The user is prompted to choose how to install updates (Figure A). System updates, security updates, and patches are likely the first things that come to mind, so most users select the "Use Recommended Settings" option. However, in addition to the standard set, Microsoft can also provide device driver updates.

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Figure A. When installing Windows 7, you need to choose one of the options for installing updates.

As is known, has a huge driver database and supports almost all known devices. After you install a driver, the operating system adds it to the watch list and can regularly check for new or updated drivers using Windows Update.

Of course, there are two schools of thought regarding the drivers provided by Microsoft. Some people believe that getting drivers from Microsoft is a good thing because they are verified and certified by Microsoft before being added to Windows Update. Others believe that getting drivers from Microsoft is bad because they are essentially a stripped-down version of the drivers from the device manufacturer.

In addition to these considerations, there are also factors of ease and ease of installation. New drivers from Windows Update are detected and installed automatically, with little or no user interaction. To update drivers manually, you need to regularly check the device manufacturer's website, download and install them yourself.

So, depending on your point of view when installing Windows 7, you could choose the "Use recommended settings" option, which ensures that drivers are updated along with the rest of the operating system, or the "Install Important Updates Only" option, which does not providing automatic driver updates. But suppose your views have changed since then - what to do? Luckily, Windows 7 has a little-known Device Installation Settings tool that lets you change how you search for and install driver updates.

In this article, I'll explain the benefits of Windows 7 automatically detecting and installing drivers, and then explain how to enable or disable this feature.

Benefits of Automatic Updates

Let's see the benefits of automatic detection and installation drivers devices using Windows 7. This allows the operating system to load not only drivers, but also high-resolution icons for devices connected to the computer, as well as detailed information about the hardware.

For example, if I open the Devices and Printers window from the Start menu on my test computer, I can see large icons for all the connected devices (Figure B). As you can see, the IntelliMouse Optical mouse is highlighted in the screenshot, and information about it is displayed in the status bar. Clicking on the device icon will open a window with more detailed information (Figure C and D).

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Figure B: The Devices and Printers window may display large icons for connected devices.

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Figure C. By clicking on the icon, you can get more detailed information about the device...

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Figure D. ...with a link to the manufacturer's website.

Calling the "Device installation options" window

You can enable or disable automatic search for and installation of driver updates through Windows 7 Update in the Device Installation Options window. To call it, right-click on the computer icon in the "Devices and Printers" window. A context menu will appear with a variety of options, including Device Installation Options (Figure E).

Figure E This shortcut menu provides quick access to a variety of useful features.

When you select the "Device installation parameters" option from the context menu, a window of the same name opens (Fig. F). To allow Windows to automatically download drivers and realistic icons for devices, select the "Yes, Do This Automatically" option. For the “No, Let Me Choose What to Do” option, as you can see, there are three options available, including “Never Install Driver Software from Windows Update.” There is also an option "Replace generic device icons with enhanced icons".

Once you have made your choice, click the “Save Changes” button. You may need to confirm the operation in the User Account Control window.

Windows is improving, and along with it, the automatic installation tools built into the system are changing. Installed Windows, connected to the Internet, and the operating system will install all the necessary drivers on its own!
It would seem, what could be more convenient? But, unfortunately, quite often the equipment does not work correctly with the drivers built into Windows. And the installation of drivers is required from the equipment manufacturer. But Hardware Installation Wizard in modern Microsoft Windows 7 is so “independent” that if drivers for the hardware are already in the system, it simply blocks the installation of all third-party drivers.

How to disable automatic driver installation in Windows 7?

To prevent Windows 7 from installing its drivers automatically, you need to configure the settings for installing new hardware.

Open System Properties:

Start --> Control Panel --> System.

The options window will open Systems. On the left side of the page that opens, click on the link Advanced System Settings:

In the new System Properties dialog box, go to the Equipment and click on the button Device installation options

You will see a window for changing driver installation settings for connected equipment

Check the box on the line No, give a choice.
In the submenu that opens, check the box Never install drivers from Windows Update and press the button Save.

After that in the window Properties of the system click the button OK.

It is also useful to disable Windows Update while installing the driver you need. For the changes to take effect, restart your computer. Sometimes these actions have to be carried out in Windows Safe Mode under Administrator rights.

This instruction tells you how to disable automatic updating of device drivers in Windows 10 in three ways - a simple setting in system properties, using the registry editor, and also using the local group policy editor (the latter option is only for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise). You will also find a video tutorial at the end.

According to observations, many problems with the operation of Windows 10, especially on laptops, are currently associated precisely with the fact that the OS automatically loads the “best” driver, which in its opinion can ultimately lead to unpleasant consequences, such as a black screen , incorrect operation of sleep and hibernation mode and the like.

You can disable automatic installation of drivers for individual devices in Windows 10 manually - using the Local Group Policy Editor (for Professional and Enterprise editions) or using the Registry Editor. This section shows the prohibition for a specific device by hardware ID.

To do this using the Local Group Policy Editor, you will need the following simple steps:

After these steps, the installation of new drivers for the selected device will be prohibited, either automatically by Windows 10 itself or manually by the user, until the changes are canceled in the local group policy editor.

If gpedit is not available in your edition of Windows 10, you can do the same using the Registry Editor. To begin, follow the first step from the previous method (find out and copy all equipment IDs).

Go to the registry editor (Win+R, enter regedit) and go to the section HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows\ DeviceInstall\ Restrictions\ DenyDeviceIDs(if there is no such section, create it).

After this, create string values, the name of which is numbers in order, starting from 1, and the value is the ID of the equipment for which you want to prohibit driver updates (see screenshot).

Disabling automatic driver downloads in system settings

The first way to disable driver updates is to use the Windows 10 device installation settings settings. There are two ways to get into these settings (both options require you to be an administrator on the computer).

In the installation options, you will see a single request: “Automatically download manufacturer apps and custom icons available for your devices?”

Select "No" and save the settings. In the future, you will not receive new drivers automatically from Windows 10 Update.

Video instruction

Video guide that clearly shows all three ways (including two that are described later in this article) to disable automatic driver updates in Windows 10.

Below are additional shutdown options if certain problems arise with those described above.

Using Registry Editor

The same can be done using the Windows 10 Registry Editor. To launch it, press the Windows + R keys on your computer keyboard and enter regedit in the “Run” window, then click OK.

In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ DriverSearching(if section DriverSearching is missing in the specified location, then right-click on the partition CurrentVersion, and select Create - Section, then specify its name).

In chapter DriverSearching change (in the right side of the registry editor) the value of the variable SearchOrderConfig to 0 (zero) by double-clicking on it and entering a new value. If such a variable is missing, then in the right part of the registry editor, right-click - New - 32-bit DWORD Value. Give it a name SearchOrderConfig, and then set the value to zero.

After this, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. If in the future you need to re-enable automatic driver updates, change the value of the same variable to 1.

Disabling driver updates from Update using the Local Group Policy Editor

And the last way to disable automatic search and installation of drivers in Windows 10, which is only suitable for the Professional and Enterprise versions of the system.

Done, drivers will no longer be updated or installed automatically.

Often, for a number of reasons, you need to use an older version of the driver, but after installing system updates, you again and again end up with a version of the driver that you do not need, which, since you are reading this, is probably causing problems. Windows 10 has a special setting that you can use to change this behavior. Often the OEM driver is better, as opposed to drivers installed by Windows Update, which can create a problem. To continue, you must be logged in with an administrator account.

Windows 10 automatically installs drivers for your gadgets, video cards and other equipment. If you want the operating system not to automatically install device drivers, disable this function. Below are five working methods. Besides Parameters Windows, let's look at how to use: group policies for Windows 10 Pro and registry editor for the Home version. ( The registry method works in any version of Windows).

In Windows 10, you can turn off automatic driver updates. This is a useful feature, but a large number of users are not happy with the new versions of drivers installed using Windows 10 Update.

