Updating Drivers?

How necessary is it to update one's drivers. I have had many builds since my first Commadore 64 and always relied on om Windows Update to keep drivers OK.

rfhar said:

How necessary is it to update one's drivers. I have had many builds since my first Commadore 64 and always relied on om Windows Update to keep drivers OK.

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Whatever method you use.... never use Driver Updater programs.
That's just asking for trouble.

Generally... if your computer is working OK, then leave your drivers alone.

Ghot said:

Whatever method you use.... never use Driver Updater programs.
That's just asking for trouble.

Generally... if your computer is working OK, then leave your drivers alone.

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Yes, Yes & yes.
Even truer, if you have an OEM machine or laptop.

OAT said:

Yes, Yes & yes.
Even truer, if you have an OEM machine or laptop.

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I always clean install Windows on OEM PCs, to remove the OEM junk, and then I search for and install any missing drivers.

Probably the biggest drivers to update are your video drivers(especially if a gamer) and the Chipset drivers for the motherboard. Once your motherboard has been out a while the motherboard vendor will more than likely not keep up with the latest drivers. If using an AMD motherboard get your drivers from the AMD site for the appropriate motherboard driver. Intel chipset drivers are more nuanced. Microsoft Update tends to be able to update most of the Intel Chipset drivers but not all of them.

Are they required? I would say sometimes Yes and sometimes Maybe. Many times they fix issues which you may or may not be experiencing.

One of the major causes of issues on these support forums is driver updating and/or incompatibility. Bottom line, unless there is a specific reason or need to do so (new feature you MUST have, compatibility fix, etc), leave your drivers alone.

+1 for @allan's post above. If it ain't broke, fer cryin' out loud, DON'T FIX IT.

The fan fact, windows update database contains the newest drives (with a delay), MS has to certify them (WHQL), but they do not always push them to prevent issues. You can search them on Microsoft Update Catalog using hardware ID or version number.

I prefer to have the latest drivers, because it is no different from windows, they fix security and performance issues.

I always use the manufacturer site for updating drivers. It is their machine, so they know best. Some like dell have a dell update tool or support assist, some like hp have hp ia tool etc.

If it is a custom build, I use my motherboards website for my model to download the latest drivers. I check every now and then.

You only need to update device drivers if it offers bug fix or new feature, there is no need to update device drive if you are having no problems.

andrew129260 said:

I always use the manufacturer site for updating drivers. It is their machine, so they know best. Some like dell have a dell update tool or support assist, some like hp have hp ia tool etc.

If it is a custom build, I use my motherboards website for my model to download the latest drivers. I check every now and then.

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Yes, I meant to mention this. When Microsoft certifies a driver and releases/pushes it as WHQL, they've bastardized the OEM's driver so it is compatible with the largest number of installations. They may actually remove the latest updates or fixes the OEM included. If you are going to download and install a new or upgraded driver, ABSOLUTELY get it from the OEM site, not from Windows Update.

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.

I agree with those who say, if you are not missing any driver, after the first Windows update, do not update any drivers manually.

All vendors provide their drivers through Microsoft's Windows Update, since Windows 10.

Many, many thanks guys !

TairikuOkami said:

I prefer to have the latest drivers, because it is no different from windows, they fix security and performance issues.

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Me, too. I consider the old "Don't update drivers if you're not having a problem" an outdated idea in this day and time. Just because some function is working does not mean it can't work better or more securely.

To the OP, you will get many different opinions as an answer to your question. My practice is:
1. OEM drivers and bios updates first using OEM driver updating tool.
2. drivers from Intel if I have a problem and no later driver on OEM site
3. Never, never, ever use driver updaters,
4. Never ever allow WU to update my drivers. I have it disabled. WU does not always give me the most appropriate driver and I certainly do not want WU to download a UEFI bios update as it is prone do. That's one update that, if it's wrong or fails, you might have a problem you can't fix without OEM help ( or maybe not at all depending on your mobo). By allowing my OEM tool to update my bios, I MIGHT have a leg to stand on and get help from the OEM since record of it is kept on my their servers

johnp said:

I agree with those who say, if you are not missing any driver, after the first Windows update, do not update any drivers manually.

All vendors provide their drivers through Microsoft's Windows Update, since Windows 10.

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Do not, do not, DO NOT use Windows Update to update drivers.

Wisewiz said:

+1 for @allan's post above. If it ain't broke, fer cryin' out loud, DON'T FIX IT.

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My motto: if it ain't broke, mess with it until it breaks.

With the exception of some soundcard drivers, I don't recall ever having an issue with a driver update. (I don't use a sound card any more. USB connection to my desktop speakers, which are Kef Eggs.)

My second motto: it's better to be lucky than smart.

I don't get drivers from Windows Update, except when I do.

Well, no offense, but while your two mottos may be fine for you, they are not fine for the majority of us who claim to know what we're doing around computers and who give advice to others who may not know as much.

allan said:

Well, no offense, but while your two mottos may be fine for you, they are not fine for the majority of us who claim to know what we're doing around computers and who give advice to others who may not know as much.

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No offense? Usually offered before saying something mildly offensive.

My post was basically a flip non-response. I admit to some compulsiveness in keeping drivers up to date.

I get most drivers from the motherboard maker. (I'm a DIYer.) The main exception is the graphics card driver, which I get directly from nVidia (or AMD when I had one of their graphics cards). So far, I've managed to avoid having to revert to older drivers, or malware. The only problematic drivers I recall were soundcard drivers. I don't use a soundcard anymore. (USB interface to Kef Egg desktop speakers, with Realtek drivers installed in the unlikely event that I ever use headphones.)

I would never use a driver updater utility, without any real basis for fearing one.

Once you have installed all the drivers and your PC is running OK, it is better to avoid updating the chipset drivers. Maybe in Windows 11 nothing will happen, but back in earlier Windows versions this was guaranteed to mess things and get a BSOD. You can upgrade the graphics drivers to get the latest bug fixes and features, but rarely I have seen any improvement in performance, especially for older cards, the manufacturer just doesn't bother to improve them. In fact I have seen newer drivers giving worse performance back in the XP days, so once my graphics card was working I wouldn't touch the drivers.