Miscellaneous laptop discussions forum: Video driver for laptop

I have a Sony Vaio VPCEB3QFX/WI laptop and I got this last year. Here are some specs of my laptop.
I just wanted to know that is it ok to use generic drivers to update my video card or even sound card. Since according to Intel for my video card they are saying to use Sony drivers since mine is customized to work for my laptop. Basicly it seems like Intel is saying that if I use generic drivers my laptop could not work right or have the features I need.

Intel® Core™ i3 - 370M (2.40GHz)
8 GB DDR3/1066MHz
320 GB 5400rpm, Serial ATA
Realtek® High Definition Audio
Intel® HD graphics, 1.7GB VRAM
TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C
Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

What's broken, does not work?

Well nothing is wrong now I just wanted to see if I will get any better performance on my games since I heard people say that newer drivers have better bug fixes and better performance on games.

Well I guess I could ask this but I don't know if you know the answer.

I been having this problem with The Sims 2 game only but for somereason everytime I play the game and if I' am in a home or viewing the town where the grass area suppose to be green it's black and then all of the sudden it would be green again. Then if I' am playing in a lot with the sims I get the weird skin texture like the fridge texture or hair or just black background on the grass area. Does anyone know how to fix this? It seems like there is some flickering problem since when it flickers then this happens and then if it flickers again it's gone and back to normal. It doesn't flicker all the time but couple times it does.


I do have the latest drivers from Sony and Windows updates from Microsoft for my laptop.


This is the only game I have this problem other games work fine.
I did couple days agao use Vaio Care and did a system clean up and also did the one click care thing so it did do the defrag and also disk clean up and even reg clean and defrag. Also I have tried to even recover the computer like new again and reinstall all of my games and programs and update the drivers and windows updates again but still this game has that problem. I have the base game of The Sims 2 PC game. No other expansion packs are installed. I got all my drivers from Sony esupport website and also my Vaio update program lets me know when there is an update for softwares and drivers. Basicly my computer is up to date but still have this problem on just one game.


Here is a pic of the problem I' am having but I don't know if this is a video driver problem it could be the game itself.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c337/Vanillaice378/005.jpg

Yes I do have the latest drivers from Sony. But on that forums you showed me a link to was me actualy but it didn't fix the problem even getting the latest drivers from Sony. I thought it fixed it but it didn't so it's not really solved. I did download the latest drivers that Sony has the new<span id="rrspan463" class="filedate"> version <span id="rrspan464" class="filedate_item"> 8.15.10.2182
<span class="filedate"><span class="filedate_item">
<span class="filedate"><span class="filedate_item">If it sounded like I used Intels drivers I never did I used Sonys latest drivers and I thought it fixed the problem but it didn't. Sorry if I confused you.

Ok that was strange that I got those codes after i replied since I just copied and pasted the version from Sony.

Basicly I was saying that that was me that posted on that forums also. I been asking this question on many forums but no one was able to fix this problem. So I wanted to see if this forums can help. For a sec the game worked but then the problem came back again. I did use the latest drivers from Sony already but even updating the old version to new version didn't help.

http://www.omegadrivers.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=328:intel-graphics-driver-151715&catid=46:intel-news&Itemid=73

The Omega drivers are known to get around all that BUT you do so at your own risk. I will not be there to help you recover files you forgot to backup or if your laptop melts down.
Bob

See on that site it says this.

These software drivers are generic versions and can be used for general purposes. However, computer original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the software or software packaging they provide. To avoid any potential installation incompatibilities on your OEM system, Intel recommends that you check with your OEM and use the software provided by your system manufacturer.


I dont' know if I should use generic drivers since it could mess my machine up. I never used generic drivers I used OEM drivers from Sony.The new version of OEM driver from Sony did help my FPS a little but I don't know if I should use generic drivers.

Even I had to write a disclaimer.

It's YOUR CHOICE to try or not.

HOWEVER, all the Intel drivers are GENERIC DRIVERS!
Bob

Well I don't know if it is even a driver problem it could be something else. But anyways if you thought I was upset I wasn't upset at all. I was just trying to point out that that site even says to use OEM drivers. Btw Sony techs say to only use OEM drivers to update but is it really ok to use generic drivers? Since it seems like Sony has customized there drivers to work for each of there computers and if I use generic there will be features that my notebook can't use since the generic drivers don't have it customized.

I' am sorry if I sounded upset or mean btw.

Many folk are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. I think you can do that.

I know to never update drivers just to update drivers. I think all the moderators go along with that.

Now that you have no other choice but to try the Omega drivers since the Intel version is blocked, all that remains is the decision.
Bob

Well heres a link to the latest drivers fron Intel but it does say that to use OEM drivers here also. But it's updated alot more than the drivers link you showed me. But I just don't know if it will mess up my system. But as I said it could not be a driver problem that I' am having.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20676&ProdId=3231&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%20Home%20Premium%2C%2064-bit%20version*&DownloadType=Drivers

But at this point you have to decide to try or not. I noted the Omega drivers since those usually have the check for Sony disabled.
Bob

Why don't you. Device Manager has a feature called "driver rollback" if you don't like the result.

Kees

Well I do have OCD and I' am picky on stuff and want to make sure nothin will go wrong but I just wonder why Intel says to use OEM drivers. Does most of the time when you use generic drivers something bad happens like black screens or goes to safe mode etc?

I'm sure that you have folk that could do tasks like this that you don't want to do yourself?

Well I just want to make sure I won't have huge problems because of installing a generic drivers since Intel kept saying that to use OEM drivers. They say to use the generic driver for general use but what does that mean? Are they talking about computers that are custom made since those are not branded and haven't been customized? Basicly it seems like Intel is saying that branded computers like HP, Sony, Toshiba, etc have customized there drivers and I need to use there drivers instead of Intels. I did read more stuff on Intels website and they say that. It kinda makes me think that I can't use generic since my laptop is made from Sony meaning it isn't like a custom made desktop PC that I put the motherboard, video card, rams, etc.

Ok after downloading the driver and trying to install it it says this.

"The driver being installed is not validated for this computer. Please obtain the appropriate driver from the computer manufacturer.

Setup will exit."


So apparently I have to use OEM drivers from Sony since it shows this error message and won't let me install. So I was right that Sony drivers aren't generic and they are customized to work for my laptop.