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:
More detailed information on Modern Windows Drivers can be found on the Microsoft site.
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.
More detailed information on Modern Windows Drivers can be found on the Microsoft site.
20 Comments on Intel Introduces Universal Windows Drivers (UWD) Compliant Software
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.
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
I'll keep up with updates myself.
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
Just found about about that a few days ago.