Vender Drivers vs Windows Drivers

[halfpower]

A few times when I've installed new hardware, I've been instructed by the hardware manufacturer not to let Windows automatically find the right driver. With hardware such as my Emu sound card, Windows is not able to properly identify it and does not even have the drivers. I have doubts, however, that this is true for my Epson Printer and Asus Wireless card (Ralink chipset). I say for a fact that it is not true for my old Netgear wireless PCMCIA card. My question: Do you follow the manufacturers instructions and use their CD to make their hardware work, or do you just let Windows install it? My guess is that Windows will boot up faster if you use the windows driver, but that this driver might have fewer features. What is preferable?

 

[Markbnj]

I always try to find the latest drivers from the OEM, and ignore Windows Update driver recommendations.

 

[bluestrobe]

Easy answer. If you have problems, use the manufacture's drivers. If Windows finds the right drivers and the device works, then leave it be. Microsoft doesn't create their drivers, they are sent drivers by the companies for their products. So in the end Windows tries to find the best driver it has in it's database and sometimes it reads a device wrong but this is rare. Only thing I would use seperate drivers for is if a product has an ever changing database of driver support such as video cards.

 

[Jjoshua2]

Would about sound cards? I have a chaintech 7.1 sound card that windows update wants to update drivers for sometimes. Is it better to do that or get latest manufacturers drivers? (I suppose as far as sound quality and performance is concerned)