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How to stop Windows 10 driver updates?
Home › Forums › AskWoody support › Windows › Windows 10 › How to stop Windows 10 driver updates?
Tagged: driver updates, Windows Update
- This topic has 12 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 7 months, 3 weeks ago.
Viewing 8 reply threads-
AuthorPosts
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March 3, 2020 at 1:52 pm #2175840
mpw
AskWoody PlusI have Windows 10 Home 64 bit on new computer. I cannot use Local Group Policy settings; I don’t have this function. I do not have $99 lying around to buy the pro upgrade. Is there any other way to weed out driver updates from windows update?
I know about pausing Windows Update. But once the pause is released everything installs.
Thank you.
HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-0050 – 64 bit
Windows10 Home v1909 – Build 18363.1256
Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
-Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316 C2R) -
March 3, 2020 at 2:04 pm #2175852
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusI have Windows 10 Home 64 bit on new computer. I cannot use Local Group Policy settings; I don’t have this function. I do not have $99 lying around to buy the pro upgrade. Is there any other way to weed out driver updates from windows update?
I know about pausing Windows Update. But once the pause is released everything installs.
Thank you.
You can use Microsoft’s wushowhide.diagcab to hide drivers or block drivers in ‘Device Installation Settings’ :
Attachments:
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March 4, 2020 at 1:26 pm #2176403
Kirsty
ManagerYou can use Microsoft’s wushowhide.diagcab to hide drivers or block drivers in ‘Device Installation Settings’
I’ve employed both methods, on a machine set as metered connection, and still received driver updates from MS. It’s not foolproof, although I am aware others have managed to stave them off like this.
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March 3, 2020 at 2:39 pm #2175869
mpw
AskWoody PlusSo, it is all or nothing? I don’t get to see what is going on? I have two choices:
‘Device Installation Settings’:
Do you want to automatically download manufacturer’s apps. . . . .
Yes (recommended)
No (your device might not work as expected)
That’s it?
HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-0050 – 64 bit
Windows10 Home v1909 – Build 18363.1256
Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
-Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316 C2R) -
March 4, 2020 at 12:38 pm #2176354
EP
AskWoody_MVPthat’s pretty much it, mpw
—
for those who are wondering, Win10 uses the “Device Driver Retrieval Client” module to silently download & install device driver updates without any user input when there’s an active internet connection (there’s a DLL file named that somewhere in the Windows\System32 folder)
edit – alternatively use either wushowhide.diagcab or even WUMT (windows update minitool) to hide any driver updates listed [the “Include Drivers” option in WUMT must be UNchecked]
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April 16, 2020 at 5:22 pm #2242573
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March 4, 2020 at 1:38 pm #2176408
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusYou can use Microsoft’s wushowhide.diagcab to hide drivers or block drivers in ‘Device Installation Settings’
I’ve employed both methods, on a machine set as metered connection, and still received driver updates from MS. It’s not foolproof, although I am aware others have managed to stave them off like this.
I have blocked driver updates in Device Installation Settings and never been offered any drivers.
The only time Microsoft does install a driver is when attaching a new device (printer, HD…)I was never offered these drivers :
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March 5, 2020 at 8:26 am #2176726
mpw
AskWoody PlusThanks to all for your comments.
I too read the first reply wrong. I did not understand that Alex5723 was referring to two different things. I did find wushowhide.diagcab and used it and I was able to see what updates were pending.
Thank you.
HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-0050 – 64 bit
Windows10 Home v1909 – Build 18363.1256
Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
-Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316 C2R)1 user thanked author for this post.
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March 5, 2020 at 9:57 am #2176760
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March 5, 2020 at 9:21 am #2176738
steeviebops
AskWoody LoungerThe Device Installation Settings box doesn’t block driver downloads completely; only when a device is first plugged in. You can still get driver updates through Windows Update. I added these commands to a post-setup script to disable it globally. Works a treat. The last one is the most important:
reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching” /v “SearchOrderConfig” /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching” /v “DontSearchWindowsUpdate” /t REG_DWORD /d “1” /f
reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching” /v “DriverUpdateWizardWuSearchEnabled” /t REG_DWORD /d “0” /f
reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate” /v “ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate” /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
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May 25, 2020 at 7:47 pm #2265760
anonymous
GuestI used regedit to stop driver updates as directed in the following link late in 2019:
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-automatic-driver-updates-windows-10
checked in settings and see that realtek has installed drivers in both march(4) and April (4) patch tuesday updates and Intel punched in 1 or 2 since Jan. I believe the above link outlines the same procedure – yes? So 10 driver updates have been installed since I upgraded to 1909 in Jan-curious thing, except for mouse driver, (logitek wireless)they all have failed at 1st attempt and successful on 2nd.Not only drivers fail on 1st attempt but I’m wondering why the drivers installed at all. This machine does have realtek and Intel components of various kinds, some clearly defined some not (ie in device Mgr-Realtek software- quite definitive huh?) Anyway, is this indicative of msft doing what they want when they want? The above regedit a waste of time?
(of 15 Quality Updates attempts, all but 4 failed on first attempt) and feature update also had to attempt twice) I have made changes w/ 3rd party software ie disable bing serach,disable hibernate, disable cortana etc etc) which may be at fault? IDK.
Aspire 5 A515-54G-73WC
Win10 Home ver 1909 bld 18363.778
curious
1 user thanked author for this post.
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March 5, 2020 at 11:45 am #2176808
DriftyDonN
AskWoody Plushttps://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-automatic-driver-updates-windows-10
Both Pro and Home explained-Home is thru registry changes.
DriftyDonN
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June 2, 2020 at 7:10 am #2268670
mpw
AskWoody PlusAlex how do you get to Device Installation Settings w/o a search ? I could not find it in settings
I was brought back to this post by a recent reply and just now found your question. If you have not yet found the answer here it is.
Control Panel>System>Advanced system settings>Hardware tab>Device installation Settings
HP Pavilion Desktop TP01-0050 – 64 bit
Windows10 Home v1909 – Build 18363.1256
Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
-Version 2012 (Build 13530.20316 C2R) -
June 2, 2020 at 7:39 am #2268684
CraigS26
AskWoody PlusWhile we’re outlining the steps to disable driver updates, we’re not saying that you should block this type of updates as they’re required for hardware to work correctly. However, — there are special cases when you may need to use custom drivers or drivers provided by your manufacturer— , instead of those available through Windows Update, and — in these situations, this guide can come in handy.
The above Bold type is the Achilles heel for us amateurs – KNOWING When a Custom Driver is Required. I recently Allowed KB 4497165 Intel Microcode Update out of Blind Faith but although the Born Blog warned against Security Issues, I re-installed the HP Sppt Asst (per Susan suggestion) & HOPE that keeps me ahead of any bad MS Driver Updates – which I’ve Never had.
W10 Pro 20H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / HP Envy Desktop-Ethernet/ 12 GB / 256G SSD + 1 TB HDD / i5-8400 Coffee Lake/ GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU=0
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