Updating Device Drivers

from WinCustomize Forums
When I look throuh the forums posts that identify problems, alot of the times it is suggested to update the device drivers. What is the recommended way of doing that, going to the vendors web site or using the Device Manager under System Properties?

The reason I ask this is that whenever I go to nVidia's web site to see if there are new drivers for my video card I have no idea what I'm doing.   
2,215 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally I always go to the Vendors website and read what the update is about. There is software around that will scan your system for you and find updates for you but I prefer to do it myself so I can see what I'm downloading and updating.

You say you struggle with drivers on the nVidia site? How? I know you've got to be careful as I found out a few months ago. I installed a new graphics card and installed the drivers from the installation CD (which were about a year old) and everything was fine. A couple of weeks later I decided to update to the latest drivers as I thought they were compatible with my card but the machine went screwy. I called the card manufacturer and they informed me that for some reason the last ten or so driver releases were not compatible. They gave me the number of the last 'good release' for the card and I downloaded that version and then everything was fine.   
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I struggle because like most people I don't want to take the time to read. Just got to be pressing keys as fast as I can.   
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WWW Link

Option 1 if you know what you have...Option 2 if you don't.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have done horrible things to my PC by going to the vendor websites and downloading updates. Nvidia seems to be constantly updating the drives for their video cards. If you know what you have, MajorGeeks is very good about listing the updates for Nvidia as soon as they are out. However, with the few that did install without problems, I noticed no significant change or improvement at all. Someone recomended to me once to just stick with Windows Update. If you really need the update, it will show up there. Just my opinion and experience.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the link yrag, I used it and wouldn't you know there was an update for my card. Have a low end FX 5200 card but it controls two monitors. One of which is a 37in LCD TV. It seems that whenever something changes I have to spend time getting that to work correctly (full screen).

Po', know what you are saying, my fingers are always getting in the way. Yes, nVidia is always coming out with updates.

Thanks everyone for your replies.  
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Po' To a certain degree you are right but - I may be mistaken here so someone please correct me if I am wrong - Microsoft does not update their drivers for graphics cards on Microsoft Update that often so the latest nVidia driver on their site maybe months behind the latest one available. The other thing which means you have to go searching are.........software updates. I must have installed about 30 updates alone in the past month to software that I have on my machines. Not all software has an automatic update button and I find it best to check the manufacturers site about once a month to make sure I have the latest version or for fixes that have been issued. A lot of these do not necesssarily appear on MajorGeeks or other websites.