Automatic Driver Installation

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Just like Vista, I cannot seem to find any way to stop the automatic driver installation. I love how when I uninstall a driver/device in XP, on reboot it pops up asking me what to do. Vista and 7 on the other hand, take it upon themselves to reinstall Microsoft drivers on reboot no matter what I do. I've searched online and yielded no results, and searched here and didn't find anything either (Key words yield many results). Ideally I would prefer Vista/7 to just IGNORE the new device, so I can install the new one/update it myself. But if that can't be done, I'd at least like to be able to STOP the automatic driver installation. Please help

Theres gotta be some way, even if I have to edit something or add registry keys, I just want to stop the automatic microsoft driver installation.

 

[Orbital Shark]

This might help.

If you type 'Device' in the start menu & click Change device installation settings.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Thanks, I actually changed that before you posted but haven't changed any hardware since then (So I wasn't sure if that actually fixed it). If thats the fix then thank you very much! The device shortcut is nice too I didn't know about that.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Nope that was not it, changed my video card and 7 installed a microsoft driver. I hate this damn auto-installation.

 

[Orbital Shark]

It's a shame there's no way to change the default location to search for drivers in the group policy editor, or even to turn it off all together. I'll keep looking

 

[SIW2]

I believe that setting only works for downloading drivers or not.

The drivers already onboard are the ones she likes to keep installing.

If you can find the offenders in here, you can move them somewhere 7 won't look.

\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Yea theres 4 nv_disp folders in there

Kind of ridiculous if theres no option to disable this for vista or 7.

 

[Orbital Shark]

Just as a thought, could any of these be of any use in the Group Policy Editor?

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Nice find, I see a couple things in the Device Installation Restrictions key for prevention, although it looks like its not going to be as simple and easy as XP. The new hardware wizard popup was so perfect..

 

[Orbital Shark]

Very True, if i knew more about the Group Policy Editor then i'd be able to explain more

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

That seemed to be all for device installation, I didn't see much regarding "drivers" unless that is what they're talking about. Some of the options even said the listed devices will uninstall on next reboot, so I assume that means you can't even install drivers? The "Specify Driver Source Search Order" just lets you decide if/when to search Windows Update for drivers, it doesn't have any option for anything besides Windows Update.

 

[SIW2]

You'll have to take them out of there - then uninstall the driverrs - reinstall your preferred ones.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

You'll have to take them out of there - then uninstall the driverrs - reinstall your preferred ones.

Thanks for the info, I'll definitely give that a shot next time I install specific drivers.

 

[driecken]

I had to disable this feature, it was a real pain even in vista I had to disable this.

Its a great feature if it works out, but windows kept installing updated drivers in this case for my video card, the problem was the newest drivers created havoc with my games and video viewing.

I was able to disengage the function and install manually the needed drivers without any hassle.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Yes I'm dealing with this problem mainly with video cards as well (In Vista and 7).

How did you disable it?

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

I had to disable this feature, it was a real pain even in vista I had to disable this.

...

How did you disable it?

 

[akash3656]

Friend, if you hate this feature install XP with an antique graphic card that has in-box XP driver and you will see XP does the same **** as Vista/7. If you are having driver problems with graphic cards just do this (it will clean off ATi/Nvidia's graphics driver off windows, so it can't install the driver automatically ):
STEP 1
Get Driver Cleaner from: Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

STEP 2
Install it, go to safe mode, lauch driver sweeper, If you are using Nvidia/ATi graphics card and having problems with it, check the Nvidia/ATi graphics checkbox, analyse, clean, reboot, now windows won't install its in-box driver...

STEP 3
Install a driver version that you want...

PS: This program saved my life for like 4 times with other people's computer that just won't boot up...

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Vista/7 still installs a default driver, even in safe mode. I've been using driver sweeper for a while, you must also clean the physx drivers for nvidia. I'm going to try SIW2's idea next time I need to change anything.

I don't use antique video cards, XP never installs any driver for anything I use, unless it's a simple usb device. I always get the new hardware installation wizard asking me what to do. I guess Microsoft just put many, many more drivers preloaded in their newer operating systems, with no way to simply disable the auto-installations.

 

[driecken]

...

How did you disable it?

I remember in vista it was in the control panel, I think it was under advanced system settings (Hardware tab, Driver Settings)

I think it is similar in 7, i did it recently and it was pretty simple, heres a quick run through if your interested in a 7 workaround I am certain there is more then one or two ways to disable his feature though.

How To Disable Automatic Driver Installation In Windows Vista

 

[akash3656]

okay but if you use driver sweeper with my instructions, it will remove the in-built Windows driver(that has been haunting you). That way it will go on9 and search for a driver from Windows update (so disconnect your internet to avoid the auto update from haunting you now... then right click computer>Properties>Advanced System Settings>Hardware>Device Instaltaion Settings>No,let me choose...>Never install driver>Save Settings, now you can go online, get the driver YOU want and install it.

PS: its actually nice to have all the drivers you need built in the OS, but not when it doesn't work...

Driver sweeper worked for me when Nvidia graphic driver installation screws up :shock:... then I clean them off form safe mode and try a re-install.

REMEMBER: Driver sweeper is like a tool which removes every SINGLE trace [ALMOST] of a driver whether its a Windows in-built driver of an updated driver....

EDIT: Hmmm something seems wrong, but did you try the LATEST driver sweeper & what is the hardware thats causing the issue??? BAsically SIW2's idea is removing the in-built Windows' driver manually... driver sweeper will do that automatically... i think....