winsyrstrife
River City Bounce
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
|  [WIN7] Windows 7 Driver Updates - Gung-ho or Gunshy?
Hello all my fellow Windows 7 users.
What's the general consensus regarding Windows 7 driver updates?
Do you stick to "if it ain't broke don't fix it!"
Do you install it if it's from the manufacturer and it's newer than the Microsoft provided driver?
Have we reached a new golden age where we happily accept and install drivers provided through Windows update?
As it's been noted in various places on the Net, Windows 7 data transfers are poor. All the possible Windows 7 device settings are configured to get optimal performance from my HDs. I have to switch to XP to get good transfer rates. 40 minutes to 7 minutes is a big difference. I am however, very hesitant to install my manufacturer's driver update for the chipset.
How do you guys feel about the current Windows 7 drivers from Microsoft & the manufacturers?
--
"Suddenly everything is fainting, falling from a broken ladder's rung. There's a jolt exhilarating from the phone I'm holding...
I hear the words of what I'll become, how eager the hands that reach for love." - Blind Melon - New Life |
|
darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| I only manually updated audio/display/network drivers from the manufacturer sites, never through windows "update drivers" or Windows Update. I tend to update display/graphics drivers very rarely however (I don't game much so if it ain't broken, I don't try to fix it). |
|
Keizer
I'M Your Huckleberry
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-20
| reply to winsyrstrife
I use a 50/50 approach, in that I use some of the drivers provided by MS, and then install some of my own (the manufacturers). I installed my own X-fi sound drivers after installing Win 7, mainly because the install didn't have any. I knew this ahead of time after running the MS compatibility software.
Although Win 7 installed drivers for my graphics card, I went ahead and installed the latest ones from Nvidia. I'm a gamer and need the latest and greatest in that department.
I am using the RAID and network drivers that MS provided because they work totally fine. I reallt liked how I basically had a working OS after the install of Win 7. |
|
djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·T-Mobile US
 ·A + Net
·Mediacom
·RCN CABLE
| reply to winsyrstrife
It all depends on the device for me. If i get an nvidia motherboard or graphics card update in windows update, i go to nvidia.com and check for new drivers. When a driver update came for my avermedia tv tuner card, i installed it. I couldn't find any windows 7 driver update for it. Windows 7 seems to handle driver update with win update better than vista. Or it seems that way for me.
--
The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult. The day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.
Alden Nowlan |
|
kingdome74
Emotionally Unavailable
Premium
join:2002-03-27
Syracuse, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to winsyrstrife
I thought I would be magnanimous toward win7 (new OS and all) and allow it to download a driver for my onboard NIC and it instantly nuked my connection. Rolled back driver and everything is fine. Lesson learned. Back to only downloading from the makers sites again. Hey, I tried to be nice.
--
Hunting is a sport... except only one side knows it's playing - anon comedian
|
|
GameGuy369
join:2004-07-09
Olathe, KS
clubs: | reply to winsyrstrife
I tend to stick with manufacturers. |
|
Wolfie00
My dog is an elitist
Premium
join:2005-03-12
| reply to winsyrstrife
said by winsyrstrife  :Have we reached a new golden age where we happily accept and install drivers provided through Windows update? Not in this house we haven't! 
I have Windows Update turned off entirely but browse it manually on occasion. If there's something I specifically need or that appears to be beneficial I download it, otherwise I don't. I tend to generally load my own drivers (from the manufacturer) and generally for a reason, not just because they exist.
--
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" -- a corollary of Murphy's Law
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
|
|
djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
 ·PHONE POWER
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T CallVantage
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | reply to winsyrstrife
Right now I'd say update. They're probably finding and fixing a lot of 7 specific issues now that it's out.
Later on down the road and I've had the hardware in place for a while, I only update if I'm having problems.
I never leave automatic updating on ... only download & notify. Updates are so frequent now and I get supremely annoyed by the "You must reboot in x minutes" dialogs. Plus there is a possibility that the update will destabilize my system. Basically I want to deal with updates when I have time, not when I need to get work done.
--
AT&T U-Hearse
Your funeral. Delivered.
|
|
Deeply
@comcast.net
| reply to winsyrstrife
I tend to go to the manufacturer's site.
They know their equipment best.
Microsoft can't seem to make an OS that doesn't have a bunch
of security holes. Granted, new exploits are being found and
patched all the time. I think MS needs to concentrate on making
sure the OS is secure, and let the manufacturers worry about
the drivers for their equipment.
