[xp] Video Card Drivers ... Ati

I have an ATI Radeon 9600XT, 256 meg video card ... the last update I did on the drivers was in 2005 ... there have been alot of updates to these drivers since then, but I've noticed that ATI now wants you to install Microsoft. net framework for all their updated drivers in order for all the features of the drivers to work ... I've avoided this because I don't know anything about .net framework ... there are no real issues with the video card, except that with
Photoshop CS2 the performance is a bit sluggish, and according to Adobes system specifications for running CS2, I've got more than the requirements ... I have read their troubleshooting guide, which I have printed out for " sluggish " performance with CS2 and updating video card drivers is one of their recommendations ... will .net framework have any ill affect on my computer and is it a good idea to update video card drivers on a regular basis ... I've always thought " if it ain't broke, don't fix it " ... can someone explain to me what this .net framework is ... thanks a million !

I do not have any first hand experience with .NET Framework, but here's the skinny on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

thanks for the article .... but, should the video card drivers be upgraded on a regular basis ... and how many here are running .net framework ...is this going to be something that I am eventually going to need ... I noticed there are different versions of it ... if I go ahead and download it, what version should I go with

Video drivers - unless I need something that the new drivers have over the old, I refuse to fix what is not broke.

thanks Train ... I was kind of thinking that myself ... afterall, I haven't updated them since the end of 2005 :D ... is .net framework something that I am eventually going to need ... it kind of irks me how ATI has incorporated .net framework into their updated drivers ...

All I can say is that I am still dodging that .net business.
But it seems we may wind up having to use it. :(

Not running ATI on my PC's now,but when I did not long ago,I went with the dot net framework 1.xx when ATI said I should. Worked ok, as far as I could determine there was no downside. But because of what I read from others experiences,I refused to go to the 2.xx version. I agree with Train,if it ain't broke,etc.-etc. If your interested,a very good site concerning all things ATI is this one ...

thankyou .. I'm off to do some reading ... I'm honestly thinking of changing the video card to Nvidia ... that way I won't have to download things I don't want or need

I know this is an old thread but just thought I'd put my two cents in here for future reference.

I just installed the ati Radeon 9600xt on my system. First thing I had to do was go to the chipset manufacturer of my mobo and download their drivers for NON Nvidia chipsets and then it booted up and ran no problems in general.

Specifically there are problems, but I'll start a new thread for that.