How do I stop the graphics drivers or Adrenalin from changing/updating?

[Princess Garnet]

My video drivers and/or Adrenalin insists on changing itself. I don't know if this Adrenalin itself, or modern Windows being modern Windows, but I would like to find a way to stop this.

I'm trying to use Adrenalin 23.11.1. I have performance and behavioral issues with 23.12.1 which is why I've been wanting to stick to the slightly older ones for now.

What happens is my display will go blank, I'll hear Windows give the device disconnect and reconnect sound, and then display comes back with a Windows task bar that isn't properly hardware accelerated (which is once it updates). So the video drivers are seemingly being updated on their own. I then find Adrenalin is reporting a different version (23.20.30?), and that some tabs and features that were present before are missing.

This happened to me a few months back on my GTX 1060 as well (and worse, that one happened when I was playing a game). I have Windows set not to update my devices, though this is apparently known to be a non-working option? I also had Adrenalin set to not check for updates (this new control panel doesn't even have the options for that?).

This happened once already, so I used DDU to uninstall the drivers and reinstall 23.11.1, and I then I looked up methods to add registry settings to stop Windows from updating things. Well, it's now happened again, so clearly this isn't working. So is this Adrenalin, or is it Windows getting worse for me about this when it never used to do this?

I'm not sure if these 23.20.30 drivers will have the issues I have with 23.12.1 because it seems like it's still using the underlying 23.11.1 drivers (?) with a different Adrenalin control panel, but I'm still losing certain Adrenalin tabs and features that I want. The recording tab is gone, as-is many of the hotkeys and version update preferences, among who knows what else. So I'd like to stay on 23.11.1.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I've not seen any update options in my older version
Probably coming from drivers through windows updates maybe ?

 

[3x0]

This happened once already, so I used DDU to uninstall the drivers and reinstall 23.11.1, and I then I looked up methods to add registry settings to stop Windows from updating things. Well, it's now happened again, so clearly this isn't working. So is this Adrenalin, or is it Windows getting worse for me about this when it never used to do this?

Open Group Policies in Windows (not available in Home versions though) and change these two options
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Device Installation -> Specify search order for device driver source locations -> Do not search Windows Update
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update -> Do not include drivers with Windows Update

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
This would work for home versions

Enable or Disable Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Including Driver Updates in Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

 

[Princess Garnet]

Probably coming from drivers through windows updates maybe ?

That was one of my suspicions, yes. Event Viewer seems to confirm this as it has an information log from the time it happened stating...

"Installation Successful: Windows successfully installed the following update: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Display - 31.0.22030.2"

Look at the difference in options between mine and yours.

Before updating, mine looked more like yours. Now, many tabs and options are missing. Many hotkey options are missing and no recording tabs or features. It's like a more limited version of Adrenalin with some features and things stripped out.

Any ideas on how to prevent it?

I've already set the device installation settings to no.

After it happened the first time, I've done a registry change, and that didn't stop it.

However, I'm noticing the registry value I have is a bit different than what's instructed by the guide you linked to (there's slightly different phrasing and spacing) so I'm now wondering if maybe mine didn't apply due to being formatted wrong. I'm hopeful this might be the solution, so I'll try the one you're linking to, and then it's a matter of time to see if it auto updates it again after.

Open Group Policies in Windows (not available in Home versions though) and change these two options
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Device Installation -> Specify search order for device driver source locations -> Do not search Windows Update
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update -> Do not include drivers with Windows Update

I'm using Home, but from what the above guide suggests, the group policy route seems to be unnecessary as it seems to just be setting that registry value anyway, so manually doing it (and then the other additional bits) should have a better chance of fixing this. I'm hoping the guide I originally found and followed just had bad formatting/spacing and it wasn't even being applied as a result.

 

[Princess Garnet]

False hope. It didn't take long this time to find out it's still happening, so that didn't stop it.

Any ideas on how to stop this now then?

 

[ThrashZone]

False hope. It didn't take long this time to find out it's still happening, so that didn't stop it.

Any ideas on how to stop this now then?

