windows update driver problem

[Guest]

With my brand new HP m380n PC running XP media center edition 2004 the store provided an SMC EZ connect 802.11b wireless USB adapter model SMC2662W. It worked immediately with my SMC wireless hub. I went immediately to windows update to get the latest fixes etc. After installing all critical patches and rebooting a couple of times, the drivers section of windows update offered 4 driver updates, including one for the SMC2662W. I installed it and the device immediately stopped working. Puzzled, I reinstalled the system with the factory reinstall image and tried again. Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.
Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.

 

[jquiet]

If something causes a problem don't use it. To really know if you are
missing something you would have to contact the manufacturer to see what is
in the new driver version. However in the future you may save time by using
one of the following (Listed in order of user friendliness)

A. Start, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore
B. Control Panel, Add Remove Programs to uninstall the Windows Update
C. Device Manager, Double-click on device, Driver, Driver Rollback

With my brand new HP m380n PC running XP media center edition 2004 the

store provided an SMC EZ connect 802.11b wireless USB adapter model
SMC2662W. It worked immediately with my SMC wireless hub. I went
immediately to windows update to get the latest fixes etc. After installing
all critical patches and rebooting a couple of times, the drivers section of
windows update offered 4 driver updates, including one for the SMC2662W. I
installed it and the device immediately stopped working. Puzzled, I
reinstalled the system with the factory reinstall image and tried again.
Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.

Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have

it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The
presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.

 

[Andy Vanosdale [MCE MVP]]

Have you tried going to SMC's website to see if they have an updated
version?

--
Andy Vanosdale
Microsoft MVP - Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Associate Expert
Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/ExpertZone

With my brand new HP m380n PC running XP media center edition 2004 the

store provided an SMC EZ connect 802.11b wireless USB adapter model
SMC2662W. It worked immediately with my SMC wireless hub. I went
immediately to windows update to get the latest fixes etc. After installing
all critical patches and rebooting a couple of times, the drivers section of
windows update offered 4 driver updates, including one for the SMC2662W. I
installed it and the device immediately stopped working. Puzzled, I
reinstalled the system with the factory reinstall image and tried again.
Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.

Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have

it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The
presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.

 

[Sunny]

Don't use any drivers offered on the MS Update site.
It's always best to go to the manufacturers site for drivers.
Read the recommended install procedures carefully.
The download/install "feature" of the MS site does not take into account
the fact that at least two programs are running during the install (IE and
ISP Connection)
IMHO

With my brand new HP m380n PC running XP media center edition 2004 the

store provided an SMC EZ connect 802.11b wireless USB adapter model
SMC2662W. It worked immediately with my SMC wireless hub. I went
immediately to windows update to get the latest fixes etc. After installing
all critical patches and rebooting a couple of times, the drivers section of
windows update offered 4 driver updates, including one for the SMC2662W. I
installed it and the device immediately stopped working. Puzzled, I
reinstalled the system with the factory reinstall image and tried again.
Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.

Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have

it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The
presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.
Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.

Generally I avoid driver updates offered by Windows Update. They have
had to go through checking by MSoft Labs, and by the time they get on
the Update site they have often been superseded by a later one from the
makers. It can even happen that the update ones (because they are
'signed') will overwrite those later ones. This seems to be a
particularly bad case, but certainly if the one that came with the card
work they are the ones to use

 

[Luis A. Burgos [MCE MVP]]

Hi Texas,

That you mention may happen to some people sometimes. The drivers on windows
update are certified to comply with windows requirements, but it is nearly
impossible to test a driver under all conditrions, so it may happen that,
for you specific conditions, this new driver does not work correctly, or
require additional tweaking. This very same driver may work correctly for
others though.

In any case, if you ever install a driver from windows update and your
hardware stops working correctly, simply roll-back the driver (you don't
need to re-install everything) and ignore further notices from windows
update saying that it has a new driver for your specific driver.

I, for one, usually go with the versions in the manufacturer's website, like
Andy suggested, but aso use a lot the driver updates from windows update.
I've had my share of problems too, but nothing worth write home about.

Regards,

Luis

With my brand new HP m380n PC running XP media center edition 2004 the

store provided an SMC EZ connect 802.11b wireless USB adapter model
SMC2662W. It worked immediately with my SMC wireless hub. I went
immediately to windows update to get the latest fixes etc. After installing
all critical patches and rebooting a couple of times, the drivers section of
windows update offered 4 driver updates, including one for the SMC2662W. I
installed it and the device immediately stopped working. Puzzled, I
reinstalled the system with the factory reinstall image and tried again.
Repeatably 3 times the new driver stopped the device from working.

Do I really need this driver update? I guess I should choose not to have

it, but how can I stop windows update from continuing to propose it? The
presonalisation option doesn't seem to cover driver updates.