How to stop Win7 using WU drivers during install

Morning,

Finally moving all the main workstations over to Windows 7. In a test run yesterday - I noticed that Windows 7 jumps ahead of me in a big way right after the main desktop appears.

In the Vista/XP days - I would actually get to install my drivers in my preferred installation order. In this install - especially for graphics - before I even got to install my preferred nVidia drivers - I see that Win 7 has already grabbed and installed 195.65 - presumably from Windows Update - which I do not want.

What's the trick (if any) at "first" desktop to get Win7 to hold it's horses and let me install what I want?

Cheers!

VP

This is not XP or Vista, MS actually sponsored the WHQL partnership with all manufacturers to build Win7 drivers, so they have them first in installer and Updates.

I haven't found an install yet out of nearly 100 which needed any different chipset drivers, and there are never more than 1 or 2 missing in Device Manager to track down from the manufacturer's website.

This works for us in other ways, too, as manufacturers were more wililng to build Win7 drivers for older hardware and have them on deadline since MS was paying the bill, completely unlike Vista where they let us languish.

First thing I did with my 7 install was install drivers, then go online for updates. That is correct however, and as for chipset driver they included 2 more updates when I downloaded them from the manufacturer's motherboard website.

richc46 said:

Just go to windows live updates (type it in search) and then click change settings.

That is not correct and has nothing to do with this. I am talking about first boot - before I even can access anything. When my new install booted the first time - without me being able to make any changes - it ALREADY installed nVidia 195.65 - and I know that doesn't come on the DVD - so the install is out on the net hauling down updates even before I get a chance to either stop it or install my own.

In this build - before I realized what was happening - I went ahead and did my thing...chipset then ACHI then graphics...and when I ran the "official" nVidia 195.65 driver installer (that I downloaded) it completely froze and died....when I rolled that back - low and behold...the same driver I was trying to install was already installed.

Frostmourne said:

First thing I did with my 7 install was install drivers, then go online for updates. That is correct however, and as for chipset driver they included 2 more updates when I downloaded them from the manufacturer's motherboard website.

This what I want to do as well....but it seems that Win7 is so up to date that I didn't have to do anything. That may be well and good for John Q Public who just wants his install to work straight away and is not interested in ticnkering around - but if I want a specific driver (usually older when it comes to nVidia's current load of crap) this is VERY ANNOYING....

Now I have to taint a nice clean install but yanking this and that out and then running more installers to put the drivers I want in place....

Progress...sometimes it's a pain....:)

I guess I could install with the network cable yanked....at least that will stop Windows Update from completely installing whatever it wants....

gregrocker said:

Why would you want different drivers when MS spent a billion dollars building drivers that are exactly suited for Win7?

If the OP has a mainboard similar to my own then he might be narked off that M$ have failed to ensure Windows Update applies the correct driver for the NIC board chip, and spoils the installation...

gregrocker said:

Why would you want different drivers when MS spent billiondy dollars building drivers that are exactly suited for Win7?

Again, this is not XP or Vista. Every driver has been rebuilt in a partnership with manufacturers to assure that the drivers in the installer and via Updates are exactly correct.

Sometimes it is amazing the lengths people will go to remain stuck in XP old school.

Hardly old school. Regarding your "Billion dollars comment"...MS has nothing to do whatsoever with nVidia and the construction of the worst drivers on the planet. While I appreciate the effort Win7 makes to automatically match a driver with hardware during install - the latest drivers are not always the best choice - especially for graphics cards.

Next round I will try with no network first ...