Question for future builds

[Guest]

Is Microsoft improving on device compatibility for future builds? Are they
working with printer manufacturers, etc. so that working drivers will be
written? I'm one of those who cannot get their printer to work. driver
installs fine and print jobs just never print. also, anyone else having
trouble with the DVD decoder that comes with Vista? I've given up on solving
the problem of stuttering DVD playback (choppy video and audio).

 

[Alan Simpson]

Most everyone is creating Vista drivers for their existing hardware. But
apparently few are releasing beta drivers to the public yet.

DVDs OK here, so no clues on that front. I'm using the Intervideo DVD
Decoder for XP.

 

[Tom Ziegmann]

From what I know...MS is working with a lot of the larger manufacturers on
getting a lot of drivers in the box for Vista....but in the end it's up to
the manufacturer to get the drivers for Vista.

 

[Chad Harris]

MSFT whatever they do, has very limited impact on some manufacturers, and
more substantial impact on others. In an ideal world, the manufacturers
would be like some AV and Vid Card companies and actively track Vista builds
and get drivers working for them. These manufacturers adhere to their own
time table and pressure for what they perceive as their market. The
situation is eggregiously inefficient.

MSFT has scores of people on Device teams of different non-intuitive names
who interestingly aren't fully aware of the impact of configuring Driver
Verifier (an inspection tool built into XP and Vista to prevent blue screens
stops--disabling deadlock detection and AV software driver inspection often
prevents a large number of blue screens without impacting the functionality
of your AV app), nor have they gotten around to for 15 or so years creating
a device manager that has any accuracy in telling you whether the driver is
corrupted or healthy--the teams told me they aren't getting this done in
Vista (they joined the club there) and they may get it done in
Blackcomb/Vienna/whatevah.

The people on the driver teams maintain contacts with the major
manufacturers, have the ability to make phone calls and get their devices
shipped to test, meet, ping etc. but it still seems to have relatively
little impact on some manufacturers who make device drivers.

The clinical bottom line on the street, on the ground is that for some
drivers you are just going to have to wait. However, if I were you
depending on your needs, I would go to forums like this one and post your
device. Many people are resourceful at using tricks and workarounds to get
drivers to work on Vista and we can direct you to sites with driver lists
that are very up to date per build.

CH

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

People file bugs and Microsoft contacts the manufacturers as appropriate.

Do not assume Microsoft can or will do it all.
The fact is Microsoft has no control on what the manufacturers do for
drivers.

There may even get better results for consumers to contact the hardware
manufacturers and request specific drivers directly.
The older hardware is the less likely there will be a new driver.
Have you contacted the appropriate manufacturer for drivers that you need?