The best way to install drivers?

MartinX2 · Feb 7, 2022

CountMike said:
At first installation I let windows install drivers for whatever they find making sure I get internet connection as soon as possible and that's best achieved by wired connection. Can't expect Widows to have drivers for everything right from ISO. Those are mostly just very basic drivers but enable basic HW parts to work although mostly not at their best or with all controls. Then I check with Device manager for any missing drivers. All drivers are supplied to MS from respective manufacturers anyway. Even before finishing PC and starting windows installation assembly I make sure I download drivers for all the major components and place them unzipped on a USB stick so I can redirect their installation if needed.
After assuring that everything is working I apply newest drivers for all parts as needed but source varies depending of what they are for and their dates. In case of this PC for instance, I get Chipset and GPU drivers from AMD site. Realtek sound from MoKichu and other MB drivers from Asus. I consider chipset drivers most important because the consist of drivers for several MB parts and are essential for proper operation.
In case of laptops, I rely on laptop's manufacturer for most if not all drivers because they are usually custom made for that make and model and there's not much of them at other places.
Before installation of drivers other than from what came windows installed, I stop windows from automatically installing any drivers but I'm meticulous about mainlining and updating drivers as they usually contain fixes and new features for best operation.
In case of trouble with drivers I use DDU and/or Revo uninstaller to uninstall old drivers before installing new ones.
Some times parts may be "invisible" to system if at least some basic drivers are installed and part manufacturers count on those drivers to be present (they sent them to MS in first place) and know how to update them. When looking at device Manager, some drivers may seem to be very old (years back) but that's done for compatibility. Prime example is Disk drivers dated to 2008 but are actually brand new installed with chipset drivers.

Devlin1888 said:
I individually install them one by one direct from manufacturer. Don't like any of this third party driver update programs, never have never will. Takes minutes to do manually and once they're all done the first time.. its every now and then for things that actually matter and again.. minutes.
No tune up app crap gone tell me what to do xD

So you just let Windows automatically download drivers during and after the first boot up and then manually download and install manufacturer drivers on top of existing drivers?

CornishRattler · Feb 7, 2022

MartinX2 said:
So you just let Windows automatically download drivers during and after the first boot up and then manually download and install manufacturer drivers on top of existing drivers?

That’s it, get it functional first and then do what you want to it

MartinX2 · Feb 7, 2022

CornishRattler said:
That’s it, get it functional first and then do what you want to it

I used to install windows without internet connection to prevent automatic drivers installation, then I installed all manufacturer drivers from usb and after that I connected to the internet. But now I guess it's unnecessary.

charleyp · Mar 16, 2022

Why not browse for the drivers from the official manufactures websites and download the latest versions from there? I try to avoid automatic driver updaters as much as I can.

TairikuOkami · Mar 17, 2022

charleyp said:
Why not browse for the drivers from the official manufactures websites and download the latest versions from there?

Because they do not always release them to public, like Qualcomm Atheros wifi driver, I can only find it using a driver updater and most manufacturers do not even bother updating they support webpages, especially once they release new products.

I use driver updater like Driver Easy just to find the version number then I download it from MS.

Microsoft Update Catalog

Turbopump · Mar 17, 2022

I usually prepare by fixing the latest drivers and installing them in the windows installation I'm going to replace. Many drivers I pick up at "Station Drivers". News
Then I use "backup and restore all device drivers using a bat file" option five to create a backup of them. Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10
Also works with windows 11.
I do a clean windows installation and can then with the above-mentioned bat file quickly install the backup on the latest drivers. If you want, you can use the program NTlite instead and integrate the above-mentioned drivers even before in the windows installation file. NTLite.
But it may be a little premium.

