GZ
Visiting Expert
I'm running Windows 8.1
How do you maintain your Computer??
- Thread starter donetao
- Start date
- Status
- Mar 16, 2015
- 8,061
These glorious AMD drivers am I right? Catalyst is one piece of junk software.
That's what I'm talking about: as soon as you notice something is off, you take care of it right away, you don't wait until it becomes a major issue. As long as you maintain and take care of your system that way, it won't fail you.
Side note: I know I said I would post my tips before bed, but I got caught in something at the last minute. While it's dead at work, I'll work on it.
My current install is ~9 months old,
I will probably do some spring cleaning on both hardware and software when I have a chance. :lolg:
I normally only keep 2 images of my personal machine (The two latest).
They are stored on my internal Raid 1 cluster and on at least 1 external HDD. I've never had an important HDD die on me yet but just the thought scares me :grin1:
It's not a problem yet(my temps are still <50c) just enough to annoy me. :r1:
Last edited:
donetao
Banned
Hi Don't settle for a slow computer!! You don't need those snake oil programs. Windows has most of those tools!!
Optimize Windows for better performance - Windows Help windows-7
Optimize Windows for better performance - Windows Help windows-7
- Mar 16, 2015
- 8,061
Just noticed your post donetao.
Driver Updater Warning!
Driver Updaters aren't needed under Windows. In fact, they can be dangerous to use since if they install a wrong driver, it can make your system unbootable. I've seen people in the past that had to reinstall Windows entirely because they used programs like Driver Booster and SlimDrivers, and an important driver got updated with a wrong or non-official version.
Here's some articles that talks about Driver Updater programs and why they shouldn't be used:
From this, you can understand that it's not because your drivers are outdated that Windows will perform poorly. In a way, they have an impact on the performance (only certain ones), but not in a way that keeping them up-to-date will "boost your performance by 100%".
Driver Updaters aren't needed under Windows. In fact, they can be dangerous to use since if they install a wrong driver, it can make your system unbootable. I've seen people in the past that had to reinstall Windows entirely because they used programs like Driver Booster and SlimDrivers, and an important driver got updated with a wrong or non-official version.
- Drivers are "middlemen" between your OS (Windows) and your hardware (computer). They control and facilitate the interaction between Windows and hardware components, to deliver a "message", nothing more;
- Having all of your drivers up to date, all the time, will not improve the performance of your system, nor your computer. You cannot increase the hardware performance of a component over the current capabilities it have;
- Driver updates are released to fix a bug or an issue with a previous release of that driver. Not everyone with the same drivers will experience the issue, so if you are having no problems with the drivers you are running, you don't need to update them. "If it's not broken, don't fix it";
- You can download drivers for free from your computer/laptop manufacturers website, or from the hardware component manufacturers website. You don't need to pay for any of them, if you are being asked to pay for drivers it is likely a scam;
- Only drivers from the computer/laptop manufacturers website, or the hardware component manufacturers website are considered official (legitimate and working). You should not download drivers from anywhere else;
- Driver Updaters are a scam, they try to convince you that you need these programs in order to make your system perform well, which is false;
- It has been tested and proven that these programs will detect outdated drivers on a system that have the most updated drivers from the manufacturer, which shows that they don't work and/or they try to make you install "newer" suspicious drivers;
- The goal of the distributors of such programs is to make money by making you buy their useless product, or install additional software (PUPs) when you install their program. Your system will perform worse with these programs installed than without;
Here's some articles that talks about Driver Updater programs and why they shouldn't be used:
From this, you can understand that it's not because your drivers are outdated that Windows will perform poorly. In a way, they have an impact on the performance (only certain ones), but not in a way that keeping them up-to-date will "boost your performance by 100%".
- May 7, 2013
- 10,400
The only maintenance, if you can consider it as maintenance, is operating system updates and third-party software updates, otherwise I don't tend to bother with anything else.
donetao
Banned
Hi Aura! Thank you for your reply! I have read all that before! I also said the manufacture is the best place to get drivers. As I stated in my reply; if you think a driver is causing you issues, use this software as a reference. Also I should have added that you need to back up your PC before making any changes. There have been windows updates that have made computers unbootable. There is always a risk when changes are made to your PC, it can cause problems.
You need to be prepared for those things by always having a back up image of your OS. Also make a system repair disc!
The reason I created that reply was that it's recommended by Tim at Major Geeks. Tim has been around a long time. Also watch the video before you use this software.
Times are changing and the old dogs are always aware of and warning us about things that haven't worked well in the past. Update driver software is a good example. I believe that it's possible that software for driver updates is possible some day. I could probably do a search and find a lot of satisfied users.
It's always better to get drivers from the manufacture, but I have also heard where their drivers have bricked a OS. Here's a different opinion and I don't want to start a argument about this. I'm well aware of the pros and cons. The believers and the non believers.
SlimDrivers an Excellent Free Choice for Updating Drivers | PCWorld
If it ain't broke don't fix it!!
Yea I got my edit back. Thanks Tekno
You need to be prepared for those things by always having a back up image of your OS. Also make a system repair disc!
The reason I created that reply was that it's recommended by Tim at Major Geeks. Tim has been around a long time. Also watch the video before you use this software.
Times are changing and the old dogs are always aware of and warning us about things that haven't worked well in the past. Update driver software is a good example. I believe that it's possible that software for driver updates is possible some day. I could probably do a search and find a lot of satisfied users.
It's always better to get drivers from the manufacture, but I have also heard where their drivers have bricked a OS. Here's a different opinion and I don't want to start a argument about this. I'm well aware of the pros and cons. The believers and the non believers.
SlimDrivers an Excellent Free Choice for Updating Drivers | PCWorld
If it ain't broke don't fix it!!
Yea I got my edit back. Thanks Tekno
- Mar 16, 2015
- 8,061
I remember someone using SlimDrivers right in-front of me. On a brand new Windows installation. He wanted to update the display drivers, since the current one were "Standard VGA Display Adapter". He ran SlimDrivers infront of me, and it said that "Standard VGA Display Adapter is up to date!". Up to date? The driver wasn't even installed. This is a generic Windows driver for graphics when you don't have the exact one installed. And this was not even 2-3 months ago. Also, I don't pay many attention to reviews written on websites like PC World and you know why? It's easy to test a program by yourself, and write a review on it. It's another, to have the experience to support users and systems that used that program and then deal with what it caused. I may look like I'm "talking out of my butt" (I think it's the expression?) here, but a review, without the experience behind it to support it, isn't worth anything to me.
donetao
Banned
Hi Aura! We have argued before and we both suffered from that. I'm sure you remember that well!
I have stated my opinion and you have stated yours. Sysnative is a great forum that lets their members agree and disagree.
I said I could post several reviews. I posted one. You posted one. I didn't see where the software bricked the PC in your example
It just didn't recognize that a updated driver was available. I'm sure we both could spend a lot of time posting reviews that are both Pro and Con.
What would that really prove??
No one said you were talking out of your butt.
It's not unusual; even for the manufacture not to show driver up dates, especially if the PC is a few years old.
The best place for display driver is from the manufacture. They usually have a feature that will search and update the driver for you!!
Here are the drivers that you might want to update. This is taken from one of the links recommended from above reply!
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!!
I have stated my opinion and you have stated yours. Sysnative is a great forum that lets their members agree and disagree.
I said I could post several reviews. I posted one. You posted one. I didn't see where the software bricked the PC in your example
It just didn't recognize that a updated driver was available. I'm sure we both could spend a lot of time posting reviews that are both Pro and Con.
What would that really prove??
No one said you were talking out of your butt.
It's not unusual; even for the manufacture not to show driver up dates, especially if the PC is a few years old.
The best place for display driver is from the manufacture. They usually have a feature that will search and update the driver for you!!
Here are the drivers that you might want to update. This is taken from one of the links recommended from above reply!
- Video Card: The difference in speed between the generic Windows drivers for your video card and the official NVidia or ATI/AMDdrivers will surprise you. Even if you aren’t a gamer, make sure you have the real drivers.
- Motherboard/Chipset: you’ll want to make sure to head to the manufacturer’s site and grab their chipset drivers. If you bought a PC, head to their site, if you built one, go to the motherboard manufacturer’s site. Every installer is different, but in general, you can just run the downloaded driver.
- Sound Card:the native Windows drivers won’t include all the extra sound features like virtual surround, etc. If you bought a PC, head to their site, if you built one, either go to the motherboard manufacturer’s site for onboard sound, or the sound card manufacturer’s web site otherwise.
- Network Card: most likely you’re using some type of onboard card that’s part of the motherboard, and you already grabbed the drivers from there.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!!
- Mar 16, 2015
- 8,061
The best place for every drivers is on the manufacturer website. And your second sentence could be related to what Corrine said about certain website using Java. This is one example. NVIDIA uses a Java applet for its "Auto-detect" feature, and even there, it's not always 100% accurate. Same for AMD drivers.
donetao
Banned
I have stated many many times the best place for drivers is the manufacture.
Do you have prof that the auto-detect feature with NVIDA and AMD doesn't work?? It also has a feature that lets you manually search if that's what you want to do. Please post reviews that the Auto-detect does not work. Also nothing in the PC world is 100% that I know of!!
I really have nothing more to say about this! I would think that the place to get a display driver would be from AMD or NVIDA. Are they not the manufacture??
Do you have prof that the auto-detect feature with NVIDA and AMD doesn't work?? It also has a feature that lets you manually search if that's what you want to do. Please post reviews that the Auto-detect does not work. Also nothing in the PC world is 100% that I know of!!
I really have nothing more to say about this! I would think that the place to get a display driver would be from AMD or NVIDA. Are they not the manufacture??
GZ
Visiting Expert
Drivers, drivers, drivers.
I will maintain the best place to obtain the latest, up-to-date, drivers is Windows Update. All drivers available on Windows Update have passed Microsoft Validation and Testing and are the LEAST likely to be buggy and cause system hangs and crashes.
Second best place is the hardware manufacturer. I use the manufacturer for the following devices - Hardware that is not available through Windows Update, Hardware that does not function properly with the Windows Update available drivers (rare, but does happen) and Hardware which updated drivers will substantially improve performance (i.e. Video Cards).
Also, I rarely install the software that comes bundled with Manufacturers drivers. 99.9% of the functionality of the hardware driver is available natively in Windows. And, in my experience, the apps that control the driver features usually have a medium to high impact on overall system performance. (Catalyst Control Center is the PERFECT example). Notable exceptions include some Printers and new technologies.
Now, most manufacturers update drivers for two reasons. Fix bugs and update or introduce new functionalities (which usually also introduces new bugs). So, when I find a stable driver that offers sufficient performance, I tend to stick with that driver. And that driver usually happens to be the one that makes it to Windows Update.
As for Driver update programs... I think we have pretty much established they are hogwash and no respectable computer user should ever be suckered into installing, let alone paying, for one.
I will maintain the best place to obtain the latest, up-to-date, drivers is Windows Update. All drivers available on Windows Update have passed Microsoft Validation and Testing and are the LEAST likely to be buggy and cause system hangs and crashes.
Second best place is the hardware manufacturer. I use the manufacturer for the following devices - Hardware that is not available through Windows Update, Hardware that does not function properly with the Windows Update available drivers (rare, but does happen) and Hardware which updated drivers will substantially improve performance (i.e. Video Cards).
Also, I rarely install the software that comes bundled with Manufacturers drivers. 99.9% of the functionality of the hardware driver is available natively in Windows. And, in my experience, the apps that control the driver features usually have a medium to high impact on overall system performance. (Catalyst Control Center is the PERFECT example). Notable exceptions include some Printers and new technologies.
Now, most manufacturers update drivers for two reasons. Fix bugs and update or introduce new functionalities (which usually also introduces new bugs). So, when I find a stable driver that offers sufficient performance, I tend to stick with that driver. And that driver usually happens to be the one that makes it to Windows Update.
As for Driver update programs... I think we have pretty much established they are hogwash and no respectable computer user should ever be suckered into installing, let alone paying, for one.
GZ
Visiting Expert
I know that. I used to update my drivers RELIGIOUSLY. I would comb through all of my hardware and check for driver updates on a (minimum) monthly basis.
But what I have found is that, unless the hardware is not functioning properly, or is resulting in unstable behavior, I have fewer driver issues with the drivers that are available on Windows update as compared to the "latest" drivers.
If I need the added functionality of an updated driver, or a particular driver is causing issues with my system, I don't bother updating them.
I do have a few exceptions (Chipset drivers, and Video drivers) that I check for updates on a 6 month basis or so.
The rest I use the drivers that are available in Windows Update.
I'm not saying I am right or wrong. I am just saying that this is what I do and have been doing for the past year and a half to two years with no major issues.
Recently I purchased a new Wireless AC adapter (USB3 rather than internal) and I am continuing to update the drivers as they become available because there are bugs and issues that haven't been worked out yet.
- Mar 16, 2015
- 8,061
It's based with my past experience with the website, when doing support. I don't keep a log and proofs of every errors I ever encounter sadly. As an example, I can tell you that the AMD Auto-Detect detected HD Radeon 7000 series drivers for a 6000 series card, and didn't detect an older card (ATI Rage). Approximately the same for NVIDIA, except it once detected the right drivers for the card, but these shouldn't be used since it was for a laptop using dual graphics and you need special drivers from the manufacturer, otherwise it disable a lot of graphic options.
The only issues I have ever had with updating graphics drivers was back when I ran 2x 5870s. Anytime I updated them they would crash and even though I had auto update disabled it would still try to update it.
Growing pains I suppose, I now run 2x 7970s with no software problems, I do whatever I want with them without the slightest hitch so I haven't even bothered updating them in months.
I'm for the most part done playing with buggy drivers, it's not worth my time or effort to correct them.
Growing pains I suppose, I now run 2x 7970s with no software problems, I do whatever I want with them without the slightest hitch so I haven't even bothered updating them in months.
I'm for the most part done playing with buggy drivers, it's not worth my time or effort to correct them.
donetao
Banned
That is very strange!! Beta AMD drivers work but the latest AMD drivers don't work. I'm not much for Beta!! How many times have you seen this??
I'm very curious as I have AMD display. Not a gamer, so I'm staying with the drivers I have!!
If it ain't broke don't fix it!! If your a avid gamer, create a back up image and go for it!!
donetao
Banned
Hi This could help a little to maintain your PC!! No miracles,but Give it a look!!
Performance & maintenance - Windows Help
Performance & maintenance - Windows Help
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