Windows update keeps installing older Intel Arc graphics drivers

james_uk · Aug 27, 2024

Hi, every time a new Intel ARC driver is released, I get an update from Intel Driver Assistant and I install it.

As soon as I restart my laptop, Windows update then installs an older version for some reason.

If I then manually reinstall the newer driver again and restart, Windows update then keeps it.

Is there any way to stop Windows downgrading the driver every time it's updated?

Regards
James

bobkn · Aug 27, 2024

With help from our friends at Google:

Redirecting

Ghot · Aug 27, 2024

james_uk said:
Hi, every time a new Intel ARC driver is released, I get an update from Intel Driver Assistant and I install it.

As soon as I restart my laptop, Windows update then installs an older version for some reason.

If I then manually reinstall the newer driver again and restart, Windows update then keeps it.

Is there any way to stop Windows downgrading the driver every time it's updated?

Regards
James

Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Update will include drivers when available in Windows 11 by default. You can enable the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to not include drivers...

www.elevenforum.com

spapakons · Aug 29, 2024

The best method is to hide (clock) the specific driver update. You can use Windows Update Show/Hide Tool (wushowhide.diagcab)
to search for updates and give you a list with the available updates. Then check the box for any update you want to block. Similarly for alternative tools such as Windows Automatic Update Manager (aka WAU Manager). Of course for this to work the update must be available for download. This means that you install your own Intel driver and then you immediately run the Tool and block the update before Windows Update has enough time to install it and replace your driver.

Download Microsoft Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter - MajorGeeks

Microsoft Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter can assist you in uninstalling a problematic Windows Update and preventing that update from installing until the next Windows Update. Click on wushowhide.diagcab and then click on Next in the lower right corner. After scanning, you can Hide Updates...

www.majorgeeks.com

Download WAU Manager - MajorGeeks

WAU Manager (Windows Automatic Updates Manager) is a free portable replacement for the default Windows Updating interface. WAU Manager is fully-featured providing you with full control over Windows Updates. This control includes when and how they are installed. It also has full uninstall and...

www.majorgeeks.com

PS: When Microsoft had Windows Update Show/Hide Tool available on their site they claimed it was for old Windows 10 versions. BS, I have confirmed it works in all Windows 10 and 11 versions. Occasionally you might get an error and not load, but if it loads you can use it, your Windows version is irrelevant. Just checked, it works in my Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.4037 fine.

hdmi · Aug 29, 2024

Use a hammer TBH.

Windows* Update Keeps Rolling Back Graphics Driver to a Previous...

How to stop Windows Update from installing old graphics drivers.

www.intel.com

glasskuter · Aug 29, 2024

What @Ghot said 100%. Manage you own drivers manually using the support site for your device, or automatically using the ASUS support app that will install your drivers for you (including bios updates) or Intel Driver Support Assistant....but never WU.

hdmi · Aug 29, 2024

Does Asus customize the Intel graphics drivers?

The graphics drivers on the Asus site are always several versions behind the Intel drivers. Is this because Asus does some customization of the generic driver? And if so, what kind of customizations does Asus do? I have been using the latest Intel drivers on my B760M-A D4 motherboard and...

zentalk.asus.com

spapakons · Aug 30, 2024

hdmi said:
Use a hammer TBH.

Windows* Update Keeps Rolling Back Graphics Driver to a Previous...

How to stop Windows Update from installing old graphics drivers.

www.intel.com

In Greek we have a saying "paint is blue and throw it at the sea". No need though, just install your driver and then block the stubborn update with Windows Update Show/Hide Tool or with Windows Automatic Updates Manager (WAU Manager). See my previous post for download links.

PS: You can also disconnect from the internet while you install the new driver so Windows Update cannot check and replace your driver before it is successfully installed. Then load either utility, connect to the internet, check for updates to populate the list, and finally check the box at the Intel updates to hide them (block them).

hdmi · Aug 30, 2024

spapakons said:
In Greek we have a saying "paint is blue and throw it at the sea". No need though, just install your driver and then block the stubborn update with Windows Update Show/Hide Tool or with Windows Automatic Updates Manager (WAU Manager). See my previous post for download links.

PS: You can also disconnect from the internet while you install the new driver so Windows Update cannot check and replace your driver before it is successfully installed. Then load either utility, connect to the internet, check for updates to populate the list, and finally check the box at the Intel updates to hide them (block them).