The-Hive · Mar 17, 2022

With the exception of Nvidia and Intel, I pretty much let Windows do it, IMO a lot of people put to much emphasis on having the latest drivers and half the time the update only applies to new things not existing ones

CornishRattler · Mar 17, 2022

The-Hive said:
With the exception of Nvidia and Intel, I pretty much let Windows do it, IMO a lot of people put to much emphasis on having the latest drivers and half the time the update only applies to new things not existing ones

Totally agree

Most manufacturers have compatibility tools, AMD for example recommend the driver for my Alienware as being 3 versions ago (Nov 2021) So that's where I leave it, I can select the optional newer ones but what's the point in all honesty

Try3 · Mar 17, 2022

MartinX2 said:
If internet is connected Windows install drivers during the windows installation process. So if I download OEM drivers after that will this overwrite the existing drivers or just install them on top of existing drivers?

Martin,

OEM drivers will always overwrite MS drivers.
MS drivers will not overwrite OEM drivers - they are artificially given a long-past date so they are always identified as older than any installed OEM ones.
WU drivers can include updated OEM drivers [supplied by OEMs] so they would overwrite MS drivers & older OEM drivers.

The answer to your initial question is that it does not matter which way round you do it - WU first or OEM first.

All the best,
Denis

The-Hive · Mar 17, 2022

CornishRattler said:
Totally agree

Most manufacturers have compatibility tools, AMD for example recommend the driver for my Alienware as being 3 versions ago (Nov 2021) So that's where I leave it, I can select the optional newer ones but what's the point in all honesty

Yes same with Nvidia Game ready driver, the update only covers a few new games that I don't have

MartinX2 · Mar 18, 2022

So there is no need to disconnect internet before windows installation to prevent automatic drivers installation?

Dru2 · Mar 18, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
Because they do not always release them to public, like Qualcomm Atheros wifi driver, I can only find it using a driver updater and most manufacturers do not even bother updating they support webpages, especially once they release new products.

If you think Windows always provides the latest drivers, you're mistaken. You might also take a look at the date released :wink:

And I myself do not use any third-party apps to update my drivers. Since I custom build my PC, I know the hardware and also go directly to the manufacturers website the get my latest drivers. I do NOT rely on Windows to provide drivers I can get myself.

That said, I'll bet a lot of people would be surprised if they looked at Device Manager and noticed Red X's and yellow exclamation points due to missing drivers that they "thought" Windows would handle, but now see that's not the case

CountMike · Mar 18, 2022

Dru2 said:
If you think Windows always provides the latest drivers, you're mistaken. You might also take a look at the date released

And I myself do not use any third-party apps to update my drivers. Since I custom build my PC, I know the hardware and also go directly to the manufacturers website the get my latest drivers. I do NOT rely on Windows to provide drivers I can get myself.

That said, I'll bet a lot of people would be surprised if they looked at Device Manager and noticed Red X's and yellow exclamation points due to missing drivers that they "thought" Windows would handle, but now see that's not the case

Except for some universal drivers like for CPU and elemental I/O drivers for instance which MS develops in cooperation with major part producers like Intel and AMD, as well as MB manufacturers, all other drivers are supplied to MS. Without those even initial BOOT to install windows wouldn't be possible.
Because of sheer number of different parts, it's virtually impossible to have full size and full functionality as well as backward and future compatibility, drivers included in windows installation, it would be enormous.
For same reasons, such drivers are more often than not quite elementary and should be augmented and updated for full control and performance of parts in question. Even during windows installation some drivers could be fetched thru internet connection if established at that time. That's why it ma be wise to have internet during installation.
MS distributes only signed and WDDM drivers proven safe. Because of time taken to do that, such drivers are often several versions back so getting drivers from manufacturer will supply with last ones.

Dch48 · Mar 28, 2022

Option 1 will be sufficient in at least 95% of instances.

Dch48 · Mar 29, 2022

In the case of graphics drivers, my procedure has always been this. As long as my graphics hardware is the latest version, I keep the drivers updated. When new hardware comes out and they start optimizing the drivers for that, I keep my driver at the last version available before the new hardware was released. The newer drivers will almost never have any new features or improvements for the older hardware and in some cases, can actually degrade performance. I put my hardware in legacy mode before they do.