 11:27
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Well, to make sure you get the right driver they use 3 parameters: VID, PID and OS. – Bart De Vos Sep 29 '11 at 11:29

How do "driver scanner" applications work?

1 Answers1