Should I update driver or not?

In Device Manager under Network Adapter I have the Realtek PCIe Gbe Family Controller. The date of the driver is 9/4/2015 so it is quite an old driver but it states that "this device is working properly" and I'm having absolutely no issues or problems with it at all. Its a clean installation done 3 weeks ago and it is the driver that was set up by Windows during the clean install.
I know from past experience that if I click on Update Driver in Device Manager that a newer driver will be installed. A newer driver has been available for several months now. There are probably plenty of other newer device drivers for other devices too if I went through them all and checked.
What do you guys do in this situation? Do you leave well alone because everything is working correctly? Or do you let Device Manager update the driver?
I have Windows configured to allow it to Update Drivers so Why doesn't Windows Update download the driver automatically as Microsoft must be aware that there is a newer driver...because clicking on Update Driver will find and install it?
My PC is a Dell PC. I also see that there is a newer driver version listed on their website for my PC...a lot of folks on here seem to recommend using Device Manager/Update Driver although I know you can also use the PC manufacturers website too

Suggest a conservative approach to driver, firmware, and BIOS updates - if it isn't broken, don't try to fix it.

The best way to think of it is... if it works don't fix it...unless you can make you PC work better.

Computer manufacturer's provide driver and BIOS updates to improve performance and address reported problems.
Each driver or BIOS may have specific reasons for upgrades.
Software drivers are regularly updated. For example, Malwarebytes to fix BSOD, GSOD, etc.

So it's best practice to create system restore or backup images and upgrade drivers, software, and BIOS to have the most up to date features.

I'm firmly in the mindset of keeping my drivers and firmware (BIOS) updated whenever possible. In that aspect I'm a bit obsessive. Perhaps that's rooted in the fact that I custom build my own PC's so I'm use to dealing with BIOS and driver updates. And I've run Windows from Windows 95 to Windows 10.

Anyway in my 20+ years of PC building I've rarely if ever had an issue with either a driver or BIOS update.

That's me.

sygnus21 said:

I'm firmly in the mindset of keeping my drivers and firmware (BIOS) updated whenever possible. In that aspect I'm a bit obsessive. Perhaps that's rooted in the fact that I custom build my own PC's so I'm use to dealing with BIOS and driver updates. And I've run Windows from Windows 95 to Windows 10.

Anyway in my 20+ years of PC building I've rarely if ever had an issue with either a driver or BIOS update.

That's me.

Do you update the drivers through Device Manager?
I have Windows configured to allow it to Update Drivers so Why doesn't Windows Update update the driver automatically without having to update it manually in Device Manager (this particular Network ethernet driver for example) as Microsoft must be aware that there is a newer driver...because clicking on Update Driver will find and install it?

- - - Updated - - -

zbook said:

Computer manufacturer's provide driver and BIOS updates to improve performance and address reported problems.
Each driver or BIOS may have specific reasons for upgrades.
Software drivers are regularly updated. For example, Malwarebytes to fix BSOD, GSOD, etc.

So it's best practice to create system restore or backup images and upgrade drivers, software, and BIOS to have the most up to date features.

Do you update the drivers through Device Manager?
I have Windows configured to allow it to Update Drivers so Why doesn't Windows Update update the driver automatically without having to update it manually in Device Manager (this particular Network ethernet driver for example) as Microsoft must be aware that there is a newer driver...because clicking on Update Driver will find and install it?
Am I right in thinking that if there was an issue with the updated driver, it could just be rolled back to the current version through Device Manager anyway by using the Roll back driver feature?

Some computer manufacturer's have software to update drivers and BIOS.
None are 100% reliable.
Dell, HP, and Lenovo have software to search for updates.
For HP computers some models can use 2 or 3 different HP software.
HP softpaq download manager may find drivers that were missed by HP support assistant.
And the software may suggest drivers that fail to install.

The Microsoft catalog can be used to find drivers as these are the drivers provided by Windows updates.

Device manager is a good method to find drivers and these are the drivers from Windows updates.

There are a large number of threads in which end users had not checked for BIOS updates.
These require the end user to check the motherboard manufacturer's website as these are not performed by Windows updates.

New drivers at times can cause problems.
These could be BSOD.
For these Windows updates of non-Microsoft drivers is turned off and drivers are rolled back.

A brand new Windows operating system can become corrupt.
In a similar fashion the latest driver can become corrupt.
Drivers are often displayed by date.
Sometimes the latest driver may need to be replaced.

