Robert in CA wrote:


So because the 8500 isn't in the list it
will no longer receive Dell updates? If so,
how will that affect the 8500?

Robert

The drivers should be "mature" at this point.

NVidia doesn't keep adding code for your video
card anyway.

New video drivers, have fresh code for RTX2080 (their
newest card). The older a card gets, the less attention
it gets. Maybe after six years or so, they're no longer
interested.

The driver may continue to "support" the card for longer
than that, but the driver you get then hasn't changed
since the previous version.

Other than video, the other drivers are pretty stable
all on their own.

The support policies on some hardwares, are absolutely
draconian. One of the sound companies only gives updates
for one year, after release. If the driver is malfunctioning,
you will then need to search many commercial sites,
looking for a later driver. That's Soundmax for you.

*******

The question then is,

1) Is Dell Updates doing anything ?
a) Anything good.
b) Anything bad.

2) Should it be removed to keep it out of trouble ?

This is what you have to decide.

You tried the manual update option, and it "returned
too quickly", which suggests it knows the 8500 isn't
in the list. I would prefer if it popped up a dialog
to that effect, so we'd know for sure. Guessing
the thing no longer supports your machine, is no good
as a customer friendly response.

Paul