sp2 windows update bug?

[Greg R]

Windows update notfies me I need this update.

Size: 1.3 MB
S3 Graphics, Inc. display software update released on May 26 2003.

However, according to the device manager. I have this version. S3
Graphics, Inc. Driver Date 6/3/2004

Which is newer

Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[LVTravel]

Doesn't matter which is newer. You should always go to the computer or
device manufacturer for driver updates and NOT use the Microsoft drivers.

 

[RJ]

Agreed. You are gambling if you install MS hardware driver updates.
I have no idea how MS determines what hardware drivers to tell people
to install, but more often than not, they are the wrong ones.

Go to your device manufacturer and get the Correct drivers from them.

 

[SlowJet]

It means that it is the lastest signed driver recieved
from the mfg.
Sometimes there is no need to go beyound that because the
video card does not support the new function anyway.

Maybe some new drivers will show up after the SP2 wave?

SJ

 

[francis gérard]

Agreed. You are gambling if you install MS hardware driver updates.
I have no idea how MS determines what hardware drivers to tell people
to install, but more often than not, they are the wrong ones.

Go to your device manufacturer and get the Correct drivers from them.

this is simply false. the drivers offered via Windows Update are actually
built by the 3rd party hardware vendors themselves and submitted to
Microsoft for regression testing and WHQL certification. THAT is why they
are offered on the WU site, because they have been *tested* in Microsoft's
WHQL Labs and proven to be *reliable*. i've updated the device drivers (via
WU) on countless Windows systems and not ONCE have i encountered a problem.
It's true a hardware vendor may have a newer version of a particular driver
available on their own website (by the time Microsoft posts the WHQL
certified version to WU), but that does not mean the tested version, offered
via WU, is the 'wrong one' (that is simply bullsh*t). do you know anything
about matching drivers to device IDs? i suspect not.

the general rule is, if WU offers an updated driver for your hardware, go
check the hardware vendor's website first, to see if they offer an updated
version too, compare the two versions and choose the latest one, which will
likely be the hardware vendor's version. however, keep in mind, the version
offered by Microsoft has been *tested* and *certified*, the one on the
vendor's website may not have been.

there is absolutely *nothing* wrong with the drivers offered via WU, this is
a persistent myth that misinformed people keep spreading around... please
get your facts straight

 

[francis gérard]

Doesn't matter which is newer. You should always go to the computer or
device manufacturer for driver updates and NOT use the Microsoft drivers.

this is simply false. the drivers offered via Windows Update are actually
built by the 3rd party hardware vendors themselves and submitted to
Microsoft for regression testing and WHQL certification. THAT is why they
are offered on the WU site, because they have been *tested* in Microsoft's
WHQL Labs and proven to be *reliable*. i've updated the device drivers (via
WU) on countless Windows systems and not ONCE have i encountered a problem.
It's true a hardware vendor may have a newer version of a particular driver
available on their own website (by the time Microsoft posts the WHQL
certified version to WU), but that does not mean the tested version, offered
via WU, is the 'wrong one' (that is simply bullsh*t). do you know anything
about matching drivers to device IDs? i suspect not.

the general rule is, if WU offers an updated driver for your hardware, go
check the hardware vendor's website first, to see if they offer an updated
version too, compare the two versions and choose the latest one, which will
likely be the hardware vendor's version. however, keep in mind, the version
offered by Microsoft has been *tested* and *certified*, the one on the
vendor's website may not have been.

there is absolutely *nothing* wrong with the drivers offered via WU, this is
a persistent myth that misinformed people keep spreading around... please
get your facts straight

 

[Greg R]

To All,
My point is windows update is reporting I need this driver.
However, I already have the current driver install from the
Manufactures. Some how windows update things I have an older driver
on my system. I wonder if windows update need a year 2000 patch-hehe
Since I knowledgably about computer. I just told windows update to
not to notify me about this update.

Sorry Francis this I am going to have to disagree with you on this
one. I had a driver downloaded from windows update. It really
messed up my system. However, Downloading from the manufacture site
and installing it I had no problems. This was the same driver
version.




http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[RJ]

Yes of course. Just because You have Never had a problem, no one else
has either. And those of us who have installed MS driver
updates from Windows Update, and then had problems with that hardware,
no doubt imagined it.

 

[francis gérard]

Windows update notfies me I need this update.

Size: 1.3 MB
S3 Graphics, Inc. display software update released on May 26 2003.

However, according to the device manager. I have this version. S3
Graphics, Inc. Driver Date 6/3/2004

the dates are meaningless... look for the actual Driver Version number on
the device's Driver tab in the Device Manager console

if WU is offering you a driver, then it has detected that the WU version is
more compatible with your hardware and/or the currently installed version on
your system is old or missing driver components

check the current Driver Version (make note of it), use system restore to
manually create a restore point (although WU does this automatically when it
installs a driver), allow WU to install/update the S3 video driver, restart
and re-check the driver version, is it newer? in the unlikely event that
you are unable to restart the system after updating a driver, use F8 during
startup to choose Last Known Good Configuration (do not use system restore
subsequent to using LKGC).

btw, changing video drivers can sometimes reset the screen resolution and
colour depth to default values, so you will want to verify that those
parameters are set correctly (after installing the new driver). typically,
screen resolution should be at least 800x600, ideally 1024x768 for a good
15" monitor and higher for larger screens. colour depth should be set at
Highest (32 or 24 bit).

