Windows 10 has become a sometimes tricky beast to master, what with all of its updates, versions, and appurtenances that have made it both highly praised and also controversial and criticized. One of these tricky features is device driver updates that can block certain features on your PC or other device. We’ve all heard about the Kindle app freezing up computers in Windows 10 snafu by now. Well, there is a way you can temporarily disable automatic driver updates, called a device driver roll-back. The problem many users of Windows 10 are facing is that the device driver feature reinstalls itself after Windows 10 updates are implemented.
There are ways to rollback a device driver, for both the W10 Anniversary Update and November Update from last year. Here’s how you do it:
First, it is recommended that you update to the latest (Anniversary Update) version of Windows 10 before you attempt to uninstall any device drivers. The reason is that that update may resolve the issue in and of itself. If you aren’t sure which Windows 10 version you are running, go to the Start button, select Settings >> System >> About, and then follow these instructions:
- If the About window indicates you have version 10.0 (or Build 10240) or version 1511 (Build 10565), you can install W10 version 1607 (Anniversary Update).
- If the About window shows that you are running version 1607, or Build 14393, you are already updated to the latest W10 version.
Rolling Back the Device Driver
Assuming you have completed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update installation process, you can then move to the following steps:
- Start Device Manager (press and hold, or right-click the lower-left corner of your desktop, then select Device Manager.
- Find and right-click the device that has the driver installed that’s being problematic, then select Properties.
- Select the tab called Driver, then select Roll Back Driver.
That should fix the problem of device drivers automatic reinstalling themselves after Windows 10 updates are made. You can get more help on other Windows 10 driver issues here, from Microsoft’s TechNet forum. Other driver-oriented complaints about Windows 10 include its attempts to install drivers for hardware you no longer have or use. You can learn more about Device and Driver technology ins and outs here.
When in Doubt, Call on the Pros
If you still have questions about getting computers and devices rolled-back for auto device driver updates in Windows 10 on your home or company network, Total Computing Solutions is a leader in providing managed IT services in Green Bay Area. Contact one of us today at (920) 569-2681 or send us an email at service@tcsdepere.com, and we will be happy to answer all your questions concerning this issue.
