Free software and driver updater besides Windows Update?
 

Any good or free software besides Windows Update that would scan a computer and locate which programs or drivers need an update?

Windows Update only does a limited search while it would be quicker to have a list instead of having to manually search which programs need an update.

The reason is due to having auto-update off on almost all the programs because in the past the laptop would tend to crash for some reason when certain programs would try to update or start hogging up memory.

No, those things are shit.
Go to the manufacturers websites and get the latest drivers (nvidia, ati, intel, broadcom etc etc)
Also, do the same for your software if you need it.

Autopatcher used to be good back in the day, not really what your after though.