Solved Am I correct when I think that Windows Updates includes "drivers"?

[Zappastixs]

Am I correct when I think that Windows Updates includes "drivers"?

:sarc: Hi

I came across this site this morning;

Windows Drivers - Update your Windows Drivers & Speed Up Your PC!

It states it is certified by Microsoft and that it will sort out
any updated drivers that it finds.

The thing is, I always thought that Windows Updates dealt with
drivers as well.

As far as I can remember I haven't updated any drivers for this
machine since I've had it - that is ten years (I love this ASUS Notepad).

Windows 7 64 bit.

So if I've made a huge bo-bo - recommendations for the best site to
use for drivers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Stephen

 

[iko22]

The handling of third party drivers is inconsistent, as it depends on the individual manufacturer to provide the latest releases. Things like motherboard/graphics/ethernet drivers often do get updated via windows update. Then the process stops when there are no more updated drivers released. A graphics card manufacturer will keep releasing updates for their Windows compatible drivers, but not for your particular graphics card model. Then there are apps like third party browsers, java, and pdf readers. These are updated usually via the apps own updater.
The best place to check for the most recent driver, is the manufacturers own website. Sometimes, when the product is obsolete, then the web page is removed from the manufacturers site, and drivers must be obtained from elsewhere.

Hope that helps.

 

[HAVOC]

Windows Update does also include hardware drivers. Right now I have a driver listed for my HP printer and my Dell display (they will not be used). The amount of times that a driver from Windows update broke my computer is too many.

I only use drivers from the hardware manufacturers site now.

 

[johnhoh]

Always use your motherboard's auto-update program. Yours is asus
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1018563/

and if you have an add-on video card, both Nvidia and Amd have auto-update if you go to their home page

you can also run intel's driver assistant, assuming your cpu is made by intel
Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant

I would not trust any auto-update tool other than the ones stated above. There are many of them out there, most of them actually work for free, but they all cost you something because they are malware.

if the right side of the page is blank after doing start > cmd > msinfo32 > components > problem devices, your drivers are working fine.

 

[file3456]

Read this: Drivers - Turn Off Automatic Driver Installation

Never allow M$ to update your drivers. Of course YMMV, but I'd always go to the manufacture to get the driver. Whether that be video, motherboard drivers like the chipset, audio, etc, etc.