Wednesday, November 28th 2018

Intel Introduces Universal Windows Drivers (UWD) Compliant Software

Microsoft is changing the way that hardware drivers work on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Windows 10 (and later), and Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (and later). Hardware running on these operating systems can use Windows Modern Drivers (also known as Universal Windows Drivers - UWDs). Note that Microsoft requires the use of Windows Modern Drivers for Windows 10 1809 (RS5) and later. Intel will begin distributing Windows Modern Drivers for its products beginning in November 2018.

As of November 2018, any driver updates for Intel products on these operating systems will be the Windows Modern Drivers. After a driver has been updated to a Windows Modern Driver, it's possible to roll back to a legacy driver. However, rolling back isn't recommended as it involves a complex process that could result in system instability. This system instability is especially pertinent to graphics drivers. You can find more information on this subject.

DOWNLOAD: Intel UWD-compliant Graphics Driver for Windows 10 v25.20.100.6444

How do you load Intel driver updates?
You can load most Intel driver updates using the Intel Driver and Support Assistant (IDSA), which will:
  • Detect your machine's configuration.
  • Identify your current Intel drivers.
  • Notify you of any drivers that need updating.
  • Give you the opportunity to update those drivers.
Note that the IDSA tool doesn't currently work for Windows Server. For these customers, and customers who prefer to manually identify and load a specific driver, these customers can use Download Center.

More detailed information on Modern Windows Drivers can be found on the Microsoft site.
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20 Comments on Intel Introduces Universal Windows Drivers (UWD) Compliant Software

#3
kajson
Lets hope this is mainly driven by microsoft, as any auto driver update program sofar by Intel has epicly failed for me sofar. They never found anything when multiple new drivers were available on the Intel website every time.. (also not a place a non enthousiast will likely pick up the correct update anytime soon) Wonder if Raid drivers will also be part of this, that could pose it's own problems.. Ooh well maybe this will eradicate intels decades of rubbish in this department and be a blessing in disguise.
Posted on Reply
#4
TheGuruStud
kajsonLets hope this is mainly driven by microsoft, as any auto driver update program sofar by Intel has epicly failed for me sofar. They never found anything when multiple new drivers were available on the Intel website every time.. (also not a place a non enthousiast will likely pick up the correct update anytime soon) Wonder if Raid drivers will also be part of this, that could pose it's own problems.. Ooh well maybe this will eradicate intels decades of rubbish in this department and be a blessing in disguise.
I've become too lazy and use driver booster. Auto install of all drivers and some other stuff like VC++.
Posted on Reply
#5
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
jmcslobEh....test pigs please
You got it!

So we download the IDSA and during install we get some BS partner info collection screens.



Next it opens up the driver installation/scanning page in your default browser (system set default browser).

At this point it scans your system for applicable devices and corresponding HW and the drivers it may or may not need.

If you try to find the location you get something like this. The tool downloads them into a temp dir.




In my case it found a needed BT and wifi driver. The BT driver went and updated without a problem. However the wifi driver failed.



sad face, but why is it blocked? It isnt a security prompt from MS thats for sure. Must be the older version I have installed. That doesnt make alot of sense though. Why would Intels own tool be unable to uninstall the old version of the driver?

Lets uninstall it anyway and take a look. This would REALLY not make sense though because how are you supposed to download and install a wifi driver if you have no internet because you just uninstalled your wifi driver?

Better download the driver manually for this test.

Ok our driver is uninstalled, lets run this tool again, maybe the driver is stores in a cache folder and uses a pend system to install it.



thats a big nope womp womp.

Lets install the new driver manually, (prior to uninstalling I attempted to update using the manually downloaded driver and was met with the same blocked error as before)



Hurray it did it! Lets search again using the tool to see if it finds anything "out of date".



Nope, we're all good now.

im going to rate this a complete fail. The tool needs to be able to handle situations like this.

