Auto Updates a bad thing

Who would have thought that turning on Windows automatic updates would get you into trouble?
Just finished with nephew's wife's lappy.
It went black screen after logging into account on Windows 8.
Seems she left it plugged in and turned on for a couple weeks so it downloaded and installed available updates and automatically restarted itself up to 8.1
But there was an optional update for the video drivers that you need to run 8.1 which means you have to manually check it off to get the download.
I finally got aggravated and did a reload of the OS to get it going again. rolleyes

 

Glad you got it going again.
Leaving a computer on for weeks is probably not the best idea in any event. Even with Windows Update off.

 

I have Win8.1 and Win7 and I never let Windows Updates update my Drivers. Unless there is a problem with the installed Drivers I tend to leave them alone.
Some :major may not agree with that but if Drivers are working I leave them alone.

 

Laura try going down this path
Control Panel\System and Security\System
Change Settings brings up System Properties
Hardware tab
Device Installation Settings
radio button for "Yes, do this automatically (recommended)" is the default on some installations and will update icons and drivers for non-Microsoft products.

 

Heard there was a problem update from Win7.

http://www.komando.com/happening-now/299861/urgent-update-windows-against-these-critical-bugs-now

I do love how NVIDIA and Win7 handle GPU updates. My 'windows experience' rating has gone up a bit with newer drivers. Given a notice they had new drivers, not auto update.

 

As I recall 8.1 update was only available through Windows Store, poor customer relations IMHO. Glad I got our new laptops after 8.1 was released, a few less Microsoft accounts to open, and seeing as I never visit the store... I usually don't Windows update until a week later unless there is a glaring security hole, don't use flash, Java, IE, or server, except on very rare occasions. and don't take the 8.1 laptops on line much either way. Am hoping I can buy a few copies of Windows 10 on the cheap when it is released, as there will be no upgrades on our laptops. If not will stick with 8.x on the new laptops until the cows come home.:zzz Would also like to thank all the third parties for their part in making our use of Windows 8 a pleasurable experience. I always update drivers and the BIOS unless there is an obvious reason not to, and haven't bricked a machine, yet. Just one close call with a BIOS update.:-o