I am interested in tuning the performance of my computer, so I am looking for a free utility that checks the computer for the latest version of drivers (for devices such as the graphics card, sound card, etc). I have Googled this query and found many utilities, but they all ask for money before doing anything. Do you have any suggestions for such utilities? Second, can you comment on whether it is worth downloading Linux and dual-booting with Windows XP?

I am always wary of so-called “maintenance” software which claims to scan the computer for errors or driver updates and then assists you with these updates, as most of the time I hear stories from people commenting that such software either does not work effectively or cause more problems than they fix! Therefore, I would recommend against using such automated software for this operation. Instead, the way I keep drivers up-to-date, is with a spreadsheet of all the devices installed on the computer, note the version number of the driver, and also write down the download page for those device drivers. I then periodically check the download page for more recent drivers and update. Bear in mind, you don’t need to do this as regularly as, for example, antivirus updates. If the current drivers are working fine then there should be no need to update urgently, so you can do this at a more leisurely pace. Every 6 months should be fine to update the drivers to their latest versions and keep things up-to-date.

That said, the 6 month update for drivers is only for drivers. You should regularly download and install important updates such as security patches for Windows, as these have significant implications if not installed. Fortunately, Windows includes the Automatic Updates feature which will automatically download and install updates, taking the manual aspect out of this process. You can ensure that Automatic Updates is enabled by going to the “Start” menu > “Control Panel” and open the “System” control panel (you may need to first select the “Performance and Maintenance” category). In the System Properties window that appears, click the “Automatic Updates” tab and ensure that “Automatic (recommended)” is enabled.

Regarding your question about Linux, it is certainly an interesting operating system to learn and educate yourself upon (if you have the time). If you have a genuine need to install and use Linux (even just to learn how it works) then by all means you should install this on your computer. However, if you don’t have a real need or won’t use Linux, then it might not be worth the time to install. That said, you could always use a virtualisation product to install Linux without the need to repartition your hard drive. Check out this week’s tip of the week for more details.