Questions about updating drivers

[Hazlazm]

Hey all.

I've read that when installing the OS one should, after downloading all Windows Updates, install Intel INF driver before every other driver. But when updates are released then? On my MB's page several drivers have been updated including INF. Is it safe to update as in it's not the same as installation? Or should one not update Intel INF?

Is Intel Management Engine Interface, Intel Rapid Storage Technology, Realtek HD and Lan Driver also safe to update?

And why do manufacturers (at least Gigabyte) keep old drivers on their website?

 

[JoeMomma]

Most of the time you should keep all drivers updated at all times. It's best to do it yourself because most of the DriverUpdate programs are garbage. I never heard anything about what order to do it in.

Manufacturers keep old drivers around because sometimes they screw up. Either a new driver is buggy, or an old one is more stable with certain hardware. I use a certain engineering program that is most stable with an older graphics driver. The newer drivers are for games and the old one runs games just fine.

Here is a tip from my AMIGA days. Make a folder and a Library to save all of your drivers. You can keep old revisions and the latest. Plus utilities and what not. On the AMIGA all one had to do was drop a driver in the folder and it worked, no installation needed.