The Intel driver and support assistant is a useful tool to check drivers:
Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant
Nvidia and AMD also have software to find drivers.

sportsfan148 said:

Do you update the drivers through Device Manager?
I have Windows configured to allow it to Update Drivers so Why doesn't Windows Update update the driver automatically without having to update it manually in Device Manager (this particular Network ethernet driver for example) as Microsoft must be aware that there is a newer driver...because clicking on Update Driver will find and install it?

- - - Updated - - -


Do you update the drivers through Device Manager?
I have Windows configured to allow it to Update Drivers so Why doesn't Windows Update update the driver automatically without having to update it manually in Device Manager (this particular Network ethernet driver for example) as Microsoft must be aware that there is a newer driver...because clicking on Update Driver will find and install it?
Am I right in thinking that if there was an issue with the updated driver, it could just be rolled back to the current version through Device Manager anyway by using the Roll back driver feature?

(1) always update your drivers and you can roll back if you have problems
(2) Microsoft's automatic driver updates MOST of the time DON'T work
(3) manually searching driver updates on Microsoft Update Catalog MOST of the time DON'T work either

The main problem is the way how driver inf's are written and cataloged. Even Microsoft has acknowledged that this is completely broken.

So the way the driver is written is this:

(1) realtek (and everyone else) releases v1 driver for this set of hardware listed in the inf and tells Microsoft WHQL lab that this list of hardware is tested.
(2) Microsoft uses the WHQL lab results to list it in the Microsoft update catalog
(3) Microsoft uses the update catalog database to make recommendations on automatic driver updates
(4) realtek (and everyone else) releases v1.1 driver that simply add new hardware to the original v1 driver inf --- so technically the original hardware can update to the v1.1 driver
(5) BUT realtek only tells Microsoft WHQL lab that the v1.1 driver is tested on the new hardware
(6) end users with original hardware DON'T get automatic driver
(7) end users searching with specific hardware ID on Microsoft update catalog --- DON'T get update drivers because new drivers DON'T show up in manual searches.

You can test this yourself by just manually searching on Microsoft update catalog. Search your realtek audio chipset's hardware ID --- no new drivers. Search realtek 1903 media and you get a listing of new drivers. But in the search result, the package detail DON'T list your hardware ID. BUT you download said new driver, unzip it and look at the various inf's ---- hey your hardware ID is listed and you can do a manual driver update in device manager.

Basically you need to try like a dozen manual search combinations in order to get a new driver in the Microsoft update catalog. So you would first try search ---- realtek audio, realtek sound, realtek media, realtek 2019, realtek 1903...

sportsfan148 said:

Do you update the drivers through Device Manager?

Not at all unless I have a specific need to do so. And I get my device drivers directly from the device manufacturer rather than relying on Microsoft's drivers. With that I've disabled driver updates through Windows Update.

There's no need to update drivers through Device Manager outside of troubleshooting or the driver itself is lacking an executable (.exe) file. Nearly all device drivers use an .exe file that can be updates through the desktop environment.

BTW be aware that Windows simply provides a basic set of drivers like GPU, monitor and storage drives to get Windows up and running for final PC setup. These are the drivers that usually get's updated through Windows Updates. Any specialized drivers are left up to you to install and update. That for the most part Windows (Microsoft) usually leaves device drivers, especially "specialized one" like say a GPU driver with a control panel, or even motherboard drivers like the chipset drivers. Again, in keeping things simple.

sportsfan148 said:

Am I right in thinking that if there was an issue with the updated driver, it could just be rolled back to the current version through Device Manager anyway by using the Roll back driver feature?

Yes, it is possible to rollback to a previous driver, but (in keeping things simple), this is an immediate action, and not something you can do 2-3 months down the road as that option goes away after a short period of time. In the image below I updated my GPU drivers 2 days ago, yet now we see the roll back option greyed out....



With that said, the best way to revert back to a previous driver install is through Windows' System Restore Point....



First you need to make sure System Restore is turned on. Once that's done, Windows will usually (though not all the time) automatically create a restore point for programs, drivers, or update installs so that one can revert to a previous state if needed. However, you can also manually create your own restore points when needed. This is usually what do when installing certain drivers I'm not sure about or want to "test".

Again, keeping things simple. Hopes this helps.

The simple answer is No.
In your case as Dell provides a newer driver then install that. Dell have their own MOBOs and built in Network Cards so drivers from Dell are likely to be the most compatible.

If your item of hardware is essentially separate, say a PCI-E Graphics Card you have put in then you can install drivers from the manufacturers probably Nvidia or AMD.

The Network Card driver on mine is from 2013, it works and that is what matters. You will not be getting 'new features' in something as mundane as an old Network Card.