Hi,
I'm pretty sure you'd have to remove the existing app from ms store and manually install the version you want before it stops auto updating to the newest.

 

[DR4G00N]

Try using "Windows show or hide updates" to block the auto installed amd driver. I think that's how I did it when I was running an amd card.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah once updates gets a message about what hardware needs it's tough to get rid of that message lol
Maybe resetting updates will start fresh and read the registry again ?

Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

How to Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

 

[bug]

You're fixing the wrong problem anyway, if it happens with 2 video cards, it's not a driver issue, it's probably hardware related. My guess, either the PSU or the mobo.

 

[3x0]

You're fixing the wrong problem anyway, if it happens with 2 video cards, it's not a driver issue, it's probably hardware related. My guess, either the PSU or the mobo.

No, this is a Windows "feature"

 

[67Elco]

I recently stopped using the AMD software completely and only install the video driver. It became annoying when nearly every re-boot resulted in automatic reinstatement of that "zero fan" feature. I now only use Afterburner.

 

[Macro Device]

I recently stopped using the AMD software completely and only install the video driver. It became annoying when nearly every re-boot resulted in automatic reinstatement of that "zero fan" feature. I now only use Afterburner.

Decided to check if my Adrenalin had everything reset to default for absolutely no reason once again and yes, both fan profile and clocks had been set to default. The guy whose idea that was deserves all sorts of punishment, that's for sure.

 

[Princess Garnet]

Hi,
I'm pretty sure you'd have to remove the existing app from ms store and manually install the version you want before it stops auto updating to the newest.

I'm not installing anything from the Microsoft Store, nor is anything AMD or Adrenalin related showing up when I check my library in it.

For reference, here's been my process.

1. I choose the "uninstall device" option in Device Manager, and choose the "delete the driver software for this device" option. This step is likely unnecessary but I tried adding it.

2. I go into "Add or remove programs" and remove "AMD software". This may also be unnecessary, but again I added it to be thorough.

3. I restart, disconnect my ethernet, start into safe mode. I run DDU. I let it clean the AMD stuff and restart.

4. I install 23.11.1 drivers.

All goes well, but eventually Windows Update just updates Adrenalin to this 23.30.20 (AIB?) version whenever my PC goes idle. It's always a matter of time.

I think your second post links to something that is the opposite of my situation. That shows how to get Windows update/search working when it's not. I want to stop it from secretely updating things I don't want it to.

Try using "Windows show or hide updates" to block the auto installed amd driver. I think that's how I did it when I was running an amd card.

Do you have further information/reading on this for me?

You're fixing the wrong problem anyway, if it happens with 2 video cards, it's not a driver issue, it's probably hardware related. My guess, either the PSU or the mobo.

Huh?

The problem is the operating system or video drivers themselves are force updating my video drivers. There's no question about that. I want to stop that.

How is the PSU or motherboard even a thought here?

I recently stopped using the AMD software completely and only install the video driver. It became annoying when nearly every re-boot resulted in automatic reinstatement of that "zero fan" feature. I now only use Afterburner.

I almost need Adrenalin because without the option to enable triple buffering in OpenGL, Minecraft's performance at times drops from 60 FPS by wide values instead of just a frame or few.

I'd also like to use the recording features, which this updated Adrenalin lacks.

 

[3x0]

Decided to check if my Adrenalin had everything reset to default for absolutely no reason once again and yes, both fan profile and clocks had been set to default. The guy whose idea that was deserves all sorts of punishment, that's for sure.

Check Reliability Monitor in Windows if there are any "Windows was not properly shut down" errors

 

[ThrashZone]

I'm not installing anything from the Microsoft Store, nor is anything AMD or Adrenalin related showing up when I check my library in it.

For reference, here's been my process.

1. I choose the "uninstall device" option in Device Manager, and choose the "delete the driver software for this device" option. This step is likely unnecessary but I tried adding it.

2. I go into "Add or remove programs" and remove "AMD software". This may also be unnecessary, but again I added it to be thorough.

