Automatic driver updates caused problems in Windows 10 – Update
An automatic driver update for Nvidia graphics cards caused problems for users of the Windows 10 Insider Preview. It was an outdated version of the drivers that users could not refuse.
Users who installed the mandatory driver update experienced graphical glitches and issues with multi-monitor setups. On Twitter, multiple users of the Insider Preview are doing their complain about the situation towards Microsoft. It was an outdated Nvidia driver that was nevertheless registered with Windows Update as the latest version. Users on Reddit are now reporting that Microsoft is distributing a new version of the GeForce drivers, which has resolved the issues.
@GabeAul can you do me a favor? Tell the WU team to stop forcing @nvidia ‘s broken drivers down our throats, 353.54 is HORRIBLE.
— Chris123NT (@Chris123NT) July 24, 2015
Starting with Windows 10, the operating system is set by default to automatically install all Windows Updates. Microsoft does give users the choice whether they want to be in the fast ring or the slow ring of updates. In the fast ring, new updates are immediately available, and in the slow ring, they take longer to appear. However, it is not certain whether Microsoft only uses this system of updates for the Insider Preview, or whether it will also be the case in the release version of Windows 10. In Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, users can still defer Windows updates for several months. This is not possible in the Home edition of Windows 10.
There are several possible solutions to the problem, although Microsoft seems to have the intention to close the update process. The company offers on its support site a tool that is made to block updates for the Windows 10 Insider Preview. With this, for example, the problem with the Nvidia drivers could have been solved manually. However, it is not known whether this tool will also work with the release version of Windows 10.
In addition, users can disable the default driver installation by entering the search “change device installation settings” in the start menu and disabling automatic driver installation in the resulting menu. However, this doesn’t seem to work in the latest Insider Preview build. In older Windows versions, users have more control over the update process.
Update, 10:13: While it is more difficult in Windows 10 to avoid an automatic driver update, it does not seem impossible. The article has been amended accordingly.