Microsoft wants to enforce uniformity like Apple does, but that ship sailed for Microsoft a long time ago when they adopted the IBM PC open architecture.
I've been monitoring my Windows 8.1 OS since I got it, and I suspect that Microsoft is using an underhanded approach to force users to update their systems.
It appears as though they download the new OS patches to your box, and then the system will start "acting up" [if you don't have "update automatically". I desire the actual update process to be under my control, so I'm one of these users.].
Since many users have been trained, like Pavlov's dogs, to "reboot" to clear up unknown system problems, this accomplishes their object.
I have experience in the field, so I start looking for what's causing the issues. Usually, the cause is "indeterminate". :)
I’m a bit of a gamer and Windows 7 has always been my choice.
It’s not like MS gets blamed for shipping insecure software if the user doesn’t do the updates and ends up belonging to somebody’s botnet.
My issue with this is if MS has a large update I want to decide when to download it. If I’m streaming a video and my sons are on net then I don’t want MS dumping on my PC.
I prefer AMD cards anyway.
M4L, when MS hits the fan.
Ping to the list
I don’t recommend anyone update to Windows 10 on their primary PC for at least 6 months after launch. If you have a “throwaway” or a lab environment with virtual computer capabilities, please, by all means, get it and learn. I think most people will love it.
It takes about 3-to-6 months of general release exposure to iron out all of the “show stoppers.” I doubt this nVidia driver update behavior will be an issue for long. I’ve seen more gaming systems borked after “nVidia Experience” has updated drivers than if you do it manually. nVidia has their own issues they need to iron out.
This is the same sort of issue that system admins have to address on servers. You can have an HP ProLiant or Dell PowerEdge server with the full complement of vendor-provided drivers, and there will be some stupid little problem with an IO setting or a RAID controller card. Microsoft will release a WHQL driver through WU, and if you install it, it might work with the OS, might even fix your stupid little problem, but it could bork ten other things with the hardware. Rule of thumb we follow is if you can’t get a driver from the manufacturer, only then should you experiment with MS drivers. By and large, they work fine, but vendor drivers are going to be tailored for the hardware.
I feel the need for PING!
Hopefully, my R9 280 won’t be affected since it isn’t Nvidia. Battlefield 4 requires some horsepower.