Keeping a Windows PC Up-to-Date is a Nightmare (Premium)

When it comes to Windows 10 complaints, crapware, ads, and endless system updates top the list. But there's another issue that gets little attention. And that needs to change.

Like all Windows 10 users, I have several applications on my PC that do exactly the same thing but in completely different ways: Update the software on my PC. That isn't just inefficient, it's unsophisticated. And while it's possibly beyond Microsoft's power to completely solve this problem, perhaps it could lead by example.

Looking just at the PC I'm currently using, I see the following:

Windows Update. This is, of course, where Microsoft updates Windows with feature and quality (cumulative) updates. You will also receive some hardware drivers from here, in particular those for Intel system components. The problem? The hardware drivers delivered by Windows Update are constantly out-of-sync with the versions delivered by the PC maker, via their own updating software (see below) and via Intel itself (see below). And I've found myself in a never-ending cycle of each software updater overwriting the driver another had previously installed.

Microsoft Store. Microsoft uses the Microsoft Store app to update the Store apps that are included with Windows 10, as well as those installed manually by the user. Like Windows Update, this mechanism work automatically, but I'm struck by how often there are many, many app updates waiting to install whenever I check manually. One wonders why this doesn't work more efficiently.

Intel Driver & Support Assistant. Those with Intel-based PCs running the latest version of Windows 10 are advised to install this bizarre notification area applet that will supposedly keep your Intel-based hardware drivers up-to-date. But when there is an update, it launches a website in your browser. And then you have to manually download and install each update yourself, one at a time. And since this is Intel, virtually every update requires its own reboot. This is exactly the kind of behavior a normal user should never be subjected to.

HP Support Assistant. This PC happens to be an HP, but every PC from every major PC maker ships with software designed specifically to support its PCs, not just with software updates but also with support services, and promotions. Most of this software is terrible, but give HP credit for being able to stand out even in this crowd, as HP Support Assistant is particularly bad. It often triggers reboots when I'm not expecting it, and when I check for drivers manually, there's always at least one---in this case, for Thunderbolt---that never installs correctly with no way to troubleshoot it. Worse, you need to manually babysit---and then confirm the success of---each driver install. This software is terrible.

NVIDIA GeForce Experience. OK, this one isn't actually on the PC I'm writing this on, but it's common. And if you do have a PC with an NVIDIA graphics card, you've no doubt entered into a hate-hate rela...

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