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    Install manufacturer recommended drivers or let Windows do the job?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by cloud_nine, Jul 14, 2009.

  1. cloud_nine

    cloud_nine Notebook Evangelist

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    Are the drivers that automatically install with Windows 7 "better" than the ones provided by the manufacturer?

    There are people who claim that Windows 7 is easy to use mainly because it installs the basic drivers automatically (i.e. video, wifi, sound, etc). However, is this really the best way to install drivers? I'm writing this under the assumption that Windows only provides generic drivers, which are far inferior to drivers provided specifically for my machine.

    For the people who installed Windows 7 beta and RC, what did you do and what were your results?
     
    cloud_nine, Jul 14, 2009
    #1
  2. Padmé

    Padmé NBR Super Pink Princess

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    So far I have left W7 picking up all needed drivers for my notebook, with the exception of bluetooth.
     
    Padmé, Jul 14, 2009
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  3. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    Windows 7 has been doing a good job at finding and installing good drivers (better than Vista), but I still prefer to install them myself direct from the manufacturers. The drivers from the manufacturers tend to be more up-to-date and offer more features.
     
    crash, Jul 14, 2009
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  4. dbam987

    dbam987 wicked-poster

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    For graphics drivers, I go to the manufacturer's page to get the latest and greatest driver set. But for everything else, I let Windows find 'em. Rarely does Windows Update not have a driver for my hardware since it's relatively new gear from well-known companies.
     
    dbam987, Jul 14, 2009
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  5. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Windows 7 managed to find more up to date drivers than I could, so I'll be letting it find all my drivers, maybe with exception to the graphics drivers. We'll see if it pushes new ones to me when I know the next set come out.
     
    Fragilexx, Jul 15, 2009
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  6. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Yep, yep , yep -jumping on the band wagon of posters that leave W7 to pick up the comp's drivers

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Jul 16, 2009
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  7. Fountainhead

    Fountainhead Notebook Deity

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    Well, at the time of the beta, the RC, and the the initial RTM you're probably fine using the drivers that ship on the Windows installation DVD. But the further out from the RTM we get the more likely it will be that there are going to be better (read: more up to date) drivers available from the manufacturers, especially video drivers. Usually I'm fine with Windows update supplying me with updated LAN drivers or card reader drivers and such, but video drivers are the one thing I like to update manually and nake sure I'm using the best (and most stable) version.
     
    Fountainhead, Jul 16, 2009
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