Radeon 9700 Pro Update

I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the advice
to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
select not to install it.
However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to take
care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
updates" option!
How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I don't
want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have any
current graphics driver problems).
Any suggestions please?
Many thanks

You go to the WindowsUpdate web site and remove it from the list of critical
updates.

"Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
>I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
>advice
> to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> select not to install it.
> However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
> take
> care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> updates" option!
> How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> don't
> want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
> any
> current graphics driver problems).
> Any suggestions please?
> Many thanks

Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried this, and (because the update has
already been downloaded?), the "Hide this Update" option is greyed out.

"Jerry" wrote:

> You go to the WindowsUpdate web site and remove it from the list of critical
> updates.
>
> "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
> news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> >I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> >advice
> > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> > select not to install it.
> > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
> > take
> > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> > updates" option!
> > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> > don't
> > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
> > any
> > current graphics driver problems).
> > Any suggestions please?
> > Many thanks
>
>
>

This is exactly WHY I have automatic updates turned off. I came to this board
trying to find why in the world MS considers this a high priority update when
ATI specifically warns NOT to update drivers unless you are having a problem
(specifically one on the 'fixed' list). I don't have a solution to your
problem. Can anybody tell me WHY MS considers this update high priority (and
why do they offer a 'full' update that's larger than the one from the ATI
site - I can't really use either on dial-up)?

"Gerald Brooks" wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried this, and (because the update has
> already been downloaded?), the "Hide this Update" option is greyed out.
>
> "Jerry" wrote:
>
> > You go to the WindowsUpdate web site and remove it from the list of critical
> > updates.
> >
> > "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
> > news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> > >I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> > >advice
> > > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> > > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> > > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> > > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> > > select not to install it.
> > > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> > > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
> > > take
> > > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> > > updates" option!
> > > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> > > don't
> > > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
> > > any
> > > current graphics driver problems).
> > > Any suggestions please?
> > > Many thanks
> >
> >
> >

There needs to be a new category for Critical Device Driver updates versus
Critical System updates.

"J.White" <> wrote in message
newsE6F2719-223B-4236-9681-...
> This is exactly WHY I have automatic updates turned off. I came to this
> board
> trying to find why in the world MS considers this a high priority update
> when
> ATI specifically warns NOT to update drivers unless you are having a
> problem
> (specifically one on the 'fixed' list). I don't have a solution to your
> problem. Can anybody tell me WHY MS considers this update high priority
> (and
> why do they offer a 'full' update that's larger than the one from the ATI
> site - I can't really use either on dial-up)?
>
> "Gerald Brooks" wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried this, and (because the update has
>> already been downloaded?), the "Hide this Update" option is greyed out.
>>
>> "Jerry" wrote:
>>
>> > You go to the WindowsUpdate web site and remove it from the list of
>> > critical
>> > updates.
>> >
>> > "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in
>> > message
>> > news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
>> > >I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
>> > >advice
>> > > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
>> > > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700
>> > > Pro
>> > > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
>> > > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could
>> > > still
>> > > select not to install it.
>> > > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System
>> > > Tray
>> > > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have
>> > > to
>> > > take
>> > > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
>> > > updates" option!
>> > > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
>> > > don't
>> > > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't
>> > > have
>> > > any
>> > > current graphics driver problems).
>> > > Any suggestions please?
>> > > Many thanks
>> >
>> >
>> >

I've just solved my original problem - how to get rid of the System Tray
icon, and the continual reminder to install this "critical" update. If you
click on the icon, then deselect the update, it offers the option of "don't
continue to remind me to install this update". If this is selected, the icon
and nag disappear for good.
Problem solved, but I am still mad with Microsoft for putting driver updates
as Critical Updates (and it looks from the replies as if I'm not the only
one!).
As a precaution, I have reduced my Automatic Updates setting to "notify when
updates are available" - that way I can select out non-critical "Critical"
updates!
Thanks all

"ScottO" wrote:

