Question Can't stop Windows 11 Home Edition overwriting display driver ?

[Fenric]

Hi,
The other day 11 Home started overwriting my AMD display driver with one that's 2+ months older. It is breaking AMD's software, has worse performance, and doesn't get installed cleanly which causes various issues.

I have tried everything I can find searching online. I first tried these registry edits:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverUpdateWizardWuSearchEnabled
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching SearchOrderConfig to 0

I then found it was possible to enable gpedit on Home so I did that, and changed the Windows Update policy to not include drivers, as well as added a device installation restriction with the graphics card hardware ID. None of these things worked. If I leave the computer at all and it determines the PC is idle, it overwrites the driver.

I need to know if it's possible to stop this behavior. I need to know if I have to switch to a Pro version to actually disable automatic driver installation so I can get started right away. I have already lost way too much time dealing with this nonsense.

 

[35below0]

What is your motherboard manufacturer, and are you using their driver managment software to keep drivers up to date?

Some folks hate them, but they do identify missing drivers and keep installed ones up to date. Maybe it can cure your problem.

 

[Fenric]

What is your motherboard manufacturer, and are you using their driver managment software to keep drivers up to date?

Some folks hate them, but they do identify missing drivers and keep installed ones up to date. Maybe it can cure your problem.

It's Gigabyte. I'm not using any driver management software.
The problem is Windows itself is installing a driver dated 2 January. It's very outdated.

 

[35below0]

Then i suggest you try to install Gigabyte Control Center and let it find drivers for your system.

Uncheck any driver you don't want to install. For example, GCC likes to push Norton anti virus and BIOS updates, but i don't like Norton at all and have no intention of flashing BIOS when the computer is working well.

You can uninstall GCC if you don't like it, but i do urge you to try it. It has cleared up driver issues for other people in the past. May help you too.

 

[Fenric]

Then i suggest you try to install Gigabyte Control Center and let it find drivers for your system.

Uncheck any driver you don't want to install. For example, GCC likes to push Norton anti virus and BIOS updates, but i don't like Norton at all and have no intention of flashing BIOS when the computer is working well.

You can uninstall GCC if you don't like it, but i do urge you to try it. It has cleared up driver issues for other people in the past. May help you too.

I don't see how that will help when Windows itself is overwriting the driver.

 

[35below0]

I expect Windows will not overrule GCC and that the driver will stick. Worth a shot.
Can't understand why it keeps going against you though.

 

[Ralston18]

Regarding "Can't understand why it keeps going against you though."

@ 35below0 Good question/thought.

Consider that Windows may be trying to "go along" but those registry edits might now be getting in the way. Or will get in the way.

Look in Windows Update History for any failed or problem updates.

Two suggestions:

1) Undo the registry edits. (Registry edits are a last resort and then only attempted after a full system and registry backup.)

2) Run "dism" and "sfc /scannow". Original problem could have been the result of a corrupted or buggy file.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

Failing that, then manually download any further drivers directly from the applicable manufacturer's website. Reinstall and reconfigure.

No third party tools or installers.

 

[CmdrShepard]

I need to know if it's possible to stop this behavior. I need to know if I have to switch to a Pro version to actually disable automatic driver installation so I can get started right away. I have already lost way too much time dealing with this nonsense.

The thing where everyone makes a mistake is uninstalling the OS provided driver, using driver cleaners and other rubbish.

Don't do that.

Install your NVIDIA (or Intel, or AMD) driver on top of it using manufacturer provided setup (do not install from device manager).

That will stop Windows from overwriting your drivers without any registry tweaks needed.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I don't see how that will help when Windows itself is overwriting the driver.

Is your chipset driver up to date? Try that and test again.