I don't like it when people throw blue paint at the sea. The shrimps that go into our famous shrimp croquettes aren't supposed to be blue, especially not now that they're finally back from their long vacation... lol
I don't really see the benefit of using the wushowhide.diagcab tool from Microsoft to hide these updates each time. The article I linked on Intel official website still offers the best solution IMO, and, WAU Manager is one of few programs I tried that made it to my "programs to never install on Windows" list.

spapakons · Aug 30, 2024

You only need to hide the specific update once and forget it. If you need to hide it again, it is probably a newer version of the driver, not the one you hided.

Helmut · Aug 30, 2024

It is simple you get your drivers from ASUS and Windows updates. Some manufacturer updates will come from Windows updates.

Windows installing an older driver is not downgrading, it may actually be better than the newer drivers and save you from some grotty Beta-ish unstable gamer driver which is not what you want on such a professional Laptop.
The name of which suggests the use of Nvidia Studio drivers.

The reality is that you will never see any difference.

I have been using Nvidia graphics for over 20 years and Intel graphics for 11 years.
Learned my lesson after a number of years that updating Nvidia graphics on the monthly basis Nvidia issues them was counter productive.

Yearly is fine, no worries.

The hardware is of the Optimus/Hybrid design, not the same as a desktop.

hdmi · Aug 30, 2024

spapakons said:
You only need to hide the specific update once and forget it. If you need to hide it again, it is probably a newer version of the driver, not the one you hided.

The newer (or "less old"...) driver updates from Windows Update just keep on coming so, you'd still need to keep hiding the next one each time before this thing happens again... and again. It's not wholly dissimilar to how you also need to keep resurrecting Windows' productivity features each time after Microsoft uses its baseball bat to kill them again.

spapakons · Aug 30, 2024

Yes, some manufacturers give you drivers through Windows Update, Nvidia too, but you get the core driver without control of the components installed and without extras such as the nVidia Control Panel. I want the full package and I always select Custom install to make sure everything is included. So I prefer to manually download the latest full version of the driver than allow Windows Update to install the bare minimum.

IanMosley · Aug 30, 2024

It could be that there is some 'corruption' in the Windows Update code; this tutorial - Reset Windows Update in Windows 11 - should clear the problem.

spapakons · Aug 30, 2024

Unfortunately for a relatively modern graphics card that gets regular driver updates, we must check the manufacturer's site every 1-2 weeks and make sure we install the latest driver before Windows Update kicks in and screws our working drivers. If we have already installed the same or newer version, Windows Update won't try to install it again. If you rather keep an older version you have to regularly check with a tool and block any new driver updates. That is until the card is old enough to stop receiving further updates and you can finally rest.

PS: Driver updates are supposed to be optional, so they don't install automatically, but some manufacturers place them at the standard updates category and are installed anyway without asking. Even if you choose not to update drivers from Windows Update this doesn't always work, so you must keep an eye with the tool to block any unwanted update.

hdmi · Aug 30, 2024

Like the moderator on Asus Zenforum already explained, Asus only does further testing of the Intel Graphics driver. There are no "Asus customizations" being applied to this driver of any kind whatsoever. It's just the same generic driver from Intel being repackaged by Asus. So, if you stick to the latest WHQL Certified one from the official Intel Download Center (see below), you should be fine. You can always revert it back to a previous version if you bump into problems with it. Whenever I have problems with Intel drivers, I always immediately let them know that their devs are nothing but a bunch of amateurs. Then they'll fix it in next to no time.

Intel 13th Gen Processor Graphics:

Download Intel Drivers and Software

Download new and previously released drivers including support software, bios, utilities, firmware and patches for Intel products.

www.intel.com

NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU:

Download The Latest Official NVIDIA Drivers

Download the latest official NVIDIA drivers to enhance your PC gaming experience and run apps faster.

www.nvidia.com

spapakons · Aug 30, 2024

I always go directly to Intel/nVidia/AMD to get the latest graphics drivers. Coming across a device that needs a customized driver is rather rare, most work with the official stock driver. If the device requires a customized driver there is a warning message and either you proceed at your own risk or Setup doesn't allow you to proceed. I have seen that occasionally, but the rule is that the stock driver always works.

Windows update keeps installing older Intel Arc graphics drivers

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