COMPLAINT

[Georges Kriemadis]

On Monday 26.03.2004 I checked the Windows XP site and
found no critical updates. However, Windows XP checker
recommended two driver upgrades. One for the ATI driver
and two the sound card driver. I chose both. Since that
moment my problems started! I get random freezing of the
computer. Nothing works anymore and I have to reboot
every time. The error report attributes this to the ATI
driver. I tried to contact Microsoft by email to no
avail. Their support site has become so cumbersome, so
user unfriendly, so remote and distant from the consumer
that one does not even want to continue asking for
support anymore. Nobody can even complain to them
directly, let alone get descent help. Their on-line tech
support refers me to the ATI site to get support from
them. When I tried to get online support and entered the
product ID required they referred me back to the hardware
manufacturer because the software is OEM. After all it
was on the Microsoft site that the driver upgrade was
recommended and installed. I want to complain not because
I like it but because it is after their recommendation
(on-line checker) that I upgraded the ATI driver which
now gives me endless problems. It is unacceptable! And it
is even more aggravating that one cannot even have direct
access by email to them and tell them how arrogant they
have become.

This message is sent on this site in the hope that
somebody at Microsoft will notice it and who is not so
arrogant to service the public who after all made
Microsoft what it is today. This whole incident is
outrageous!

Georges Kriemadis
Fax: +1-973-4538195, Email: (e-mail address removed)

 

[Kelly]

The bottom line here should read: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[James A. Smith]

I like to install just one update at a time so if something gets messed up
it easy to track.

Many of the updates can be uninstalled through "System Restore".
Or Add/Remove programs in control panel.

Also never ever ever post a phone number on the net unless you want all
kinds of junk sent to your fax.

 

[Guest]

roll back driver.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

I, personally, will never rely on a MS provided driver on the Windows Update
site. I had bad experieneces with Windows 2000 that I needed to do a
complete re-format.

Microsoft makes Windows and not the drivers.

BTW: The drivers that are listed in Windows Updates could be very out of
date. Mine, nVidia video driver, are completely a different level. (MS:
Level 4xxx, nVidia: Leverl 5xxxx)

 

[Alex Nichol]

On Monday 26.03.2004 I checked the Windows XP site and
found no critical updates. However, Windows XP checker
recommended two driver upgrades. One for the ATI driver
and two the sound card driver. I chose both. Since that
moment my problems started! I get random freezing of the
computer. Nothing works anymore and I have to reboot
every time. The error report attributes this to the ATI
driver.

Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore and
restore to a point made before you got the driver Updates. I advise
*not* taking driver updates from Windows Update, and especially not for
Video cards. Go instead to the maker's site and get their recommended
one. And take the line of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" with them
anyway

 

[kurttrail]

The bottom line here should read: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Or don't believe everything that is recommended by Microsoft.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[kurttrail]

On Monday 26.03.2004 I checked the Windows XP site and
found no critical updates. However, Windows XP checker
recommended two driver upgrades. One for the ATI driver
and two the sound card driver. I chose both. Since that
moment my problems started! I get random freezing of the
computer. Nothing works anymore and I have to reboot
every time. The error report attributes this to the ATI
driver. I tried to contact Microsoft by email to no
avail. Their support site has become so cumbersome, so
user unfriendly, so remote and distant from the consumer
that one does not even want to continue asking for
support anymore. Nobody can even complain to them
directly, let alone get descent help. Their on-line tech
support refers me to the ATI site to get support from
them. When I tried to get online support and entered the
product ID required they referred me back to the hardware
manufacturer because the software is OEM. After all it
was on the Microsoft site that the driver upgrade was
recommended and installed. I want to complain not because
I like it but because it is after their recommendation
(on-line checker) that I upgraded the ATI driver which
now gives me endless problems. It is unacceptable! And it
is even more aggravating that one cannot even have direct
access by email to them and tell them how arrogant they
have become.

This message is sent on this site in the hope that
somebody at Microsoft will notice it and who is not so
arrogant to service the public who after all made
Microsoft what it is today. This whole incident is
outrageous!

Georges Kriemadis
Fax: +1-973-4538195, Email: (e-mail address removed)

Take this as a lesson. Never use the drivers supplied by MS, ESPECIALLY
VIDEO DRIVERS. They are minimalistic at best, destructive to your computer
environment at worst.

For future driver updates:

http://mirror.ati.com/support/driver.html

And read the installation instructions fully before attempting to update
your drivers.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[NobodyMan]

On Monday 26.03.2004 I checked the Windows XP site and
found no critical updates. However, Windows XP checker
recommended two driver upgrades. One for the ATI driver
and two the sound card driver. I chose both. Since that
moment my problems started! I get random freezing of the
computer. Nothing works anymore and I have to reboot
every time. The error report attributes this to the ATI
driver. I tried to contact Microsoft by email to no
avail. Their support site has become so cumbersome, so
user unfriendly, so remote and distant from the consumer
that one does not even want to continue asking for
support anymore. Nobody can even complain to them
directly, let alone get descent help. Their on-line tech
support refers me to the ATI site to get support from
them. When I tried to get online support and entered the
product ID required they referred me back to the hardware
manufacturer because the software is OEM. After all it
was on the Microsoft site that the driver upgrade was
recommended and installed. I want to complain not because
I like it but because it is after their recommendation
(on-line checker) that I upgraded the ATI driver which
now gives me endless problems. It is unacceptable! And it
is even more aggravating that one cannot even have direct
access by email to them and tell them how arrogant they
have become.

Were you having any problems with the old driver? Was there any "new"
features on the newer driver that made you upgrade?

You have just learned the lesson about not frivously updating what may
not need to be updated. If the old drivers were fine, and the new one
didn't provide any new functionality that you can't live without, then
don't use it. Upgrading for the sake of having the latest "thing" is
a just plain dumb thing to do.

 

[-xiray-]

You have just learned the lesson about not frivously updating what may
not need to be updated. If the old drivers were fine, and the new one
didn't provide any new functionality that you can't live without, then
don't use it. Upgrading for the sake of having the latest "thing" is
a just plain dumb thing to do.

Ah, is there anyone out there that's installed a game that requires
the latest driver. I know I have. I know that many others have as
well. So while it might apply to the OP in this case, for the most
part that's not a maxim to be applied by all.

The real lessons to be learned are:
1. If you're going to use a computer, learn how to use a computer.
(Maybe start with one of those "For Dummies" books)
2. Only install the critical updates from MS, most of the other stuff
can suck the life out of you and your machine.
3. Update video (and all other drivers) with only the manufacturer's
supplied driver files
4. READ the friggin' instructions before proceeding with the install
of your new driver because installing some drivers overtop of the old
can cause definite problems. (This lesson also applies to installing
upgrade software, read the install instructions!)