Guide to Stop Forced Driver Installation [Windows 7/8.1/10]

[smogsy]

Hey all,

Quite a few people on multiple forums have been saying that they have forced Graphics + others drivers on Windows & they cannot stop it.

Here is a Small guide to stop any Drivers installing From Windows Updates.

Disclaimer
this will not stop Windows installing an Old Driver your downloaded through WU in the past.
you may want to clear your WU Downloads first.

Step 1
Open Group Policy - Search Group policy in the start bar
[ Maybe not be available on Home]


Step 2 Navigate to:

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System ->
Internet communication Management -> Internet Communication Settings -> Turn off Windows Updates Device Driver Searching

Enable this & hit Apply

This Stops installation of Windows updates Drivers on 7/8 & used to work on 10

Step 3 Navigate to

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Administrative Templates -> System - > Device Installation -> specify the search order for device driver sources

Enable this & in the drop box choose the option you want, I choose Do not search Windows updates but you can choose 2 other options.

Once enabled & your Drop down is chosen, Click Apply & OK.

Step 4:
Close Group policy manager, You can just log out & log Back in, for it to take effect But i generally reboot Just in case.


I have done this on Multiple Servers & Workstations all running NVidia/AMD GPU's
From
750Ti's to FirePros & Qaudros.

I have also done this on Many various Versions/Editions of Windows with out issue


this also works for specialist hardware that you do not want to update, maybe like a special capture card that only works correctly on W7 running X driver

 

[Fanatic]

Yeah, no Group Policy on Win10 home.

Though I always just install Nvidia drivers over the top of the old ones and select "Clean install". Never had Windows install them for me. I guess that happens if you want to uninstall -> reboot -> install new.

 

[weyland yutani]

When I reboot, windows will be running on the Windows Basic Video driver (or whatever its called) for a very short time then it will roll back to an old driver or Update will download one (not neccessarily the latest either)

My sollution is to not bother updating too often anymore, next time I'l try as above and just install over old one and check "clean install"

 

[Razor Time]

Though I always just install Nvidia drivers over the top of the old ones and select "Clean install". Never had Windows install them for me. I guess that happens if you want to uninstall -> reboot -> install new.

Yeah, same.

 

[Puppetmaster]

Doesnt DDU have an option to stop Windows installing a driver?

 

[Rroff]

People shouldn't have to do this ever.

Problem is next major feature update, etc. will likely reset some/all this and put you back at square one until you redo it all.

Windows 7/8 still has the proper options for disabling/controlling driver updates BTW.

 

[bimbleuk]

Doesnt DDU have an option to stop Windows installing a driver?

Yes which you can manually set in Windows by going to CTRL panel, Devices & Printers, Right click the Computer icon, Select Device Install Settings and set that to No.

Win10 does have a habit of messing with settings so a combo of both methods should help.

Got caught out recently when AMD removed the no updates option from the AMD Settings and a bunch of GPUs updated to ones I didn't want.

 

[Rroff]

Yes which you can manually set in Windows by going to CTRL panel, Devices & Printers, Right click the Computer icon, Select Device Install Settings and set that to No.

All that does in Windows 10 is control whether you just get the main driver files or if it downloads the driver files and additional files like icons and support files, etc. it has long since stopped preventing automatic driver updates in 10 (some people on old installs for some reason still have the old behaviour but most won't).

 

[Danny75]

Windows 10 Home users can disable Updates in Services.msc. Then use Windows Update MiniTool to manually download, and select to hide/install updates. Just got to remember to do it, or prepare a weekly reminder or something.

 

[varkanoid]

OP to avoid confusion I think you should have also made it clear how this happens / what causes it.
I believe its something to do with the last two major updates, the 16xx one and the Creators edition.

My PC was upgraded using the original free version and right from the start I had this option disabled in system/advanced system settings and I've never reinstalled Windows. Correct me if I`m wrong but I believe it only affects people who have had a fresh install of 16xx or greater or did not have this option disabled before the 16xx update? If this doesnt apply to you then you wont get Windows downloading drivers. So in my case Windows never installs its own device drivers ie Windows Nvidia released drive for instance.

Is that right ?