As soon as you open Driver Genius, it will present you with the option to scan for out of date drivers. You can then download any that might be missing, maximizing the performance of your hardware.

In addition to searching for out of date drivers, Driver Genius can also perform backups, including individual driver backups. These backups can be used to restore the system at a later stage if necessary - and Driver Genius will save them to a variety of formats so you can store the backup easily.

Driver Genius is an easy program to use, and needs almost no technical knowledge, as it prompts at every step. What's more, it has a number of nice features, such as a driver install/uninstall feature, the ability to schedule a scan for out of date drivers and the option to use the antivirus you already have installed to automatically scan downloaded drivers for viruses.

Very comprehensive, but surprisingly simple to use, Driver Genius is a good option for driver management.

Download Driver Genius Professional Edition 12 in Softonic

While hardly the most interesting piece of software, the AC'97 Audio Codec is a comprehensive addition to your audio set-up. It incorporates proprietary converter technology to achieve a signal-to-noise ratio above 90dB. It also supports multiple codec extensions with variable sampling rates and built-in 3D effects.

AC'97 Audio Codec provides two pairs of stereo outputs with independent volume controls, a mono output, and multiple stereo and mono inputs, as well as mixing, gain and mute functions that provide a complete integrated audio solution. The codec can be used to equal advantage in both PCs and netbooks.

The AC'97 Audio Codec also supports a SPDIF out function which allows easy connection from the PC to consumer electronic products. The codec comes bundled with Windows drivers and various sound effects (including Karaoke, emulation of 26 sound environments, and 5-band equalizer), features that round off any PC sound system.

If you need an audio codec solution for your PC, AC'97 Audio Codec is a great option.

Download AC'97 Audio Codec A4.06 in Softonic

Users are very picky when it comes to installing codec packs on their PCs - nobody wants to bloat their system with useless files and tools that won't be of any use or will only cause incompatibility issues. You won't have this problem with XP Codec Pack. This compact, handy codec pack has always been Softonic's first choice whenever we need to install codecs or upgrade them on a PC.

Why? Well, we like the fact that XP Codec Pack focuses on the most popular formats, and so it's not overloaded with codecs most users will hardly use. Secondly, it's easy to install and lets you choose exactly what you want, both for codecs and tools. Finally, XP Codec Pack is incredibly stable and highly compatible: we've never had a single problem with codec since we began to use it.

Of course, that doesn't mean to say that XP Codec Pack is perfect. There are a few flaws that should be pointed out. The most demanding users will surely miss a wider array of formats in XP Codec Pack, as well as more codec-related tools like the ones you find in other codec packs.

XP Codec Pack is a great choice for those who don't need a massive selection of codecs and prefer a simpler, hassle-free codec kit for the most popular audio and video formats.

Download XP Codec Pack 2.5.1 in Softonic

Sound Control is a replacement for Windows Sound Mixer applet which includes most of the features of the standard Windows mixer and some other extra functions. It allows you to add hotkeys to adjust any combination of your sound mixer volumes, features support to control Winamp with a series of hotkeys and also includes an on-screen display.

Here's what Sound Control has to offer:

• No run-time files needed
• Context sensitive help
• Control volume using definable hot keys

Download Sound Control 2.15 in Softonic