This is a guide to help you to keep your important computer components up to date, mainly graphics and operating system 
For your system information such as the version of windows, driver version/date, refer to this thread: http://www.southperry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2516
Operating System Update
Latest SP for Windows XP : SP3 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info....yLang%3den
Latest SP for Windows Vista: [URL="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx"]SP1 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...62148.aspx
[/URL]
Keeping your operating system updated helps you to be safe while browsing the internet and such, also allows your computer to perform at its best.
Start > All Programs > Windows Update
If you have Vista, you can just do Start > Type “windows update” and you should see it listed.
Wait for Windows Update to search your computer. (an IE window will popup if it is XP and Vista’s got Windows Update built in)
Follow the instructions on the Windows Update window; review each of the updates to make sure they’re important.
Graphic drivers update (DESKTOP CARDS ONLY):
Keeping your graphic drivers updated prevents problems caused incompatibility with previous drivers and sometimes performance increase in certain games.
I’m going to post the two main providers: ATI and Nvidia...and a bit of Intel
ATI: http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
Just select your operating system and card then select the green “Go” button at the bottom right corner.
Check the release date of the Catalyst Control Center (CCC) and drivers against your current drivers and version of CCC, download and install the latest versions if they’re out of date.
Nvidia: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
Using Option 1 > select the product type > series > your operating system, leave language to English, click on search.
Click on the “Products Supported” tab and make sure your GPU is on the list.
Check the Version and Release date, compare it with your current ones.
Download (make sure you checkmark the agreement box) and install if yours are older.
Intel: http://support.intel.com/support/graphic...028594.htm
Follow the instructions on the Intel page to update your Intel graphic drivers.
Laptop graphic drivers:
Most laptop drivers require special drivers; they’re also not updated as often. For the latest drivers, visit your laptop manufacturer website.
Some popular brands’ driver download site:
Toshiba: http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/...modSel.jsp
HP & COMPAQ: http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h_pag...S-A-R163-1
DELL: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=gp
ACER: http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm <- Was very slow for me, use acer.ca or acer.com for better downloading speed
GATEWAY: http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/dlcenter.asp
ASUS: http://support.asus.com/download/downloa...uage=en-us
DirectX:
Windows XP (9c): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en
Windows Vista(10): Windows Vista comes with DirectX 10, so no worries
Keeping your programs updated (A Bacon Contribution):
Tools to scan your computer for programs to update:
RadarSync - http://www.radarsync.com/ - Drivers & Programs
File Hippo Updater - http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/ - Programs
For your system information such as the version of windows, driver version/date, refer to this thread: http://www.southperry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2516
Operating System Update
Latest SP for Windows XP : SP3 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info....yLang%3den
Latest SP for Windows Vista: [URL="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx"]SP1 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...62148.aspx
[/URL]
Keeping your operating system updated helps you to be safe while browsing the internet and such, also allows your computer to perform at its best.
Start > All Programs > Windows Update
If you have Vista, you can just do Start > Type “windows update” and you should see it listed.
Wait for Windows Update to search your computer. (an IE window will popup if it is XP and Vista’s got Windows Update built in)
Follow the instructions on the Windows Update window; review each of the updates to make sure they’re important.
Graphic drivers update (DESKTOP CARDS ONLY):
Keeping your graphic drivers updated prevents problems caused incompatibility with previous drivers and sometimes performance increase in certain games.
I’m going to post the two main providers: ATI and Nvidia...and a bit of Intel
ATI: http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html
Just select your operating system and card then select the green “Go” button at the bottom right corner.
Check the release date of the Catalyst Control Center (CCC) and drivers against your current drivers and version of CCC, download and install the latest versions if they’re out of date.
Nvidia: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
Using Option 1 > select the product type > series > your operating system, leave language to English, click on search.
Click on the “Products Supported” tab and make sure your GPU is on the list.
Check the Version and Release date, compare it with your current ones.
Download (make sure you checkmark the agreement box) and install if yours are older.
Intel: http://support.intel.com/support/graphic...028594.htm
Follow the instructions on the Intel page to update your Intel graphic drivers.
Laptop graphic drivers:
Most laptop drivers require special drivers; they’re also not updated as often. For the latest drivers, visit your laptop manufacturer website.
Some popular brands’ driver download site:
Toshiba: http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/...modSel.jsp
HP & COMPAQ: http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h_pag...S-A-R163-1
DELL: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=gp
ACER: http://global.acer.com/support/download.htm <- Was very slow for me, use acer.ca or acer.com for better downloading speed
GATEWAY: http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/dlcenter.asp
ASUS: http://support.asus.com/download/downloa...uage=en-us
DirectX:
Windows XP (9c): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...laylang=en
Windows Vista(10): Windows Vista comes with DirectX 10, so no worries
Keeping your programs updated (A Bacon Contribution):
Tools to scan your computer for programs to update:
RadarSync - http://www.radarsync.com/ - Drivers & Programs
File Hippo Updater - http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/ - Programs