If you have a Windows PC, the best way (as you may already know know), to keep your operating system updated is by using Automatic Updates. They’ve come a long way since they were first introduced, and while they’re great and serve a purpose, they only keep your operating system updated. There are so many other elements involved in keeping your PC updated, and to do that there are multiple software solutions.
—Filehippo.com Update Checker—
File Hippo has always been one of my favorite resources for software downloads. Recently they added an Update Checker which will scan your computer, and check to see if there are any newer releases for the software that you have installed from their site.
The image to the right shows what you’d see in your browser after running the client, and the process of checking your installed software only takes a few seconds.
As you can see, they’ll display a list of everything that needs updated so that you can download the latest. It’s free, and works with Windows 98, 2000, 2003, XP, or Vista.
Thanks for the tip “Jack of all Trades”!
—Google Pack—
When you download Google Pack, a program called Google Updater is included and will download and install of the software that comes with it like Google Earth, Picasa, Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar, Adobe Reader, etc.
Along with downloading and installing all of the software, it will monitor for the latest versions of software. When there’s a new version available, an icon appears in your system tray so that you’ll know.
The updater can also be configured so that it will only update software developed by Google —versus checking all software included with the Google Pack.
—Secunia Software Inspector—
Another option for you to try which we’ve mentioned before is called Secunia Software Inspector. Secunia checks for insecure versions of applications that you have installed on your computer that need updates.
It’s Java based so it uses your web browser on your Windows PC. On their website is a “start now” button which activates the Java Application, and the process gets started. When it’s all done, you’ll get a report that will let you know if there’s anything that’s insecure that needs updated. The entire process takes only a few seconds as well.
—General Maintenance—
Besides keeping your software and operating system updated, you need to keep the computer itself updated. Likehack.org put together a good list of general things you need to do when you initially set it up, and then things you need to do on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis.
For example, do you delete your Internet files, run a defragmentation program, and clear your browser history weekly? Do you delete or un-install unneeded programs monthly?
Another aspect to the general maintenance of your computer is keeping a clean hard drive and registry.One of the best solutions for that purpose is CCleaner which we’ve also mentioned before.
If you know of any other software update checkers that we can add to the list, let us know. File Hippo’s service in particular is a really great way to keep updated on some of the latest software. Keeping track of all the latest software for your PC can be a daunting task, and File Hippo’s service, makes it that much easier.
there is also [radarsync.com] which scans ur computer for out of date drivers and software.
but the Free version just tell u what is missing, while the payed subscription one also let you to direct download the new stuff.
Is anyone else having problems running the FileHippo program on XP Pro SP2? As soon as I run udc.exe, it crashes and wants to send error reports to Microsoft. This looks like a worthwhile utility, hopefully this is just a beta issue.
OMG FileHippo is awesome!!! I’ve never installed any software from their site but it worked like a charm.
Are the files from FileHippo safe? Who uploads these files and what checks are in place to ensure additional software isn’t installed along with the requested software.
I don’t think it would be too difficult to attached spyware to another installer.
i thought this looked so great at first, but it appears to only work with IE??
no thank-you, sir.
You’re absolutely right, it wouldn’t be difficult to do. However, File Hippo has been around for a while, and many people have considered them a reputable source for downloads. Both Ryan and I have used them before and haven’t had any issues.
Unfortunately I haven’t had any troubles with it, but I’m guessing it is conflicting with some other application.
I’ve used FileHippo for quite sometime and I think it is just maintained by one individual. The site only lists a handful of software and everything I have downloaded from there has been clean. It is also really nice because they have old versions of software there as well.
I’m using Firefox 2 and Windows XP Pro SP2 and this update checker works fine for me.
I too have tried to download the update checker, on many occasions, without success. have all the necesary porgrams that they say is needed to run the prog.
Anyone know why I cannot download?
Gunner
I am using [cleansofts.org] to check for updates to my installed programs.. and it does a pretty good job
FileHippo Update Checker is awesome if it works. But on 90 percent of the Clients i know it is crashing with a .net Error Message.
This is one of those program which I install at the time of my system installation.. very helpful to keep track of all latest updates…