Is it "okay" to let Windows Update install the drivers?

Kain · Aug 24, 2010, 01:47 PM

After a fresh install, is it a good idea to just let Windows Update install the drivers for the "remaining" stuff or is it better to manually download them and install them yourself?

**mad** · Aug 24, 2010, 01:51 PM

Manually downloading and installing them is usually better, most of the time you get newer versions that way.

caveman-jim · Aug 24, 2010, 01:59 PM

I always download and install the latest myself. That way I know they are current.

Dr. Zhivago · Aug 24, 2010, 03:48 PM

Usually, it's better to install them manually. Sometimes, the WU drivers don't work properly. Even MS own Tech Support says not to use WU drivers.

Peace.

Shadowless · Aug 26, 2010, 02:06 PM

I've done it both ways and I've seen no difference, except with video drivers.

jimmt · Aug 28, 2010, 11:28 PM

I have a motto install drivers that have been WHQL certified, so in a nutshell yes I let Windows update install drivers. So far this motto works and provides a stable system.

With that said, video drivers tend to be the exemption for me as they tend to fix issues with games; though this doesn't' seem to be a big problem as it was in the past.

mabran · Aug 29, 2010, 04:33 AM

I have in the past had issues with MS updating a realtek network card and after gave me issues that I ended rolling the driver back and all was well.

I also had issues with a sound card and created more snap crackle and pop that the vendor drivers did not.

MS drivers are pretty very generic to cover a gamut of common hardware but just because it identifies your piece of hardware as what it is does not mean it meets your vendor of said cards implementation of the hardware and can cause more harm then good.

I tend to stick to vendor drivers for my needs as they have never served me poorly over the years.

I've seen Dell and HP systems with an Intel gigabit NIC that needed Their respective drivers as the Intel reference would not work even though WIndows identified it and incessantly wanted to update it. They probably shaved a 10th of a penny per chip to customize it for their machines. This is not uncommon for pre built systems and has been better in recent years but things happen and while I appreciate MS trying to stay current I feel their driver updates are a waste of time as there are far too many configurations for them to keep up or validate.

Aug 24, 2010, 01:47 PM	#1	Advertisement (Guests Only) Login or Register to remove this ad
Kain Rage3D Veteran Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,827	Is it "okay" to let Windows Update install the drivers? After a fresh install, is it a good idea to just let Windows Update install the drivers for the "remaining" stuff or is it better to manually download them and install them yourself?

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Aug 24, 2010, 01:51 PM	#2
mad :mad: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 3,660	Manually downloading and installing them is usually better, most of the time you get newer versions that way. __________________ "Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning." Richard Cook

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Aug 24, 2010, 03:48 PM	#4
Dr. Zhivago Sound: Serious Business Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,806	Usually, it's better to install them manually. Sometimes, the WU drivers don't work properly. Even MS own Tech Support says not to use WU drivers. Peace. __________________ So basically I've learned today that more people run Windows 8 and Vista combined than run Mac OSX. OSX is a failure. - Elysian

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Aug 28, 2010, 11:28 PM	#6
jimmt It's better with wings! Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,661	I have a motto install drivers that have been WHQL certified, so in a nutshell yes I let Windows update install drivers. So far this motto works and provides a stable system. With that said, video drivers tend to be the exemption for me as they tend to fix issues with games; though this doesn't' seem to be a big problem as it was in the past. __________________ Please check out my Blog for technology articles on Open source, Virtual, Windows, and other computing subjects. http://jimmt36.blogspot.com/ Desktop (Office) Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H\|AMD A10-5800k [Trinity] @ 4.2Ghz\|16GB DDR3 1833\|PNY GTX 650 Ti GDDR5 1GB \|Windows 8 Pro\|OpenSuse 12.2 Desktop (Gameroom) Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4\|Intel Q9450 (C2Q)\|8GB DDR2 800\|XFX HD7770 Ultra GDDR5 1GB\|Windows 8 Pro Laptop (Laptop/Tablet Hybrid) HP Tm2t-2100 [i5-470UM, 8GB DDR3 Ram, AMD Radeon HD5450m/Intel i915 (Switchable Graphics), 500GB HDD]\|Windows 8 Pro\|Opensuse 12.2 Consoles Wii\|Gamecube\|Nintendo 3DS XL\|DS\|GBA\|XBOX\|XBOX 360\|PS1\|PS2\|PS3\|PSP\|DreamCast\|Genesis Libertarian Party '11http://www.lp.org "What we have today is not a capitalist society, but a mixed economy – that is, a mixture of freedom and controls, which, by the presently dominant trend, is moving toward dictatorship." - A. Rand "For some reason, the concern seems to be more about keeping people from getting rich or taking away wealth from rich people than it is about growing the economy and putting people to work." - Crawdaddy

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Aug 29, 2010, 04:33 AM	#7
mabran Wrigley Field Is A Pit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: chicago Posts: 4,595	I have in the past had issues with MS updating a realtek network card and after gave me issues that I ended rolling the driver back and all was well. I also had issues with a sound card and created more snap crackle and pop that the vendor drivers did not. MS drivers are pretty very generic to cover a gamut of common hardware but just because it identifies your piece of hardware as what it is does not mean it meets your vendor of said cards implementation of the hardware and can cause more harm then good. I tend to stick to vendor drivers for my needs as they have never served me poorly over the years. I've seen Dell and HP systems with an Intel gigabit NIC that needed Their respective drivers as the Intel reference would not work even though WIndows identified it and incessantly wanted to update it. They probably shaved a 10th of a penny per chip to customize it for their machines. This is not uncommon for pre built systems and has been better in recent years but things happen and while I appreciate MS trying to stay current I feel their driver updates are a waste of time as there are far too many configurations for them to keep up or validate. __________________ system spec: DA-GOODS FX 8350@4.4Ghz , 8GB X4 crucial 1666, X-Fire Radeon 7970 3GB X2, ASUS Sabertooth 990FX r2.0, 2x Samsung 830 128GB (boot drive) 2X 1TB Samsung HE103UJ SATA HD's, Windows 8 Pro. system spec: HYPER-V Phenom II 1090T , 8GB X4 Crucial 1666, Samsung SATA Dual Layer Burner, 5x 1TB Samsung HE103UJ SATA HD's, Windows Server 2008 R2

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