Note: We must warn you that if you prevent Windows 10 from installing drivers, you need to check and install new drivers manually for all your hardware devices. You may want to prevent automatic driver updates for your video card, but this will also affect other drivers, such as the audio driver.

Method 1: Disable driver updates in Windows 10 using Device Setup Options.

1. Open File Explorer, paste into the address bar and press Enter.

Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers

This will open the Devices and Printers section of Control Panel.

1. Expand section "Devices". Here you will see a list of all devices ( see picture above) connected to your system and your own system will appear as a device. It will have the same name as your computer and will be represented by a PC icon.

1. Right-click on it and select from the context menu "Device Installation Options".

A dialog box will open asking if you want Automatically download manufacturer apps and custom icons available for your devices. It doesn't say anything about drivers, but this setting is what you need to disable automatic driver loading.

1. Select an option "No" and press the button "Save changes". You will need administrator rights to save changes.

1. Restart your computer.

Method 2: Disable automatic device driver installation using the registry.

1. Open .

1. Go to the next registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata

1. On the right, change or create a new 32-bit DWORD value named .

Note: Even if you are using 64-bit Windows, you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.

1. Set the value for PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork equal 1 , this will disable the automatic driver update feature. Value equal 0 Allows the system to load drivers - automatically (this is the default value).

1. Restart your computer.

Method 3: Disable automatic driver downloads in Windows 10 using Group Policy Editor.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor ().

1. In the Group Policy Editor, go to the following path:

Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update

1. Find and open the parameter - Don't include drivers in Windows updates

1. The Default Policy setting is not set; it is required Turn on, now Windows 10 will not automatically install drivers using Update Center.

1. Reboot your system.

After the reboot, the Drivers will be excluded from the update search list.

If you want to enable driver updates again, you can easily do so by returning the settings to default.

Method 4 - Disable automatic driver updates using group policies.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor by clicking keyboard shortcut Win+R , type in the field gpedit.msc click OK.

1. In the Group Policy Editor, go to:Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates→ System → Device installation→Device Installation Restrictions→Prevent the installation of devices that are not described by other policy settings.

1. If this parameter Switched off, which means Windows will automatically install the driver for any device.

4. Enable this option and press the button Apply.

1. Now restart Windows 10; the system will not be able to update drivers on its own.

To set the default parameter, you need to set the parameter to Not specified or Disabled.

Method 5 - Cancel automatic installation of drivers using the registry.

For Users Windows 10 Home This system does not have Group Policy and you must make these settings in register.

This also works on Windows 10 Pro.

1. Open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the window Execute. ()

Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

Note: If the section WindowsUpdate no, just create it.

1. In the new section, Create a new DWORD value (32-bit) with the name and 1.

For those users who use Windows 10 x64 bit version Home or Pro You need to make an edit to one more branch of the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

If the section WindowsUpdate also no, create it.

Create a new DWORD value (32-bit) named ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate and set its value to 1.

1. Restart your computer.

If you want the system to install drivers automatically using Windows Update, set the ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate value to 0 .

The article describes an example of how to prevent the installation of a device in Windows Device Manager once and for all.

Sometimes a situation occurs when, after hastily installing drivers, a device is prescribed in Windows that prevents the system from working normally. And sometimes it’s easy to just start. It is firmly “stuck” in the Windows Device Manager, and even after removal, the system continues to install it with each subsequent boot. The user either has to roll back through system recovery (if he managed to create a point), or each time delete the device in the Manager. And the driver is known, and you see the device, but it seems that nothing can be done. And Windows is completely new... But every time the system boots, it is accompanied by an annoying window:

If you recognize the situation, read on to see how to prevent device installation in Windows Device Manager.

We will carry out the work in several stages. To be sure. The next 4 points work for Windows Vista/7/8, the last one works for Windows XP (but here is where the hard work awaits you). Don't forget about system recovery!

