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    Do you apply windows optional hardware updates?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by The Fire Snake, Aug 30, 2009.

  1. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    As the thread title says. The hardware driver updates are optional from the Windows Update site. Do you apply them? Or do you only use the drivers from the manufacturer for your hardware? So far I have passed on them since I thought I read that most people don't apply the ones from windows but use the ones from the manufacturer.
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 30, 2009
    #1
  2. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    In general, those drivers are from the manufacturer(s). It appears on WU if you are running an older version of the offered driver.
     
    rflcptr, Aug 30, 2009
    #2
  3. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Since Vista I let Windows giving me the devices update, unless there are some specifics with GPU or network connections.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Aug 30, 2009
    #3
  4. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    Sure, Windows knows best. :rolleyes:
     
    makaveli72, Aug 30, 2009
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  5. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    those are the manufacturer drivers after they went trough the certification. mostly not as recent as the ones on the manufacturers page, but better tested for quality and stability.

    i always take those.
     
    davepermen, Aug 30, 2009
    #5
  6. Relativity17

    Relativity17 Notebook Evangelist

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    The ones on WU probably work well on the broadest range of platforms for that piece of hardware. If you're having hardware issues, or require high uptime and long term stability, those are the ones to grab.

    I think Microsoft is a fairly good judge of what works well with Windows.
     
    Relativity17, Aug 31, 2009
    #6
  7. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Yep! ;)

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Aug 31, 2009
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  8. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    I never knew that! I thought that the drivers that Windows update offered were some kind of generic drivers that Microsoft had for your hardware, I had no idea they are actually from the manufacturers. I decided to go ahead and install them. Thanks.
     
    The Fire Snake, Sep 2, 2009
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  9. SpacemanSpiff

    SpacemanSpiff Everything in Moderation

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    I haven't since I had problems with an idt hdmi (no, that's not "idiot") update. The only link I know providing an explanation is this: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=160859 (sorry it is not within NBR).

    Knowing me, there is probably something I overlooked, but nevertheless, this caused me considerable grief at the time.
     
    SpacemanSpiff, Sep 2, 2009
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  10. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'm rather suspicious of Windows update. Mainly because it offers me 1+ year old graphics card drivers when I'm running the latest version straight from nvidia...
     
    Peon, Sep 3, 2009
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  11. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    I had WU driver issues with Vista in the past. It would automatically download and install the wrong audio drivers causing it to stop working after it restarted.

    I believe WU scans the HardwareID of the device and searches the internet.

    For windows 7 though, WU was much more successful.
     
    flipfire, Sep 3, 2009
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  12. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Well, I only just got Windows 7 installed today, and it seems to have given me the latest drivers for my 3650M, so it must be alright. No CCC though...
     
    Amnesiac, Sep 4, 2009
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  13. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    that's because nvidia sucks at certifying their drivers to be valid stable drivers, unlike amd/ati which certified every driver since their first dx9 drivers with ease.

    now nvidia is as well reason for most of the vista crashes in the first half year, maybe that's the reason why most of their drivers don't certify? :)

    or, more in detail: a hw driver has to get certified by microsoft to get a WHQL label. getting that label means it can install on any machine without a "do you really trust this strange driver", and it gets put on windows update for spreading it.
     
    davepermen, Sep 4, 2009
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  14. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    yeah, realtek really sucks at certifying drivers that actually FAIL on their own hardware :)

    and it uses google for it :)

    no, it has all of them stored on windows update after they got certified. there, where all other updates are stored, too.

    which downloads currently the same drivers, as if you install vista right now, as there aren't any win7 related drivers certified yet.
     
    davepermen, Sep 4, 2009
    #14