When MS issued a hardware driver update via the normal update channel it
is often a bad idea. NVidia drivers for example often can't install
properly is the system is running something using the driver, but more
particularly they state that you MUST remove the old driver before
installing a new one... this is more or less for the same reason. If you
try you may end up with half old / half new + Blue screen etc.
Always try to uninstall first IF told by the manufacturer of the
hardware, If not told then you should be okay for most things but if you
end up with trouble then try reboot / uninstall / reboot / reinstall to
keep things "Clean".
Having said that I have found you sometimes can "Get Away" with the MS
driver downloads and sometimes cannot, you almost always succeed using
the method above, so it is not an issue with the MS issued driver so
much as an issue with the installation method.
Christine wrote:
> I am not looking for this particular update, but I never see any optional
> hardware updates (as I do on my old XP machine). I'm still using a generic
> display driver because I don't know how to get the correct one for my ATI
> Radeon X1950 PRO graphics card. I haven't been able to acccess the correct
> driver for my sound card, either, which means I cannot configure it to
> recognise a microphone. It's a pretty standard card, Creative SoundBlaster
> X-Fi Xtreme. I've had the PC since March and have never been able to access
> any driver updates. I have all the settings mentioned in this thread.
>
> "Jane C" wrote:
>
>> Hi Hotshotz,
>>
>> Open Windows Update, then click the link on the left "Change settings".
>> Make sure you have a tick in the "Recommended updates" box. Hit OK and
>> accept any UAC prompt. Check for updates.
>>
>> --
>> Jane, not plain
64 bit enabled :-)
>> Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
>> MVP Windows Shell/User
>>
>> "hotshotz" <> wrote in message
>> news:2CF0CF8E-0501-467A-96DB-...
>>> Mike,
>>>
>>> I appreciate your suggestion, but I'm no closer to finding the download
>>> file
>>> after doing the search (I tried that before). All the searches lead me to
>>> the
>>> same screen: Microsoft Update. But there's no way to find the HID
>>> Non-User
>>> Input Data Filter download file once you get there. The search leads you
>>> to
>>> dozens of discussions about the problem, but no one reveals where that
>>> file
>>> is located or how to find it. The search engine doesn't do it! One person
>>> said, "click on optional hardware, and then go to HID Non-User Input Data
>>> Filter." There isn't an option to click on optional hardware downloads.
>>> All
>>> you get is a message that says, "Your computer has the latest updates."
>>>