Are the drivers on Windows Update always updated?

[nLinked]

I'm on Vista, and I prefer to use the drivers for al of my hardware that I can get from Windows Update. It's just easier for me to do this. But will Microsoft always keep all the hardware drivers up to date there? How can they manage all of them?

 

[Markbnj]

I've wondered about this myself. I would imagine they must have some program in place for the logo-compatible partner OEMs to submit updates, but I have no idea whether they often do. I generally don't use Windows update to download drivers, other than for simple stuff like display panel inf files. The ones on the OEM websites always seem to be more recent. Another good question is: does downloading the ones from Windows update (even when they are older) buy you some sort of enhanced testing by MS?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: nLinked
I'm on Vista, and I prefer to use the drivers for al of my hardware that I can get from Windows Update. It's just easier for me to do this. But will Microsoft always keep all the hardware drivers up to date there? How can they manage all of them?

Drivers are put on WO after they've passed WCL (Windows compatibility labs) testing. That is why they tend to lag the vendors release. Generally they are considered the most stable, but the latest from the vendors are the more proformant ones (especially from say ATI or Nvidia)

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: nLinked
I'm on Vista, and I prefer to use the drivers for al of my hardware that I can get from Windows Update. It's just easier for me to do this. But will Microsoft always keep all the hardware drivers up to date there? How can they manage all of them?

Drivers are put on WO after they've passed WCL (Windows compatibility labs) testing. That is why they tend to lag the vendors release. Generally they are considered the most stable, but the latest from the vendors are the more proformant ones (especially from say ATI or Nvidia)

:thumbsup: