Too right it's an ugly version - I was posting a message in Chrome before out of the blue, Windows updated my Nvidia Driver, and the windows in Chrome went black. Had to roll back.
Is this some sick MS joke?
Last edited by Fafhrd; 26 Feb 2017 at 17:26.
This "auto install of Nvidia version 376.53 by W/U has happened to lots of folks. There are a few threads in this forum.
Windows 10 Home trying to download a old NVIDIA driver problem
I cannot for the life of me understand why Microsoft decided making driver updates via Windows update, mandatory, was a good thing?
Forcing system updates is one thing, don't agree with that either by the way. But forced driver updates, really?
Drivers can and do have security issues as well from time to time. And most people would never update their drivers otherwise.
I never had AMD drivers forcefully updated but there's setting in AMD graphic driver not to check for new ones automatically, there may be something like that with Nvidia.
On a clean install shortly after getting to my desktop, usually while I'm changing settings etc, my screens will flash as the stock video drivers are updated via Windows update. Happens on my desktop PC (NVidia) and laptop (AMD). No warning, no prompt that its going to happen, it just does it with no way to stop it. No easy way to stop it anyway. For me its no big deal, I know its going to happen and it doesn't break anything. It actually gets me my full multi monitor support etc. My sound drivers and one or two others install this way too. You don't ever see it coming. All you see is the prompt to reboot your system to finish installing updates. If a newer version of that driver is released to Windows update after that, you'll get it via Windows update, regardless of your Catalyst etc settings, as near as I can tell anyway. It's happened on my laptop. When that new driver breaks your system and it BSOD, is where the problem starts. You do a system restore or manually install your old driver but Windows update will just install the one it thinks is newer and better automatically all over again, wash rinse and repeat. It doesn't happen all that often but if your one of those people pulling your hair out its not much fun. IMHO, drivers delivered via Windows update should be a user choice not system choice.
For me, on the hardware I have here at home, the drivers delivered via Windows update are great. I don't have to install any drivers manually on my old beater desktops of fairly new laptop. I like it. We're not all so lucky though.
When I did a clean install of 15002, it installed 16.2.0 drivers which were already obsolete at that time. It wouldn't update from Device manager even when I asked it to. Had to install then current AMD drivers 17.1.1 manually from AMD. Since then I installed current 17.2.1 drivers manually and device manager agreed it is newest version.
I hardly ever game on my desktop PC these days so I usually just take what Windows update gives me. They work fine for me. If and when I decide to game I go looking to see if there is something better. I'm only running an old GT640 so what I have now is more than likely as good as it gets. The newer driver on the NVidias site don't really get me anything extra.
Anyway, since your running newer than what's on Windows update, you'll (likely) never get updated that way. You all set. Unless NVidia submits newer ones to Microsoft at some point. Windows update will (should) only get involved if it thinks what your running is older than what it has on hand.
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