Windows update keeps installing older Intel Arc graphics drivers

james_uk · Dec 18, 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 a much older version, which is the version that was last released by my laptop maker, Asus.
If I then manually reinstall the newer driver again, either from intel driver support or from the Intel website, Windows just reinstalls this older driver again.

I have tried to manually uninstall the older driver, by ticking remove the software in device manager, and also deleted the folder that was in my 'drivers' folder that contained these old installation files, but nothing seems to be working.
Is there any way to stop Windows downgrading the driver every time it's updated, I don't want to be stuck on this March 2023 version, when Intel keep releasing new updates all the time for it.

Regards
James

NSX · Dec 18, 2024

Try turning off automatic updates in Device Manager?

Marcus Vinicus · Dec 18, 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 a much older version, which is the version that was last released by my laptop maker, Asus.
If I then manually reinstall the newer driver again, either from intel driver support or from the Intel website, Windows just reinstalls this older driver again.

I have tried to manually uninstall the older driver, by ticking remove the software in device manager, and also deleted the folder that was in my 'drivers' folder that contained these old installation files, but nothing seems to be working.
Is there any way to stop Windows downgrading the driver every time it's updated, I don't want to be stuck on this March 2023 version, when Intel keep releasing new updates all the time for it.

Regards
James

Hi @james_uk

I agree this annoying when WU does this. It did it to me the other day.

To stop all driver updates via Windows Update there are several ways of doing this depending on which version of Windows 11 is being used (Pro or Home). Pro it can be done via the Group Policy Editor, Home via a Registry edit.

neves · Dec 18, 2024

Try a clean install - by using DDU:

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) download version 18.0.9.0

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) - Remove AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL Graphics Drivers Cleanly - DDU is a driver removal utility that helps you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA graphics card drivers and packages from your system, leaving no leftovers behind, including registry keys, folders, files...

www.guru3d.com

You could also use Windows Search and look for: View Advanced system settings - and check the following:

Or even more than that - using Group Policy:

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

cereberus · Dec 18, 2024

I use wushowhide

Download wushowhide - MajorGeeks

wushowhide is a troubleshooting app from Microsoft that allows you to show or hide Windows Updates. wushowhide is no longer available from Microsoft. See our video tutorial for more information.

www.majorgeeks.com

You run it before updating, then click hide updates and select the intel driver.

It no longer appears in updates.

Marcus Vinicus · Dec 18, 2024

If going down the DDU path suggested by @neves disconnect the computer from the internet while uninstalling the unwanted the old drivers otherwise Windows Update will just reinstall the same drivers again.

neves · Dec 18, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
If going down the DDU path suggested by @neves disconnect the computer from the internet while uninstalling the unwanted the old drivers otherwise Windows Update will just reinstall the same drivers again.

Oh yes, forgot this part.

Indeed, it's safer to disable the NW - before installing the new driver. Also recommend - having the driver ready/downloaded: Intel® Arc™ & Iris® Xe Graphics - Windows* - instead of using Intel Driver & Support Assistant - which needs internet connection to download it and install it.

Marcus Vinicus · Dec 18, 2024

There is this very useful tutorial here at ElevenForums:

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

garlin · Dec 18, 2024

You can block WU from updating specific driver HWID's, using this tutorial:
How to Prevent Windows Update from Updating Specific Device Driver in Windows 10

I wrote a script, which lists all the current drivers, and you can quickly select which drivers you want blocked from updates.

After the script is executed, it creates two reg files:

Enable_DeviceInstall_Restrictions.reg

Disable_DeviceInstall_Restrictions.reg

You can use the first reg file to block WU from updating the selected drivers. And the second file to remove the block (allowing WU to overwrite the drivers).
Using this method, updates for all non-blocked drivers are still allowed if you need them.

james_uk · Dec 19, 2024

garlin said:
You can block WU from updating specific driver HWID's, using this tutorial:
How to Prevent Windows Update from Updating Specific Device Driver in Windows 10

I wrote a script, which lists all the current drivers, and you can quickly select which drivers you want blocked from updates.

View attachment 119749

After the script is executed, it creates two reg files:

Enable_DeviceInstall_Restrictions.reg
Disable_DeviceInstall_Restrictions.reg

You can use the first reg file to block WU from updating the selected drivers. And the second file to remove the block (allowing WU to overwrite the drivers).
Using this method, updates for all non-blocked drivers are still allowed if you need them.

Marlin, this looks really good and like it will do the job.

My only question though, when I preview the reg files, the file to enable wu looks correct as shown below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions]
"DenyDeviceIDs"=dword:00000001
"DenyDeviceIDsRetroactive"=dword:00000000

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions\DenyDeviceIDs]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions\DenyDeviceIDs]
;
; Intel Corporation Intel(R) UHD Graphics
"1"="PCI\\VEN_8086&DEV_A788&SUBSYS_16E31043"

However, the one to disable doesn't seem to show any alterations as shown:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions]

Would that stop all wu or is it supposed to stop just the intel arc driver i selected?

James

garlin · Dec 19, 2024

1. To remove the reg settings, we simply use the [-HKEY\path\] shorthand which removes all registry data below a specific path.

So it effectively wipes all the changes in one pass. By default, you're not blocking any HWID's because it's a manual process. What's going to happen is you'll keep the old driver forever, or hope that a fixed driver gets released for WU.

2. One more note: this trick only blocks WU. If you manually install a new driver, or run some tool (like Intel's driver utility), then it's still allowed to replace drivers since WU isn't involved.

james_uk · Dec 19, 2024

Thats great, it has worked then, wu is no longer trying to update it.

Thank you very much for letting me use the script you made, thats so helpful :)

Almighty1 · Dec 21, 2024

The other way is to use WAU Manager which in normal mode requires approving everything before it installs. Instead of blocking, this gives you a choice of to install or not.

HuntyFtw · Dec 21, 2024

cereberus said:
I use wushowhide

Download wushowhide - MajorGeeks

wushowhide is a troubleshooting app from Microsoft that allows you to show or hide Windows Updates. wushowhide is no longer available from Microsoft. See our video tutorial for more information.

www.majorgeeks.com

You run it before updating, then click hide updates and select the intel driver.

It no longer appears in updates.

I use this too. This is the fastest and easiest method.

Steve C · Dec 21, 2024

cereberus said:
I use wushowhide

Download wushowhide - MajorGeeks

wushowhide is a troubleshooting app from Microsoft that allows you to show or hide Windows Updates. wushowhide is no longer available from Microsoft. See our video tutorial for more information.

www.majorgeeks.com

You run it before updating, then click hide updates and select the intel driver.

It no longer appears in updates.

I use this method too which works fine

Windows update keeps installing older Intel Arc graphics drivers

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