Strange critical update

[History Fan]

I have a Dell desktop PC running XP Home SP2. I connect to the
Internet via a cable modem. On Thursday morning, the 9th, I noticed that
there was a critical update waiting to be installed. I let Automatic
Updates take care of it. A few hours later, curious to know what had been
installed, I visited Windows Update and checked "View installation history"
and this is the update:

<<Dell Inc. - Video - Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller>>

Isn't that a peculiar thing to appear as a critical update? I already
have the latest video driver from Intel installed.

 

[kurttrail]

I have a Dell desktop PC running XP Home SP2. I connect to the
Internet via a cable modem. On Thursday morning, the 9th, I noticed
that there was a critical update waiting to be installed. I let
Automatic Updates take care of it. A few hours later, curious to
know what had been installed, I visited Windows Update and checked
"View installation history" and this is the update:

<<Dell Inc. - Video - Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics
Controller>>
Isn't that a peculiar thing to appear as a critical update? I
already have the latest video driver from Intel installed.

That's the kind of thing that happens when you rely of a layer of crap
to keep your computer OS up-to-date instead of taking responsibility for
it for yourself.

http://microscum.com/comsense/


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

 

[Rock]

I have a Dell desktop PC running XP Home SP2. I connect to the
Internet via a cable modem. On Thursday morning, the 9th, I noticed that
there was a critical update waiting to be installed. I let Automatic
Updates take care of it. A few hours later, curious to know what had been
installed, I visited Windows Update and checked "View installation history"
and this is the update:

<<Dell Inc. - Video - Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller>>

Isn't that a peculiar thing to appear as a critical update? I already
have the latest video driver from Intel installed.

It's better to not use automatic updates, and WU should not be used for
driver updates. Get those from the device manufacturer's web site and
then only if there is a problem that update will address or if there is
some new must have feature. On the the WU site use custom install and
review all updates before installing.

 

[PA Bear]

First off, that driver update /may/ screw up your display. From my Dell
Support contact:

<QP>
It changes display resolution to 1280x1024. If the display does not support
this resolution, then [you will] get a "this video mode not supported"
message at boot. Fix is to boot to vga and set resolution to 1024x768.
</QP>

At last report (which may have been after you installed this update) MS was
aware of this possible conflict and was going to pull it from Windows
Update.

Second, experienced users will never install driver updates offered by
Windows Update. Another reason to configure Automatic Updates not to
automatically install all available updates.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525

 

[Malke]

First off, that driver update /may/ screw up your display. From my
Dell Support contact:

<QP>
It changes display resolution to 1280x1024. If the display does not
support this resolution, then [you will] get a "this video mode not
supported" message at boot. Fix is to boot to vga and set resolution
to 1024x768. </QP>

At last report (which may have been after you installed this update)
MS was aware of this possible conflict and was going to pull it from
Windows Update.

Second, experienced users will never install driver updates offered by
Windows Update. Another reason to configure Automatic Updates not to
automatically install all available updates.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525

I can tell you for *sure* that driver update will screw up your display
if you have it on an older monitor that does only 1024x768. Since I was
working on setting up a customer's new Dell, for fun I thought I would
install that very same driver update. It just confirmed what I always
say - don't use driver updates from Windows Update! Thanks Bear for
explaining the reason it screwed up. I didn't have a problem fixing it,
but this is a perfect illustration of why we all wish there were no
driver updates on Windows Update.

Malke

 

[PA Bear]

Check your inbox.
--
~PA Bear

First off, that driver update /may/ screw up your display. From my
Dell Support contact:

<QP>
It changes display resolution to 1280x1024. If the display does not
support this resolution, then [you will] get a "this video mode not
supported" message at boot. Fix is to boot to vga and set resolution
to 1024x768. </QP>

At last report (which may have been after you installed this update)
MS was aware of this possible conflict and was going to pull it from
Windows Update.

Second, experienced users will never install driver updates offered by
Windows Update. Another reason to configure Automatic Updates not to
automatically install all available updates.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525

I can tell you for *sure* that driver update will screw up your display
if you have it on an older monitor that does only 1024x768. Since I was
working on setting up a customer's new Dell, for fun I thought I would
install that very same driver update. It just confirmed what I always
say - don't use driver updates from Windows Update! Thanks Bear for
explaining the reason it screwed up. I didn't have a problem fixing it,
but this is a perfect illustration of why we all wish there were no
driver updates on Windows Update.

Malke

 

[History Fan]

The curious thing is that the Intel video driver has been available (on
my computer) for a long time on Windows Update, but as an 'optional' update.
Now suddenly it's changed to a critical or urgent update.

 

[PA Bear]

Unless you /know/ this driver update applies to your monitor, don't install
it.

 

[History Fan]

As far as I can tell, nothing has changed in the video display settings.
The same Intel driver is installed, with the same date and the same version
number. So maybe no harm was done.

 

[kurttrail]

As far as I can tell, nothing has changed in the video display
settings. The same Intel driver is installed, with the same date and
the same version number. So maybe no harm was done.

Since the Intel graphics chips are simplistic in themselves, you may not
notice a difference with the driver. If you using a ATI or nVidia
graphics card, MS Driver Updates are simplistic at best, and the way it
updates those drivers over the existing ones usually breaks it.

So be glad you have crappy graphics!

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