Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Skuzzy on April 17, 2013, 03:58:48 PM

Title: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Skuzzy on April 17, 2013, 03:58:48 PM

Microsoft is notorious for messing up computers via the driver updates for the video and sound cards (possibly others).

In Windows 7 Professional you can tell Microsoft not to update drivers, as follows:

Press "Start"
Right click on "Computer" (if your "Computer" is not a selection, then enable it in the task bar settings)
Select "Properties"

In the dialog that opens, select "Advanced System Settings".
Select the "Hardware" tab.
Click on the "Device Installation Settings" button.

There is where you can tell Microsoft to never install driver updates, or set your own configuration.  By default, they install driver updates.

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Chalenge on April 17, 2013, 04:55:18 PM

Thank you, Skuzzy. That has been making things very difficult up until now.

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: 633DH98 on April 17, 2013, 08:58:59 PM

This is also available in Windows 7 Home Premium.

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Skuzzy on April 18, 2013, 06:23:47 AM

Quote from: Chalenge on April 17, 2013, 04:55:18 PM

Thank you, Skuzzy. That has been making things very difficult up until now.

You are welcome.

Quote from: 633DH98 on April 17, 2013, 08:58:59 PM

This is also available in Windows 7 Home Premium.

I was wondering if it was available in other versions of Windows 7.  Thank you for posting that.

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Skuzzy on April 18, 2013, 01:46:50 PM

FYI:  Windows 8 has the same option, and it defaults to not updating drivers.  At least they got one thing right in Windows 8. :)

EDIT:  The default for Windows 8 applies to the OEM version of the operating system.  OEM's may change the default, so it is best to check that.

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: MADe on April 20, 2013, 09:58:51 AM

I turn off all auto updating.
I check it manually occassionally, only do security and such. Always use hardware manufacturers drivers.
And do not update a driver just because, if it ain't broke........................ ....

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Pudgie on April 20, 2013, 04:34:30 PM

Done.

Thanks, Skuzzy!

 :salute

Title: Re: Protecting your computer from unwanted driver downloads
Post by: Delirium on April 20, 2013, 08:21:40 PM

Quote from: Skuzzy on April 18, 2013, 06:23:47 AM

I was wondering if it was available in other versions of Windows 7.  Thank you for posting that.

It works on Win7 Ultimate as well.