Things I would improve.
  • Download and store all installed temporarily until *success* of all installed drivers is had
  • Add a cleanup tool to delete installers after completion
  • Add cleanup of old applicable drivers prior to starting install phase
  • More detail in errors (I just guessed uninstalling the driver would fix it I have no context for what "Blocked" means)
Posted on Reply
#6
Octopuss
I cannot comprehend why do I need a Microsoft store account to download a f-ing driver. I had this unpleasant experience with Killer drivers where anything but the basic thing wasn't available for download from their site. Why???!!
Posted on Reply
#7
W1zzard
Solaris17You got it!

So we download the IDSA and during install we get some BS partner info collection screens.
Don't use that POS software. Download the driver installer directly from TPU or
downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28148/Intel-Graphics-Windows-10-Modern-Drivers, then install it as before.

The only difference seems to be that the driver control panel is missing, until it gets downloaded from MS Store (terrible, I agree)

Edit: Store downloaded the control panel without me having a Microsoft Account, never provided any details to Store, Store is the only "app" I have installed, using "Administrator" account. So seems to be ok
Posted on Reply
#8
95Viper
Yep, IDSA takes up 60+ megs of space and added a tray app. Un-installed and cleaned out.
I'll keep up with updates myself.
Posted on Reply
#9
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
The only drivers that needs updating to begin with are gaming GPU drivers and borked drivers. Everything else is generally entirely superfluous.
Posted on Reply
#10
stimpy88
So are nGreedia going to support this? I hear they cant, due to software emulation of hardware DX features, as well as various artificial GPU lockdown tricks... I wonder if MS will give them some kind of free pass for that...
Posted on Reply
#11
kajson
damn this is exactly what I expected, IDSA and all it predecessors are garbage, though IDSA seems a lot more obtrusive, I'm guessing/hoping that part won't be mandatory in the UWD future...
Posted on Reply
#12
W1zzard
stimpy88I hear they cant, due to software emulation of hardware DX features, as well as various artificial GPU lockdown tricks
This has nothing to do with UWD, you still have to write your own driver and can do so any way you want.
Posted on Reply
#13
sixor
guys, try SDIo, SDI origins

it is a driver pack updated every month, open source, great GUI, just please dont update all, just be careful on what gets updates

update all intel crap, sound, lan, avoid ps2 ports, usb, touchpads, avoid those weird things you don't care or use

in my experience updating wifi drivers is not always the best idea, sometimes they works ok but some laptops only work fine with stock drivers from hp etc
Posted on Reply
#15
W1zzard
Ferrum MasterBasically the same as Realtek did.
Realtek has a UWD driver?
Posted on Reply
#17
Ferrum Master
W1zzardRealtek has a UWD driver?
UAD to be more precise. Universal Audio Driver came from the same UWD policy, often called the same. Highly trimmed down, usable only past RS2 build, and control panel gets sourced from the M$ store also.
Posted on Reply
#18
remixedcat
kajsonLets hope this is mainly driven by microsoft, as any auto driver update program sofar by Intel has epicly failed for me sofar. They never found anything when multiple new drivers were available on the Intel website every time.. (also not a place a non enthousiast will likely pick up the correct update anytime soon) Wonder if Raid drivers will also be part of this, that could pose it's own problems.. Ooh well maybe this will eradicate intels decades of rubbish in this department and be a blessing in disguise.
windows 10 and my broadcom wireless adapter on my tablet got me like grr. every update borks it, and even shutup10 doesn't help with that. every time it updates it requires a hard restart to get that adapter workimg. gonna try rolling back on my tablet to earlier windows 10.
Posted on Reply
#19
R-T-B
stimpy88I hear they cant, due to software emulation of hardware DX features, as well as various artificial GPU lockdown tricks...
Yeah, and reddit told me the earth was flat. No.
Posted on Reply
#20
JaymondoGB
Only Microsoft could come up with a name like WMD.....
Posted on Reply
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