Comparing Windows driver updates with manufacturer drivers
Comparing Windows driver updates with manufacturer drivers
Windows is downloading a more recent driver available on the manufacturer's site, such as Intel management interface. I also checked Armoury Crate and noticed that newer drivers aren't always ideal for my hardware. Should I turn off Windows driver updates? Also, is there an issue with Windows not downloading my chipset or serial IO? I usually get these drivers from Asus.
Windows driver files come directly from manufacturers. Hardware companies provide updated versions to the Windows Hardware Quality Lab testing program (WHQL). After obtaining WHQL approval for their software, they send it to Microsoft for inclusion in the Windows Update. Whether these files appear on the vendor's site depends on the vendor's decision.
Each driver is labeled either 'automatic' or 'manual'. Setting it as automatic ensures Windows Update installs it automatically on all eligible systems. Choosing manual adds the driver to a list of optional updates, leaving the installation decision to the user.
In short, these are not standard Windows drivers but rather hardware vendor-supplied files delivered for use.
Windows is downloading a more recent driver available on the manufacturer's website, such as Intel management interface. I also checked Armoury Crate and noticed that newer drivers aren't always ideal for my hardware. Should I turn off Windows driver updates? Also, is there an issue with Windows not downloading my chipset or serial IO? I usually get these drivers from Asus.
Always verify the drivers on your manufacturer's support site, avoid relying on third-party apps to provide recommendations. Driver Easy has a history of locking working platforms. Additionally, refrain from letting Windows automatically download and install drivers it believes will be optimal, as this can also trigger BSoD errors.
Yes, setting it to NO in the system->hardware->device installation settings should be correct.
If your platform is brand new or concurrent, you don't have to do anything special—just ensure you have the latest drivers installed and confirm Windows compatibility.
Windows driver files come directly from manufacturers. Hardware companies send updated versions to the Windows Hardware Quality Lab testing group (WHQL). After obtaining WHQL approval, they send their drivers to Microsoft for inclusion in the Windows Update. Whether these files appear on the vendor's site depends on the manufacturer's decision.
Each driver is labeled as either 'automatic' or 'manual'. An automatic setting ensures Windows Update installs the driver on every eligible system. A manual setting adds the driver to a list of optional updates, leaving the installation decision to the user.
In short, these are not Windows drivers but hardware vendor files delivered via Windows Update. The issue lies with the vendors themselves. If they delay WHQL testing or fail to submit updates, Windows Update won't have the newest versions—especially for frequently changing drivers like graphics cards. This affects smaller vendors who lack time or resources for testing or submission. It also impacts cutting-edge hardware that hasn't been WHQL evaluated yet.
My recommendation is to let Windows Update handle all available drivers. Graphics drivers should ideally be downloaded directly from Nvidia or AMD, except for laptops where generic drivers aren't recommended. If you encounter issues, look into the optional update sections for any manual drivers and consider checking the vendor's website for alternatives.
Don't rely on third-party tools such as DriverEasy to install drivers.
I understand these aren't Windows drivers. I wondered if Windows could download and install them incorrectly. I need to get many drivers myself. By the way, thank you! I plan to download from the Asus site because if I turn on Windows handle drivers, I've encountered all DeviceSetupManager 131 event log errors until I disable that feature in Windows.