3. I restart, disconnect my ethernet, start into safe mode. I run DDU. I let it clean the AMD stuff and restart.

4. I install 23.11.1 drivers.

All goes well, but eventually Windows Update just updates Adrenalin to this 23.30.20 (AIB?) version whenever my PC goes idle. It's always a matter of time.

I think your second post links to something that is the opposite of my situation. That shows how to get Windows update/search working when it's not. I want to stop it from secretely updating things I don't want it to.

Hi,
Yes my bad
This one is listed in other related tutorials and is what I should of posted
This one should wipe previous update history

Clear Windows Update History in Windows 10

How to Clear Windows Update History in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

 

[DR4G00N]

Do you have further information/reading on this for me?

Microsoft removed it from their site I guess but you can find it here; https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_show_or_hide_updates_troubleshooter.html
Just hide the AMD driver and it should stop it from re-installing, this' what fixed it for me IIRC.

 

[Princess Garnet]

Microsoft removed it from their site I guess but you can find it here; https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_show_or_hide_updates_troubleshooter.html
Just hide the AMD driver and it should stop it from re-installing, this' what fixed it for me IIRC.

Thank you, I'll go through "the process" again, and then try running this afterwards to see if it finds anything to hide and stop.

It's definitely Windows.

I'm confused as to why it started only now though. I moved to Windows 10 in the middle of 2020 (I was avoiding it as long as possible and these last few months are only reinvigorating how much I miss Windows 7) and for three years, it never updated my video drivers. Starting late last year it did it with my nVidia one, and now it insists on pushing this same version on my AMD one. I figure if I was on the latest drivers (23.12.1) that it wouldn't be doing this, but the latest drivers give my some issues so I seem stuck finding a solution to this. If Windows wants to push drivers by default it's whatever, but it's serious nonsense when you have to go to these lengths to try and stop it.

More and more I'm thinking the answer is moving my software suite to Linux alternatives and dropping this sorry excuse of an operating system, but that'd be a major effort in itself. Some of my games and stuff seem to need it. I could dual boot but that doesn't appeal to me as much and is more added effort. *sigh*

 

[67Elco]

I'm using Ghost Spectre Windows 11 PRO 22H2 Superlite + DEF...I only allow updates when I deem them necessary. I too miss Win 7...and XP as well lol.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Linux, well no telling if the app would be available or not ?
Research time.
I've found nothing on linux a better alternative to windows.

 

[A Computer Guy]

I used to have this issue as well. Adrenalin end up losing various features when Windows decides to upend the driver with whatever it thinks is best - very annoying.
Since then I only install the WHQL version drivers now.

So far Windows 10 hasn't tried to override my drivers yet sticking with WHQL only drivers and these options on a clean Windows install for quite a while now.

Also previously when I had the problem device manager let me update the driver. I was able to find the driver I was looking for at the time (listed by version number) already listed there alongside the one I didn't want and it switched it back for me but I think Adrenalin was still broken after that.

 

[Zach_01]

Straight from AMD website

https://www.amd.com/en/support

 

[Melted Rabbit]

I had trouble with Windows Update replacing AMD video driver. Like you did, when I tried uninstalling the driver from Windows Update using device manager, Windows Update kept downloading and installing the driver.

At least for me, the fix was to reinstall the version of the driver I wanted onto the system.

I didn't uninstall the old driver or the driver from Windows Update, I just installed the version of the driver I wanted again.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Hell i don't have any options for the amd software updating but this is a laptop not a amd gpu
I have a 4060 though.
About all amd software does is oc my ram that I've noticed and has some gaming crap listings but only shows one game out of 6-7 I have installed lol
Another software acer Nitro oc's the cpu and gpu besides nv control panel or msi afterburner I suppose which I haven't used yet.

 

[A Computer Guy]

No, this is a Windows "feature"

Just FYI there is a UEFI feature on some mobos for enabling the automatic install of drivers. For example on DeskMini X300 it has a UEFI/BIOS option for doing just that. It's worth a check in the UEFI/BIOS for such an option and disable it if you find one.