How do you Install your Drivers?

win11freak · Feb 24, 2025

Just out of curiosity, how do you install your drivers?

Do you install them using the Updates from Windows or directly from the manufacturer website?

I ONLY have the network drivers saved directly from my PC manufacturer onto my USB pen drive but all else I just let the Windows Updates install the rest of the drivers.

idgat · Feb 24, 2025

I let Windows have the first bite of the cherry, but then inevitably have to call on Snappy Driver Installer ORIGIN (note the ORGIN version ONLY)

But usually only use it for problematic hardware, selecting only the drivers offered for that hardware, rather than all the others.

Steve C · Feb 24, 2025

I let Windows update drivers I choose and peruse the manufacture's web site very few months for updates.

PCUser · Feb 24, 2025

All of the above. But MOSTLY . . . .

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Intel Support

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Find all the drivers for download, update PC

Web service to find easily your drivers, detect your hardware and software configuration and diagnose problems such as system crashes and the BSOD (blue screen of death). - DriversCloud.com

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PCUser · Feb 24, 2025

iobit.com
driver booster is pretty darn good.

I just tried it out, and it's great

highly recommend.

neves · Feb 24, 2025

Multiple sources.

Sound, Card Reader, TouchPad, Storage Drivers & Chipset - from OEM

Audio processing objects (APO) Drivers - from Windows Updates.

Video, Network and Peripherals Drivers - from Chips Manufacturer or OEM.

hdmi · Feb 24, 2025

Windows Update for those specific "in-box" drivers that aren't available from the system manufacturer nor are available from the chipmaker in question.

For many (or most) other drivers, I use the system manufacturer website and/or the system manufacturer's automatic update tool (e.g., Asus Armoury Crate, alongside the MyAsus app).

For some other drivers, I use the chipmaker website, e.g., Intel, Nvidia, and Realtek (for Realtek PCIe Ethernet or Realtek USB Ethernet) and/or the chipmaker's automatic update tool. E.g., Intel Driver and Support Assistant for the integrated graphics of the Intel CPU, for the Intel Wi-Fi card, and for this card's integrated Bluetooth.

That is, while always paying special attention to NOT use those specific generic drivers from the chipmaker that are unsuitable due to there being customized drivers available from the manufacturer that are required to leverage the full functionality of the specific hardware component(s) that they apply to.

Usually however, I prefer not to buy hardware that, for one reason or another, requires customized drivers from the manufacturer as opposed to lets me use, if they are available of course, generic drivers from the chipmaker without any problems. This is because, also usually, the chipmaker provides better driver update support for longer than the manufacturer in these cases.

FreeBooter · Feb 24, 2025

PCUser said:
iobit.com
driver booster is pretty darn good.

I just tried it out, and it's great
highly recommend.

Online driver updater software is not without risks, however. Some online driver updater software may be unreliable, outdated, or even malicious. They may contain malware, spyware, or adware that can infect your clients' computers and compromise their security and privacy.

spapakons · Feb 24, 2025

I prefer to manually download all drivers form chip manufacturer. I avoid using any automatic tools, even from Intel or other manufacturer, since I want to have as much control as possible over the process, not everything done automatically. For the occasional graphics driver that will warn me I need to download the customized version from manufacturer, I visit the card's manufacturer support site, otherwise I prefer directly from Intel/nVidia/AMD to get the latest version. The card manufacturer sometimes offers older versions at the support site. If I cannot find a driver for a specific device, I first let Windows Update find the driver for me. For very weird devices that even Windows Update cannot find drivers, I run Snappy Driver Installer, as a LAST resort and I only install missing drivers (green text), I avoid updating existing drivers (blue text) so I won't get a BSOD or other incompatibility.

tecknot · Feb 24, 2025

I have disabled driver downloads with WU. I get my drivers from the manufacturer.

Kind regards,

tecknot

glasskuter · Feb 24, 2025

I have drivers through WU disabled and manage my own. I manually run Dell Command Update and Intel Driver Support Assistant every month or two. The best advice I can give you is to stay far, far away from those other various 3rd party driver update apps except the ones offered by your OEM or Mobo manufacturer.

pseymour · Feb 24, 2025

I'm pretty similar to @glasskuter. I let DCU and the Intel Assistant tell me when a driver is available, but I decide when to do them. I'm more likely to update a laptop that I take out in public, if the update is for security reasons, than I am a desktop that is safely ensconced in my domicile.

Catnip · Feb 24, 2025

I let Windows Update handle most of them, except for my video drivers. I get those straight from Nvidia. Once a month, I check for drivers for my mobo with the OEM, and I check for new drivers from Intel.

It's a little more work than just using an update program, but oh so much safer.

spapakons · Feb 24, 2025

Installing all the OEM drivers from manufacturer might seem a lot of work but most times it improves performance versus letting Windows Update find them. Also Windows Update installs the core of the driver (basic functionality). If you want to install all features and the respective Control Center to tweak all settings, manually download the drivers from manufacturer (such as Asus) or the chip manufacturer (such as nVidia). I want maximum features, maximum performance and best compatibility, so Windows Update is rarely used and even more rarely third-party utilities such as Snappy.

Compare official HP printer driver with a lot of quality settings and paper types to choose from, vs basic printing driver from Windows Update that only supports draft, standard and best on plain paper. No thanks, I want all features enabled so I choose the OEM driver. Similarly for other devices. I think you get the idea.

Helmut · Feb 24, 2025

"but most times it improves performance versus letting Windows Update find them. Also Windows Update installs the core of the driver (basic functionality)."

That is blatantly untrue.

I can test for each feature of a given Graphics chipset, there is nothing missing in a Windows Update driver. There is no way you can say it has basic functionality.
Don't make assumptions, do the test work.

"Compare official HP printer driver with a lot of quality settings and paper types to choose from, vs basic printing driver from Windows Update that only supports draft, standard and best on plain paper. No thanks, I want all features enabled so I choose the OEM driver. Similarly for other devices. I think you get the idea."

That is a million miles away from the case of an Nvidia Graphics driver, no comparison is possible. You will get the wrong idea and indeed you have.

I know full well that for very old printers you get a basic HP PCL (HP printer control language driver) from Windows updates. That you would only use when the full feature driver won't install on the latest Windows.

spapakons · Feb 24, 2025

Some modern graphics drivers are the same in Windows Update as the OEM driver, but not always the latest, it might be the previous version. This is not the case for older graphics cards. Also all devices drivers contribute to performance, not only the graphics drivers. What I am saying is from many years experience, I don't imagine things. Just because there are exceptions it doesn't mean is no true.

Marcus Vinicus · Feb 24, 2025

glasskuter said:
I have drivers through WU disabled and manage my own.

Amen to that, I don't trust WU anymore to update drivers. It has caused issues a number of times on my PC, so I disabled it some months back. :nope:

spapakons · Feb 24, 2025

Marcus Vinicus said:
Amen to that, I don't trust WU anymore to update drivers. It has caused issues a number of times on my PC, so I disabled it some months back.

Many threads here are about issues caused because WU installed an incompatible driver. Updating the driver from manufacturer usually solves the issue, Need to say more?

hdmi · Feb 25, 2025

spapakons said:
I avoid using any automatic tools, even from Intel or other manufacturer, since I want to have as much control as possible over the process, not everything done automatically.

Both Asus Armoury Crate and Intel Driver and Support Assistant are of the "notify me when updates are available, but let me choose when to download and install them" variant. Clearly, you just never used these tools, as otherwise you would've known this fact.

TraderGary · Feb 25, 2025

Since 2013, Microsoft Surface Pro has been my secondary backup machine. I've owned several. Windows Update has never failed to update them with no problem.

My main machine is currently the 6th Dell I've owned. I've always used the Dell Support Utility for my updates, and I've never had a problem.

Windows Update runs many times daily and keeps my Windows Defender, Microsoft Office 365, etc. updated.

How do you Install your Drivers?

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