> There needs to be a new category for Critical Device Driver updates versus
> Critical System updates.
>
> "J.White" <> wrote in message
> newsE6F2719-223B-4236-9681-...
> > This is exactly WHY I have automatic updates turned off. I came to this
> > board
> > trying to find why in the world MS considers this a high priority update
> > when
> > ATI specifically warns NOT to update drivers unless you are having a
> > problem
> > (specifically one on the 'fixed' list). I don't have a solution to your
> > problem. Can anybody tell me WHY MS considers this update high priority
> > (and
> > why do they offer a 'full' update that's larger than the one from the ATI
> > site - I can't really use either on dial-up)?
> >
> > "Gerald Brooks" wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried this, and (because the update has
> >> already been downloaded?), the "Hide this Update" option is greyed out.
> >>
> >> "Jerry" wrote:
> >>
> >> > You go to the WindowsUpdate web site and remove it from the list of
> >> > critical
> >> > updates.
> >> >
> >> > "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in
> >> > message
> >> > news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> >> > >I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> >> > >advice
> >> > > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> >> > > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700
> >> > > Pro
> >> > > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> >> > > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could
> >> > > still
> >> > > select not to install it.
> >> > > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System
> >> > > Tray
> >> > > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have
> >> > > to
> >> > > take
> >> > > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> >> > > updates" option!
> >> > > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> >> > > don't
> >> > > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't
> >> > > have
> >> > > any
> >> > > current graphics driver problems).
> >> > > Any suggestions please?
> >> > > Many thanks
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
>
>
>

"Gerald Brooks",

Most drivers run at the kernel level of the Operating System, and as such,
can cause massive problems -- such as accessing memory inappropriately or
making system calls that interfere with other operations. The results of
this "bad behavior" is the famous blue screen of death or the online crash
dump. In the latter case, the user has the option of forwarding that crash
to Microsoft for analysis.

If Microsoft receives enough of them, and a vendor produces an updated
driver to fix these issues, then there is an option to make that driver
critical to cut down on the number of crashes experienced by the customer
base.

This is why some drivers end up on the critical list, and why the vendor
wants you to download it. Please let me know that you received this.

Sincerely,

Pat Walters [MSFT]

"Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
advice
> to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> select not to install it.
> However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
take
> care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> updates" option!
> How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
don't
> want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
any
> current graphics driver problems).
> Any suggestions please?
> Many thanks

Pat
Thanks, this is an interesting and informative reply. I guess I now
understand why MS put this driver update under the Critical Update section.
One question though. I have a very stable system, and (touch wood!), I can
count the crashes over nearly 2 years, on one hand.
In light of this, would you still recommend that I install this update?

"Pat Walters [MSFT]" wrote:

> "Gerald Brooks",
>
> Most drivers run at the kernel level of the Operating System, and as such,
> can cause massive problems -- such as accessing memory inappropriately or
> making system calls that interfere with other operations. The results of
> this "bad behavior" is the famous blue screen of death or the online crash
> dump. In the latter case, the user has the option of forwarding that crash
> to Microsoft for analysis.
>
> If Microsoft receives enough of them, and a vendor produces an updated
> driver to fix these issues, then there is an option to make that driver
> critical to cut down on the number of crashes experienced by the customer
> base.
>
> This is why some drivers end up on the critical list, and why the vendor
> wants you to download it. Please let me know that you received this.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Pat Walters [MSFT]
>
> "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
> news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> > I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> advice
> > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> > select not to install it.
> > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
> take
> > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> > updates" option!
> > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> don't
> > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
> any
> > current graphics driver problems).
> > Any suggestions please?
> > Many thanks
>
>
>

"Gerald Brooks",

This is a good question without a nice definitive answer. They say that
networks are like fingerprints: No two are exactly alike. The same holds
true for the mix of software that you have installed on your system and how
it is being used. The only way for the vendor (in this case Radeon) to know
whether his driver is causing problems is to receive these onscreen crash
dumps, and resolve to fix the majority of them. Depending on your software
and your use of the driver, you really have to estimate "how likely" you are
to face a crash, and how bad would it be if the system crashed.

After all, a crash may not affect anything you have stored on the hard
drive, just destroy the session you were using when the situation became
intolerable. Then again, you could be in the middle of a highly-important
presentation project and forgot to save for a while or ... well the list
goes on and on.

I'll stay non-committal, except to say that the vendor thinks you should
update--and you have to weigh that since they are the experts on their
driver.