 

[francis gérard]

Yes of course. Just because You have Never had a problem, no one else
has either. And those of us who have installed MS driver
updates from Windows Update, and then had problems with that hardware,
no doubt imagined it.

be specific

 

[francis gérard]

To All,
My point is windows update is reporting I need this driver.
However, I already have the current driver install from the
Manufactures. Some how windows update things I have an older driver
on my system. I wonder if windows update need a year 2000 patch-hehe
Since I knowledgably about computer. I just told windows update to
not to notify me about this update.

Sorry Francis this I am going to have to disagree with you on this
one. I had a driver downloaded from windows update. It really
messed up my system. However, Downloading from the manufacture site
and installing it I had no problems. This was the same driver
version.

well greg, you asked for advice... you got it, do with it what you will.

i'm curious, what driver did you get from WU that "really messed up" your
system? and if the driver installed via WU was the "same driver version"
that you downloaded from the hardware vendor's website, then i'm even more
skeptical of your claim.

 

[RJ]

Geez Frank... Can't you just accept that some people
have had one too many problems with WU drivers and have learned
their lesson... don't install them.

 

[francis gérard]

Geez Frank... Can't you just accept that some people
have had one too many problems with WU drivers and have learned
their lesson... don't install them.

there are always potential issues when installing device drivers, whether
via WU or a 3rd party, but a driver from WU is no more prone to problems
than one downloaded from a hardware vendor. that's been my experience, i
build/maintain/upgrade/update computers and small networks... that's what i
do, so i've done this enough times to make a qualified statement, that WU
has not once given me grief after installing a driver update, obviously that
is no guarantee, just my experience, and precautions should be taken before
installing drivers, regardless of the source.

i'm not doubting that there may be a problem after updating a driver, but
that potential risk applies just as much to drivers downloaded from a
hardware vendor's site as it does to those via WU. the drivers available
via WU are tested and certified by MS' windows hardware quality labs, and
are usually problem-free. however, as with everything in life, there will
always be exceptions.

 

[LVTravel]

I really disagree with this statement. I have an ATI board in two different
computers. When I have attempted updates via WU both computers crashed.
Pulled Microsoft supplied drivers, went to ATI web site and downloaded their
latest and had absolutely no problem with their "sited" drivers. Had the
same kind of problem with a HP printer also.

 

[Greg R]

I cound not see the computer. If I use those resolutions on my
computer.

I only use 800x600 when I have too, then switch back to 640x800

I have a 15'' monitor. However for 17inch then 800x600 will do fine.


That the same driver I talked about. But it was an another version.

I don't use either version now.


Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[francis gérard]

I really disagree with this statement. I have an ATI board in two
different
computers. When I have attempted updates via WU both computers crashed.
Pulled Microsoft supplied drivers, went to ATI web site and downloaded
their
latest and had absolutely no problem with their "sited" drivers. Had the
same kind of problem with a HP printer also.

the drivers available via WU for ATI and HP hardware are also built by those
vendors and subsequently submitted to MS WHQL for testing and certification.
ime, the WHQL certified drivers are stable and rarely cause problems, else
they would not be available via WU in the first place. think about it, it's
not to microsoft's benefit to install buggy drivers on their customer's
systems. if a problem is found with a WHQL driver, it is pulled from WU
update site.

i only wish more hardware vendors would submit their drivers for MSWHQL
testing and make them available via Windows/Automatic update... it makes
sense to unify the update process to make it easier for the end-user to keep
their systems up-to-date, whether it be the operating system, application
software or device drivers.

 

[francis gérard]

I cound not see the computer. If I use those resolutions on my
computer.

I only use 800x600 when I have too, then switch back to 640x800

eeek! reminds of the dark days of DOS

I have a 15'' monitor. However for 17inch then 800x600 will do fine.

typically, the recommended screen-size for a 15" monitor is 800x600, but
many people run it higher at 1024x768, particularly if the 15" monitor has
sufficiently high resolution (DPI)

running a 17" monitor at low resolutions (800x600) does not make good sense,
unless you have limited vision and require icons and text to be larger than
normal

That the same driver I talked about. But it was an another version.

huh? how does the "same driver" = "another version"

I don't use either version now.

ic... well, i'm confused

 

[Greg R]

It was a much older version my s3 graphics driver.
I downloaded it from windows update.

This really messed up my computer.
I download the same older version from the manufacture
No problems.

The reason I calling this an older version.
Neither windows update nor the manufacture has that version now

I was using xp sp1 at that time as well.


Greg R
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/

 

[francis gérard]

It was a much older version my s3 graphics driver.
I downloaded it from windows update.

yes, it's possible that by the time a driver is fully tested and posted to
the WU site, it may have been superceded by a newer version on the hardware
vendor's own website, but that doesn't mean the older one available via WU
is no good, and since it's been regression tested, it may prove to be more
reliable than the latest untested driver.

This really messed up my computer.
I download the same older version from the manufacture
No problems.
bizarre

The reason I calling this an older version.
Neither windows update nor the manufacture has that version now

but... wasn't the whole point of this discussion to determine which driver
is "newer", you initially said that, "Windows update notfies me I need this
update" but now you're telling us that Windows update no longer has that
version.

I was using xp sp1 at that time as well.

so when was that, before or after you posted your original article?

 

[Alex Nichol]

if WU is offering you a driver, then it has detected that the WU version is
more compatible with your hardware and/or the currently installed version on
your system is old or missing driver components

It may be offering one that is in fact older - but is 'signed' by MS
quality labs. I would always go to the web site of the makers and get
the latest driver that *they* recommend for use with XP