Does Microsoft ever release an updated "DRIVERS.CAB" file?

[Steve Maser]

XP is going on 3 years old now (thereabouts)

Does MS ever release an updated "DRIVERS.CAB" file that might contain
new drivers for newer hardware released since the release of Windows XP
that admins could slip into an \I386 directory for easier installation?


Just curious...

- Steve

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Both Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 contain updated drivers.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| XP is going on 3 years old now (thereabouts)
|
| Does MS ever release an updated "DRIVERS.CAB" file that might contain
| new drivers for newer hardware released since the release of Windows XP
| that admins could slip into an \I386 directory for easier installation?
|
|
| Just curious...
|
| - Steve

 

[Steve Maser]

Both Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 contain updated drivers.

But, clearly, not enough.

We constantly reformat drives here and are often having to hunt down
video drivers, GigaBit Ethernet drivers (from Dell), etc, for computers
that are at least 6-8 months older than when SP2 came out.

That would be extremely helpful to have (if it's something you can pass
up the chain as an MVP suggestion...)

- Steve

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Steve;
If you have a preference as to what drivers are provided, you need to
contact the hardware manufacturer and not Microsoft.
The manufacturer pays for the appropriate testing and then provides
the drivers.
Microsoft does no make or get the drivers.

 

[Steve Maser]

Steve;
If you have a preference as to what drivers are provided, you need to
contact the hardware manufacturer and not Microsoft.
The manufacturer pays for the appropriate testing and then provides
the drivers.
Microsoft does no make or get the drivers.

Right. But I'm wondering if manufacturers ever *do* provide updated
drivers that could be included in an updated DRIVERS.CAB file.

I guess not, huh...

- Steve

 

[Shenan Stanley]

If you have a preference as to what drivers are provided, you need to
contact the hardware manufacturer and not Microsoft.
The manufacturer pays for the appropriate testing and then provides
the drivers.
Microsoft does no make or get the drivers.

Right. But I'm wondering if manufacturers ever *do* provide updated
drivers that could be included in an updated DRIVERS.CAB file.

I guess not, huh...

Some did. Most did/will not.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Steve.
If the manufacturer provide the drivers then the drivers are in the
appropriate Service Pack file, otherwise they aren't.
It is entirely up to the manufacturers.