Stop Win7 from Automatically Installing Drivers
- How can I stop Windows 7 from automatically installing drivers for me? I preferred how in Windows XP it would ask me what I wanted to do. I wouldn't mind having to consent for it to install even menial drivers for things like USB Flash Drives, but I mainly don't want Win7 automatically installing what it thinks are the best drivers for my sound card, video card, and the like.
- Moved byBillFillMSFT, ModeratorFriday, October 23, 2009 2:04 AMWU issue (From:Hardware and drivers)
1 person needs an answerI do too
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- Windows update can be set to 'ask' before downloading and installing drivers and other updates. The "view available updates' item will then allow rightclicking a driver to 'hide' it, allowing you to install what you choose.Rating posts helps other usersMark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
- Thank you, but that only works if Windows doesn't already have a driver. If it has a driver that it thinks will work, it will still install it when the new hardware is detected.
- If you wanted to change those things a setup answer file could be created with the Windows Advanced Installation Kit utility, the Installation Manager, to install chosen drivers. The DISM utility could also be used to alter your image file, and insert the drivers before setup. Rightclick a Command Prompt icon, 'run as admin', type DISM /?Rating posts helps other usersMark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
- Whoa this looks complicated, however, it also looks like it will get the job done once I figure out how to get it working. Thank you.
- You did not include enough info for me to detect your version of Win 7. The final version can be modified with the WIM and DISM tools, the RTM cannot. (by design)Rating posts helps other usersMark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
- Hm, I may have RTM. I got it from an educational store, but since I got it before the retial release date I don't know if it's retail or not.
Hi heydabop:
Please see if this can help you.
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Disable Windows 7 Automatically Installing Drivers-------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are times when Windows Updates recommend for installation a hardware driver that is not necessary the latest. Even if we manually search, download, and install the latest, Windows 7 will, on its own, replace yours with the one recommended. To disable W7 driver software update selection and installation, you have to change the Device Installation Settings and Windows Updates. To do so, proceed as follows:
Device Installation Settings:
1. From the Start Menu, select Devices and Printers.
2. Select the single device, right click, and in the menu click Device installation settings.
3. Under “Do you want Windows to download driver software and realistic icons for your devices?” select “No, let me choose what to do”.
4. By selecting No, the choice will be expanded. Select also “Never install driver software from Windows Update”. Under this choice Windows will not do any searching for recommended driver updates for that specific device. Save changes.
5. By selecting “No, let me choose what to do” and “Always install the best driver software from Windows Update”, Windows will offer the driver for you to keep under Recommended Updates, for possible later installation. Save changes.
6. The choice to “Replace generic device icons with enhanced icons” is offered only in the manual selection.
Windows Update Settings:
1. All driver software updates are classified as Recommended.
2. Check “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates”. The installation of this updates depend on the options selected under “No, let me choose what to do” in the Device Installation Settings.
Efrain Morales
- Thank you, however, I have already done that. And it does prevent Windows from downloading from new drivers, which is nice, but it does not prevent Windows from installing drivers it already has.