Sincerely,

Pat Walters [MSFT]

"Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
news:33706807-0421-4577-9F52-...
> Pat
> Thanks, this is an interesting and informative reply. I guess I now
> understand why MS put this driver update under the Critical Update
section.
> One question though. I have a very stable system, and (touch wood!), I
can
> count the crashes over nearly 2 years, on one hand.
> In light of this, would you still recommend that I install this update?
>
> "Pat Walters [MSFT]" wrote:
>
> > "Gerald Brooks",
> >
> > Most drivers run at the kernel level of the Operating System, and as
such,
> > can cause massive problems -- such as accessing memory inappropriately
or
> > making system calls that interfere with other operations. The results
of
> > this "bad behavior" is the famous blue screen of death or the online
crash
> > dump. In the latter case, the user has the option of forwarding that
crash
> > to Microsoft for analysis.
> >
> > If Microsoft receives enough of them, and a vendor produces an updated
> > driver to fix these issues, then there is an option to make that driver
> > critical to cut down on the number of crashes experienced by the
customer
> > base.
> >
> > This is why some drivers end up on the critical list, and why the vendor
> > wants you to download it. Please let me know that you received this.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Pat Walters [MSFT]
> >
> > "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in
message
> > news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> > > I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> > advice
> > > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> > > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700
Pro
> > > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> > > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> > > select not to install it.
> > > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> > > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have
to
> > take
> > > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> > > updates" option!
> > > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> > don't
> > > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't
have
> > any
> > > current graphics driver problems).
> > > Any suggestions please?
> > > Many thanks
> >
> >
> >

Mister Walters,

it will undoubtely please you to hear that since I have installed the XPSP2
upgrade and the famous ATI Technologies upgrade for MOBILITY RADEON tried to
install itself upon my notebook, I continuously have the so-called blue
screen of death for the simple reason that the upgrade doesn't take into
account that de drivers concerned are not "standard" on every machine, but
enhanced on portables/notebooks + I dare even to ask myself if this upgrade
takes into account the original driver namely the MOBILITY RADEON without
version indicator.
Luckily I knew how to disable th further tries of this upgrade (put it in
the "hidden" upgrades of Windows upgrade) and how to revert to a previous
version of the driver for which I haven't found any reasonable new version
compatible with XPSP2 (or vica versa ;-).
Thus I would proclaim this upgrade as falsely being indicated as "critical"
unless you would want to increase the number of calls to the forum :-)

I Apologise for my porely expressions and my bad English, but I sincerely
hope that MS wouls update this "critical" upgradein the nearby future.

Thanks for your cooperation and replies !!

Raf Van Marcke
Test Consultant
Forcast

"Pat Walters [MSFT]" wrote:

> "Gerald Brooks",
>
> Most drivers run at the kernel level of the Operating System, and as such,
> can cause massive problems -- such as accessing memory inappropriately or
> making system calls that interfere with other operations. The results of
> this "bad behavior" is the famous blue screen of death or the online crash
> dump. In the latter case, the user has the option of forwarding that crash
> to Microsoft for analysis.
>
> If Microsoft receives enough of them, and a vendor produces an updated
> driver to fix these issues, then there is an option to make that driver
> critical to cut down on the number of crashes experienced by the customer
> base.
>
> This is why some drivers end up on the critical list, and why the vendor
> wants you to download it. Please let me know that you received this.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Pat Walters [MSFT]
>
> "Gerald Brooks" <> wrote in message
> news:EFDEA584-BF24-4123-9AFD-...
> > I have read the recent messages about Radeon driver updates, and the
> advice
> > to never downloading driver updates from the Windows Update site.
> > However, I was caught out by Microsoft deciding that the Radeon 9700 Pro
> > Update was a Critical Update! Why do they do that??
> > Luckily, my Auto Update is set to auto download only, so I could still
> > select not to install it.
> > However, I now have the Security Centre Shield icon in the System Tray
> > continually reminding me that I have an update to install, and I have to
> take
> > care everytime I shut down to select the "shutdown without installing
> > updates" option!
> > How can I get rid of the update status without installing it (which I
> don't
> > want to do for all the obvious reasons, particularly since I don't have
> any
> > current graphics driver problems).
> > Any suggestions please?
> > Many thanks
>
>
>