Updating Drivers?

Winuser · Feb 13, 2024

mecanicogolf said:
Watch the sparks fly on this statement:

Why is it that for years Ive been using 3rd party updaters like Snappy Driver or IObit Driver Booster and never (NEVER) had problems and they always give me the right drivers without any problems. Have I been just lucky? Do they really work? Sure do get a lot more than Windows Update and they even get the manufacturers drivers just right. My laptop runs so smooth........

I have Driver Easy installed on my old desktop. So far I've only used it to check for driver updates. It does do a nice job of finding drivers.

spapakons · Feb 13, 2024

Lazy way to install Windows when you want to do as many computers as possible, but of course the result is far from perfect:
Install Windows, connect to the internet to activate, use Snappy Driver Installer to find drivers. Use www.ninite.com to install most common apps, that's it.

However if it is your own computer or a good friend's computer and you want to do a good job, you should do this:

Install Windows 11 without connecting to the internet so you can create a local account, if you want, and to prevent Windows Update installing any drivers without your consent. If you have access to another computer download all drivers from manufacturer site and transfer to target system with a USB flash drive. Download latest graphics drivers directly from nVidia/Intel/AMD and transfer these also. Install the chipset driver first and then the rest drivers. Connect to the internet to activate. Run Windows Update Show/Hide Tool and hide all driver updates so they are not replacing the official drivers. Install all the rest updates. Install the required applications.
If you don't have access to another computer, connect to the internet and download the chipset driver directly from Intel/AMD if available and then the graphics driver. Install them and use Windows Update Show/Hide Tool to hide the driver updates. Download and install the rest drivers, install Windows updates. Install the required applications. Yes this is a lot more time consuming than the lazy method, but it is much better and you should see an improvement in performance.

cereberus · Feb 13, 2024

What is the driver for continuing this thread?

spapakons · Feb 13, 2024

No point at all. Just try both official and Windows Update drivers and you will see the difference for yourself.
To answer the OP question, you don't have to worry about every single driver it comes out. Just update your drivers once a month and you should be OK. If you choose to download the official driver, always keep a copy of the current and new drivers just in case you need to reinstall it. I keep at least two versions of each driver.

hdmi · Feb 14, 2024

spapakons said:
You are wrong. As already mentioned, webcams and other devices comply with certain Microsoft standards precisely so they can be automatically installed by Windows (aka plug 'n' play) without vendor specific drivers. Anything that needs vendor specific drivers it must have special features or it is not preferred by the majority of users.

Sorry, no, you've lost your right to decide who is right and who is wrong on the internet so from now on, that one privilege only belongs to me. lol

Tested OEM drivers can also be vendor specific. So, on Windows 10 version 2004 and later, and on Windows 11, the drivers shipped via WU can also be anything else, as the distribution mechanism of WU was changed fundamentally by Microsoft. Again, the manufacturers can decide for theirself what drivers they want to publish on WU, just like they can decide for theirself if they want to publish or don't want to publish. As a matter of fact an IHV (Independent Hardware Vendor) can actually even also publish drivers on WU if they didn't pass the HLK (Windows Hardware Lab Kit) test, albeit not for retail audiences. Such drivers are called attest-drivers, or attest signed drivers. These are signed drivers that are signed for testing purposes only, and can be published on WU to share them with insiders, i.e. a specific group of partners who need access to these drivers to be able to test them etc.. So, publishing drivers to retail audiences on WU only is possible after it passes the HLK. A while back I saw someone post Realtek PCIe network drivers on here that were leaked test drivers. Some other member of the forum argued that these were probably OK to use, because the driver signature was official. Now you know where such a signature comes from, and that these ones are test releases not intended to be used by the general public type of consumers. The versioning of test drivers also typically differs from that of retail driver releases. Third party driver updaters don't always make these kinds of important distinctions correctly. It is one of multiple reasons why choosing to use a third party driver updater like the one that you mentioned is for those who are begging (on their bare knees actually) to be scammed. It reminds me when I see a 5 year-old kid grab a piece of candy. There's no real thinking involved. Just grabbing. You know... Preferred by the majority of those who swallow.

spapakons · Feb 14, 2024

Keep repeating how WU drivers work doesn't change the fact that are mostly the basic package, the absolute minimum so you don't see a yellow ! in Device Manager. If you want to unleash the full potential of your device and access to control panel and other utilities for this device, you have to visit the manufacturer's support site. End of story. And yes, "better" for me is not necessarily the newest, but the most complete and most compatible with my device. Guess what? 99.99% of the times this means the official manufacturer driver from either the complete product (Asus, HP, Dell, Lenovo etc) or the specific device (Intel, AMD, nVidia, Realtek etc). All the other you are trying to tell us is useless information that confuses the inexperienced users.

Helmut · Feb 14, 2024

Just on the one Laptop I get the full Intel Graphics Control Panel, and two Nvidia Control Panels, one is the full one when using dGPU and when in the Hybrid modes which include the iGPU the Nvidia Optimus Control Panel, PhysX. Those were there from new and updated by Windows updates.

As for Nvidia digital audio that is an optional feature in the Nvidia Control panel digital audio setup, in mine for HDMI and DisplayPort Alt Mode for 2 of the USB-C connectors.
Same as if you wanted an Optional features for Windows.

What is not to like, minimum effort/time and impressive results.

All that was used is Windows updates and Laptop Manufacturers App/website.

What is sad that consumers mess up their new Laptops by clean installing, Revo, DDU, drivers direct from Nvidia/Intel, Ccleaner, any fix everything app, myriad of grotty driver updaters, dubious results from search engines, smoke & mirrors, century snake oil.

mecanicogolf · Feb 15, 2024

Helmut said:
Just on the one Laptop I get the full Intel Graphics Control Panel, and two Nvidia Control Panels, one is the full one when using dGPU and when in the Hybrid modes which include the iGPU the Nvidia Optimus Control Panel, PhysX. Those were there from new and updated by Windows updates.

As for Nvidia digital audio that is an optional feature in the Nvidia Control panel digital audio setup, in mine for HDMI and DisplayPort Alt Mode for 2 of the USB-C connectors.
Same as if you wanted an Optional features for Windows.

What is not to like, minimum effort/time and impressive results.

All that was used is Windows updates and Laptop Manufacturers App/website.

What is sad that consumers mess up their new Laptops by clean installing, Revo, DDU, drivers direct from Nvidia/Intel, Ccleaner, any fix everything app, myriad of grotty driver updaters, dubious results from search engines, smoke & mirrors, century snake oil.

I think your thinking is just fine, if the shoe fits, wear it. In my case with my laptop, I have had no problems with updating drivers with third party updaters (not all, of course). Just the ones I trust and know that work with my PC.
My shoes fit so I wear them.

spapakons · Feb 15, 2024

When I am out of time and I want to install drivers fast, I also use Snappy Driver Installer. However I avoid updating the chipset to avoid issues. I also avoid updating drivers already installed (blue text), I install only the missing drivers (green text). If you keep the use of driver tools to the absolutely necessary you minimize the risk of issues. If you install everything, even drivers already installed you ask for trouble, especially when messing with the chipset drivers.