Remove the device and delete it from system memory

We will now have to clean up the Windows memory a little. We will delete the corresponding device .inf file located in the Windows root directory %windir%\inf. In the Windows search engine you can type this. Here she is:

and here are the device files

Almost every such file has a file of the same name with the extension .pnf. He will get it too... Then we will adjust the Windows Group Policy settings. And finally, let's remove the annoying warning. But first we have to make sure that:

• this device is independent of other devices and is in no way connected with them; and to make sure of this, remember that...
• Removing an “extra” sound or video card is sometimes accompanied by removing ALL of them, and then installing only the cards you need
• if you delete unnecessary Bluetooth, disable first WiFi map
• It is better to perform the operation in Safe Mode

How to prevent installation of a device in Windows Vista/7/8/10: remove it from Device Manager

• To find the required file of an unnecessary device, we need to isolate it in Windows Device Manager. Let's go there using WIN + R, command devmgmt.msc.
• Double-click on it with the mouse, calling up its properties.
• For example, I have a “left” speaker registered in the system, which constantly conflicts with the working driver Realtek. The sound may disappear right in the middle of a Windows session. This is what I’ll deal with now (you, of course, have your own problematic devices):

I selected the tab Intelligence. And in the drop-down window Property I'll find it INF Name. Here it is:

• I decided on the name in the Windows directory. We go there, look for the files we are looking for - there are two of them, and delete them:

• Now Disable And Remove device in the tab Driver

Let's prevent Windows from installing devices: everything you need is already there

Enough is enough, really. The system is installed, now it’s up to the “native” drivers. Those that are downloaded from the Update Center like to conflict with native drivers. So let's go to the Group Policy Editor. WIN+R command gpedit.msc. We need the path:

Computer Configuration – Administrative Templates – System

Here we are interested in two settings: Driver Installation and Device Installation. I will limit myself to setting the second one, find the following items and enable them in the properties:

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Let's remove the message about installing the software

Windows will continue to search and find the device. And every time she will report about it. This means that in the lower taskbar at the bottom right, in the notification area, click on the up arrow and select Disable And Remove it in the tab Driver Tune:

There it is easy to find the corresponding settings and disable them:

I haven’t figured out how to remove a device from the Device Manager list yet (damned function Plug and Play). It will hang there as an uninstalled device with a yellow icon, but it will no longer interfere with the operation of another device.

How to prevent installation of a device or driver in Windows XP?

This version is a little different. And, of course, more difficult. The INF Name item is not included in Device Information, and Group Policy items and settings are not as rich as in later versions. And there are no cherished points that are now directly responsible for installing devices and drivers. So the method for removing and preventing permanent installation of the device and driver in the Windows XP version looks like this:

• log in to the system in Safe Mode
• let's move on Computer – Properties– tab Equipment- let's choose Never use Windows Update...

• in line Execute type the command to launch the Device Configuration utility msconfig and in the autorun tab we will remove all services that are associated with the startup of the conflicting device (when I removed the video driver, I found two of them)
• go to Device Manager, double-click on the unnecessary device
• in properties and go to the tab Driver. Let's find the button Intelligence…

• the last window displays all information related to the device and its drivers. The latter are those that end with sys, and sometimes on exe. And now you will have to somehow remember them and then delete them. Manually. And you will have to search in folders Windows, Windows\system32 And Windows\system32\Drivers- so good luck... But that’s later, but now...
• Let's go back to Device Properties and go to the tab Intelligence. There you need to select two parameters in the information drop-down list: Instance code And Service:

just remember up to the & icon

• we stop the service in the list of running services in the Computer Management console, but the Device Instance Code is useful for finding the device in the folder inf Windows: this is the most tedious process that awaits you (on your own - the built-in search engine copes with this extremely poorly, I advise you to download it from the outside) - enter this very code in the field by file name and force you to search for it among the files:

• and only now in the Device Manager select the now unnecessary device, Disable it and Delete it:

• don’t forget to force Windows not to bother with updates (although what kind of updates are there – it’s old XP...) and set it to prohibit installation of the device through the update node: