Initial setup on a brand-new PC. Inquiries about hardware upgrades and automatic updates
Initial setup on a brand-new PC. Inquiries about hardware upgrades and automatic updates
Hello everyone, I recently set up Windows 10 on my laptop and was taken aback by how much the system collects personal data. To protect my privacy, I adjusted the Privacy settings to limit tracking features. I also ran Spybot Anti Beacon to ensure all potential threats were addressed. Now I’m amazed at how many drivers Windows 10 installs automatically—Chipset, GPU, audio, network, etc.—especially after building a new gaming PC. I plan to install Windows 10 on my newly assembled gaming machine as soon as I resolve these concerns. If anyone can assist, it would be greatly appreciated.
I discovered that disabling automatic updates isn’t possible in Windows 10 Home Edition. To avoid this, I’ll opt for Windows Pro. A guide explains how to disable automatic updates via the Local Group Policy Editor. The instructions seem valid and effective: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-stop-...windows-10
For my laptop, I’m concerned about Windows Update downloading and installing drivers for hardware like my chipset and GPU. There’s a risk of conflicts if I switch to an NVIDIA card, as it might install Radeon drivers even after switching. It could also install both types simultaneously or update the current driver, which may be more stable than the new one. I have a few questions:
2a. Is there a method to prevent Windows Update from installing hardware drivers automatically? The steps involve navigating to Systems, then Settings, and finally the Hardware tab to disable automatic updates. Does this work?
2b. For my gaming desktop, will I need to worry about hardware updates after installing Windows 10 Pro? Since I’ll manage updates through the Local Group Policy Editor, should I be concerned?
3a. Should I disconnect my Ethernet cable before installing Windows 10 Pro on my new gaming PC? I want full control over driver installations and avoid automatic downloads. When was the last time it updated hardware drivers?
3b. Is it necessary to connect to the internet during installation? I installed Windows Home for my laptop via a modem, so I assumed updates were happening automatically. Does this apply to my gaming setup?
3c. Can I disable automatic updates entirely on the first install? If so, after setting up Local Group Policy Editor, I should be able to turn off automatic updates. Thanks in advance for your guidance!
This will affect how aggressive the updates are, but they won’t stop them. If you want to disable them, turn off the update service, though leaving them on is safer. Disabling updates poses a serious security risk.
The drivers from Windows Update are installed correctly; they won’t install incorrect ones. You can still update drivers manually without affecting them.
2a. There’s no need to worry about the drivers from updates—just let everything download from there.
2b. You still lack control over all settings in GP, and you can’t disable updates either.
3. There’s no issue with unplugging it; it won’t damage your drivers. You don’t need a network connection to install them. Just keep updates enabled for security.
Thanks for your feedback. Here are your questions rephrased:
1. Does Windows 10 automatically install hardware drivers during installation, or only when you check for updates initially? I want to install hardware updates myself.
2. If Windows does install drivers while installing, can I safely disconnect the Ethernet cable from my modem so it won’t auto-install them and I can handle it manually?
3. For future checks, how can I see the chipset version of my motherboard driver in Windows 10 auto-updates? The control panel doesn’t display this info. Do I need to use Device Manager and look under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers? Thanks!
1.auto sets up drivers automatically once hardware is connected, including occasional updates. Windows updates don’t interfere with drivers. 2. Installation happens during setup, not while installing, but after you open the desktop. 3. Navigate to Device Manager to view driver version—no manual installation required, just let it handle it.
Thanks for the response. Electronics Wizardy shared a story from 2015 about replacing a Radeon GPU with a new Nvidia one, which caused issues after Windows updates. It seems similar problems might still occur today, though it could depend on current system configurations.