Tag Archives: operating system

When Windows Updates Your Graphic Drivers

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Years ago I found a fix for OpenGL issues in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. This mostly affects people who enjoy games like Minecraft that utilize OpenGL.

Recently,  Windows 10 — it has a mind of its own, you know — covertly facepalm smileyupdated my tweaked graphics drivers to what Microsoft thinks I want. Not good because it rendered my OpenGL games unusable… again.

I know, right? So frustrating.

But I’m happy to say it’s an easy repair; Windows doesn’t remove your tweaked drivers.

Visit my original blog on tweaking your Windows 8, 8.1, and 10 drivers to run OpenGL games: Finally a Fix for Windows 8 (and 10) OpenGL Error.


You’ll know when Windows has updated your drivers: 1) your desktop icons will look oblong and wonky, or 2) you’ll get a crash notice when you try to open your OpenGL game, like my Minecraft.

Minecraft crash window

On to the fix!

1) Press Windows Key + X together to bring up your quick options menu.

Win+X

2) Select Device Manager

CtrlX Device Mgr

3) Open Display Adapters, 4) click the currently installed driver, 5) click the Driver Tab.

Update-RollBack Driver

 

Roll Back Driver: There’s a small chance Roll Back Driver won’t be grayed out and you can click it. Windows then asks why. Just say the change didn’t do it for you. And Voila! Windows 10 changes it change back and you’re through… well, until the next time Windows 10 decides you need different graphics drivers.

Update Driver: If Roll Back Drivers is grayed out, you’ll need to select Update Drivers. It’s only a few additional steps.

After clicking Update Drivers, 1) Browse your computer for your previously tweaked drivers.

Browse my Computer

2) You want Windows to let you pick.
Let me pick

3) Choose the older graphics driver you tweaked.

I know which is the right one for my laptop because WDDM 1.1 drivers will never work with OpenGL.

Select Driver

3) Click Next, and Windows does the work for you.

Windows Successfully Updated

IMPORTANT: Don’t panic if your screen goes black and doesn’t return to its lovely former self. Manually turn it off, wait a few seconds, and restart. Your new drivers should be installed. If you think something went drastically wrong from the look of your icons, fonts, or screen, simply repeat the above steps and install a different driver.

Happy Gaming!

DISCLAIMER: Any and all ideas presented in this blog are solely my own unless otherwise noted. I experience troubles with technology just like any other person, and if I stumble upon a fix or suggestion I feel could benefit others I pass it along. At no time, have I suggested or implied that I hold any degrees or certificates related to computer repair.
I have during my career assembled parts into working computers; done troubleshooting on hardware and software; utilized a great many computer programs and software; designed and updated websites and blogs; as well as created brochures, banners, and flyers.

 

On the Threshhold of Windows 9

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Toward the end of September — September 30 to be exact — I’ll be spying on computer world news. Spy with newspaper

Intelligence reports mark this date as a likely press event to unveil Windows 9 (code-name: Threshhold).

In April 2014, attendees at the Build conference were treated to a sneak peek of Threshhold. Rollout date is currently set for April 2015.

Why the hurry? Windows 8 just debuted. Therein lies the problem.

Windows 8 has received a less than stellar reputation. For the general computing public, Windows 8 is too heavy on apps and too light on desktop functionality. Honestly, I like Windows 8 —  my previous OS was Vista, the OS that almost single-handedly brought down the free world. I’ve also not upgraded to 8.1 because of a number of sketchy reviews from people who did.

I’m praying Microsoft’s trend of great OS – poor OS – great OS – poor OS continues making Windows 9 the next XP or 7. Sometimes I wonder if Microsoft releases bad OS’s on purpose so the good ones look phenomenal by comparison. I know, I know. What happened to my glass-half-full mentality? It’s still here, just undercover. 😉

On the Threshhold of Windows 9

I’ve tracked down a few new features of Windows 9. Beware, nothing is one hundred percent set in concrete gumshoes.

Changes/features may or may not be universal across desktops, laptops, and tablets (we hope not); and Microsoft could tweak anything to insure the best performance for each specific hardware device (we hope so).

NEW WINDOWS 9 FEATURES:

    • Start menu is back, just when we Windows 8 users figured out how to live without it. It’s probably like a bicycle: once you can learn, you never forget.
    • This is a leaked printscreen of the new Start menu.Windows_9_Start_Menu_Neowin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Removal of the Charms bar.side commands

Remember the Windows 8 bar that opens when you hover over the right top or bottom of your desktop? Yep, that’s the Charms bar. Honestly, it’s more of an Apple-wanna-be bar. It’s not coming back. At least not in Windows 9.

  • Metro apps are still a part of Windows 9, but in  a much lesser capacity… or so it’s said. Some of the leaked screenshots make me wonder about the reliability of the operatives. They’re reporting Window 9 Apps will open in small desktop windows.

What’s a metro app?  It’s all those little box programs that show up on the Windows 8 Start Screen, including the ones you added from the App Store.  Metro apps are fantastic if you have a touch screen tablet, but — as everyone found out with Windows 8 — not very user-friendly for keyboard computers.

  • Greater ability to personalize.Windows-9 Personalize

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  •  Cortana — Microsoft’s voice-based assistant currently available on Windows Phone only — could be part of Windows 9.

Don’t panic. You’ll probably be given the choice to turn her off and on. And guys? Enjoy it. You may never get a chance to silence a woman this easily again.

  • Possibility the new Windows OS will be subscription-based.

Rumors are flying about the price. Software watchers vary in opinion of the cost from Windows 9 being free or negligible to subscription-based. Remember Office 365 priced at $100? It’s a subscription-based MS program. You get to use it for 365 days. When your subscriptions runs out — you guessed it — you have to pay again. Personally $100 annually for an upgrade is way to expensive for my taste. If Microsoft charges a subscription fee anywhere close to Office 365, and Windows 9 doesn’t perform up to expectations, this could start the next Cold War with OS defections inevitable.

I’ll leave you with a few more leaked screenshots of Windows 9. Enjoy.

Thanks again for following Patti’s Pathways. 😀

Windows 9 Desktop:
Windows-9-Design-Mixes-the-Desktop-and-the-Modern-UI-Screenshot-385249-2

 

Outlook:
Outlook-Windows-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Any and all ideas presented in this blog are solely my own unless otherwise noted. I experience troubles with technology just like any other person, and if I stumble upon a fix or suggestion I feel could benefit others I pass it along. At no time, have I suggested or implied that I hold any degrees or certificates related to computer repair.

I have during my career assembled parts into working computers; done troubleshooting on hardware and software; utilized a great many computer programs and software; designed and updated websites and blogs; as well as created brochures, banners, and flyers.