How to avoid system file corruption due to driver updates

My old laptop had this issue: Intel Graphics adapter WDDM1.1 driver update causing system corruption

It was working fine until one day it stopped booting into normal mode; it turned out that a Win7 download of an Intel graphics driver update was causing the issue. I hadn't created a system backup, which, in hindsight, wasn't a good idea but I'm not sure if the laptop would've worked from a system restore, given that it wasn't working from even a clean re-install.

I'm buying a new laptop and would like to know how to avoid issues like this in future. I used to have auto-install of updates but should I change that setting to "check for updates but only install if I choose to"? If so, I'm concerned that I might not install important updates on a timely basis which might cause more problems...

Thanks for any help.

I personally set the updates to alert me but let me decide when and if to download and install.

I have never missed an important update.

Also, I only install drivers from the manufacturer of the hardware or computer.

Thanks for your reply. I had a Lenovo so maybe I should've downloaded the driver update from Lenovo instead of Intel but even then, I don't know what the chances are of avoiding a buggy driver update from the OEM...

The best bet is to only update a driver if it is really necessary, i.e. is designed to fix a specific problem you are having.

Also it is good to check the forum sites of the specific hardware to see what others say about a particular update.
This is especially true of graphics drivers.

Driver up-dates are better done through Device Manager.If it shows "drivers are up to-date",then don't bother with the maker's notification.Stick with the Win7 authorised one.

Thanks for all your replies. I will avoid driver updates unless really necessary.