--Deeply Shrouded & Quiet
--Central Control! D-Dial #49 |
|
howie
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-08
Little Falls, NJ | reply to winsyrstrife
I tried the MS supplied Catalyst drivers and got a 6.0 WEI... with the ATI ones, I get 7.0!  |
|
ame101
join:2002-05-02
Southington, CT | reply to winsyrstrife
Manufacturer's site, if I have a reason to up grade. Never use MS, had way way to many issues. |
|
winsyrstrife
River City Bounce
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
| reply to winsyrstrife
I've been using download & notify as well. The only issue I've had is a monitor update that promptly caused it to black out upon reboot. All other drivers were installed, without issue, other than the HD performance.
I gotta give MS a lot of credit for pulling that off. In the past Windows Update was only used if you needed to practice fixing hardware issues.
At Intel's website, there's a notice saying "if you recently installed the OS, you do not need these drivers." They are however, dated as more recent than the drivers Windows installed. I guess I can always roll back...
--
"Suddenly everything is fainting, falling from a broken ladder's rung. There's a jolt exhilarating from the phone I'm holding...
I hear the words of what I'll become, how eager the hands that reach for love." - Blind Melon - New Life |
|
gzt7d8
My Little Weiner Schnitzel
Premium
join:2001-07-13
Swartz Creek, MI | reply to winsyrstrife
If it is not broke, then don't fix it.
I have not had good experience with driver updates so I usually stay away.
Greg |
|
redxii
too big to fail
Premium,Mod
join:2001-02-26
Texas
Host:
/dev/null
Broadband Tweaks
Suddenlink
ISDN
Fiber Optic
| reply to winsyrstrife
I get my drivers from Windows Update/Update Catalog (latter allows you to only download w/o installing), they are manufacturer drivers and not "Microsoft" drivers. HP doesn't bother listing updated drivers. I don't install any driver updates afterward.
--
Peter Schiff for U.S. Senate.
»www.youtube.com/user/SchiffReport |
|
Mike
Premium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
clubs:   | reply to winsyrstrife
Don't mess with it until:
1. Something is fixed
2. It runs better and breaks nothing notable in the process |
|
prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
·VoiceStick
·Comcast
·Pacific Bell - SBC
·DSL EXTREME
·Vonage
·VoicePulse
| reply to winsyrstrife
Whatever it takes to get something to work. Win7 doesn't like my XP drivers for my old HP LaserJet 1000 but when I insist, the drivers work just fine.
Win7 also complains about dire Earth ending actions if I insist on using my ancient Adobe Acrobat 5 but after getting by the warnings, Acrobat 5 works perfectly.
Win7 has always worked with any old device or program I've wanted to use but it does seem warning happy. |
|
NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Deeply
said by Deeply :
I tend to go to the manufacturer's site.
They know their equipment best.
I recently tried to round up some drivers for the hardware for a Toshiba Tecra M2. Intel said, "Go to the Toshiba" site. But I couldn't find anything for the obsolete M2 there, on my first pass. Nvidia said the same. Intel did suggest some of their generic drivers might work; Nvidia's latest drivers did not install.
I did revisit the Toshiba site later, and found what I needed on another pass.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
|
Rungel
Run A Mile Live Awhile GT2110's
Premium
join:2001-12-05
Ya I'm Here
| reply to winsyrstrife
I've had very good luck with the Win7 update site. Dell really has nothing for my e1505 laptop. So when i went there i got the RICOH drivers i needed. Except for one..After goggling that i found people with the same problem and i tried one fix this person did. He used a driver from a Dell 1701 i think it was.. Worked perfectly.
Now for my desktop.. That will be a different story.. Since it's a home build
--
'rocking the awakening mind'!
|
|
PeeWee
Premium
join:2001-10-21
Clovis, CA
clubs:
·Pacific Bell - SBC
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to NormanS
What is the real problem. These have been the same choices we've had with Vista. XP. 2000, etc. If you're too lazy or don't know how to get the right ones you need from the manufacturer you can load the drivers from Microsoft and at least function. This is not new with 7 although they seem to be doing a better job of it than before.
--
My grandkids ARE cuter than yours!  |
|
TCub
Premium
join:2008-09-03
Olmsted Falls, OH
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| reply to winsyrstrife
I've actually found that the drivers provided through WU work just fine.. even the display drivers! At the same time you have to understand that I've got an Alienware m17 with two ATi HD3870's in crossfire... the m17 (a.k.a OCZ Whitebook) is the first notebook to contain these cards in crossfire so drivers are sketchy at best. With Vista I had to use the mobilityModder tool to tweak my own drivers.. I was extremely happy to see Win 7 grab and install the proper drivers all on its own.
--
Follow me on twitter!
|
|
