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

Princess Garnet · Jan 7, 2024

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 · Jan 7, 2024

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

3x0 · Jan 7, 2024

Princess Garnet said:
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 · Jan 7, 2024

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 · Jan 7, 2024

ThrashZone said:
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.

3x0 said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

Princess Garnet said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

bug said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

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.

Beginner Macro Device · Jan 8, 2024

67Elco said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

ThrashZone said:
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.

DR4G00N said:
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?

bug said:
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?

67Elco said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

Beginner Micro Device said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

Princess Garnet said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

Princess Garnet said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

DR4G00N said:
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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

Straight from AMD website

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

Melted Rabbit · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

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 · Jan 8, 2024

3x0 said:
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.

System Name	Ghetto Rigs z490\|x99\|Acer 17 Nitro 7840hs/ 5600c40-2x16/ 4060/ 1tb acer stock m.2/ 4tb sn850x
Processor	10900k w/Optimus Foundation \| 5930k w/Black Noctua D15
Motherboard	z490 Maximus XII Apex \| x99 Sabertooth
Cooling	oCool D5 res-combo/280 GTX/ Optimus Foundation/ gpu water block \| Blk D15
Memory	Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb \| Trident-Z 3200c14 4x8gb
Video Card(s)	Titan Xp-water \| evga 980ti gaming-w/ air
Storage	970evo+500gb & sn850x 4tb \| 860 pro 256gb \| Acer m.2 1tb/ sn850x 4tb\| Many2.5" sata's ssd 3.5hdd's
Display(s)	1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Case	D450 \| Cherry Entertainment center on Test bench
Audio Device(s)	Built in Realtek x2 with 2-Insignia 2.0 sound bars & 1-LG sound bar
Power Supply	EVGA 1000P2 with APC AX1500 \| 850P2 with CyberPower-GX1325U
Mouse	Redragon 901 Perdition x3
Keyboard	G710+x3
Software	Win-7 pro x3 and win-10 & 11pro x3
Benchmark Scores	Are in the benchmark section

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge Wi-Fi ITX
Cooling	Scythe Fuma 2 rev. B Noctua NF-A12x25 Edition
Memory	2x16GiB G.Skill TridentZ DDR4 3200Mb/s CL14 F4-3200C14D-32GTZKW
Video Card(s)	PowerColor Radeon RX7800 XT Hellhound 16GiB
Storage	Western Digital Black SN850 WDS100T1X0E-00AFY0 1TiB, Western Digital Blue 3D WDS200T2B0A 2TiB
Display(s)	Dell G2724D 27" IPS 1440P 165Hz, ASUS VG259QM 25” IPS 1080P 240Hz
Case	Cooler Master NR200P ITX
Audio Device(s)	Altec Lansing 220, HyperX Cloud II
Power Supply	Corsair SF750 Platinum 750W SFX
Mouse	Lamzu Atlantis Mini Wireless
Keyboard	HyperX Alloy Origins Aqua

System Name	Ghetto Rigs z490\|x99\|Acer 17 Nitro 7840hs/ 5600c40-2x16/ 4060/ 1tb acer stock m.2/ 4tb sn850x
Processor	10900k w/Optimus Foundation \| 5930k w/Black Noctua D15
Motherboard	z490 Maximus XII Apex \| x99 Sabertooth
Cooling	oCool D5 res-combo/280 GTX/ Optimus Foundation/ gpu water block \| Blk D15
Memory	Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb \| Trident-Z 3200c14 4x8gb
Video Card(s)	Titan Xp-water \| evga 980ti gaming-w/ air
Storage	970evo+500gb & sn850x 4tb \| 860 pro 256gb \| Acer m.2 1tb/ sn850x 4tb\| Many2.5" sata's ssd 3.5hdd's
Display(s)	1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Case	D450 \| Cherry Entertainment center on Test bench
Audio Device(s)	Built in Realtek x2 with 2-Insignia 2.0 sound bars & 1-LG sound bar
Power Supply	EVGA 1000P2 with APC AX1500 \| 850P2 with CyberPower-GX1325U
Mouse	Redragon 901 Perdition x3
Keyboard	G710+x3
Software	Win-7 pro x3 and win-10 & 11pro x3
Benchmark Scores	Are in the benchmark section

System Name	Ghetto Rigs z490\|x99\|Acer 17 Nitro 7840hs/ 5600c40-2x16/ 4060/ 1tb acer stock m.2/ 4tb sn850x
Processor	10900k w/Optimus Foundation \| 5930k w/Black Noctua D15
Motherboard	z490 Maximus XII Apex \| x99 Sabertooth
Cooling	oCool D5 res-combo/280 GTX/ Optimus Foundation/ gpu water block \| Blk D15
Memory	Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb \| Trident-Z 3200c14 4x8gb
Video Card(s)	Titan Xp-water \| evga 980ti gaming-w/ air
Storage	970evo+500gb & sn850x 4tb \| 860 pro 256gb \| Acer m.2 1tb/ sn850x 4tb\| Many2.5" sata's ssd 3.5hdd's
Display(s)	1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
Case	D450 \| Cherry Entertainment center on Test bench
Audio Device(s)	Built in Realtek x2 with 2-Insignia 2.0 sound bars & 1-LG sound bar
Power Supply	EVGA 1000P2 with APC AX1500 \| 850P2 with CyberPower-GX1325U
Mouse	Redragon 901 Perdition x3
Keyboard	G710+x3
Software	Win-7 pro x3 and win-10 & 11pro x3
Benchmark Scores	Are in the benchmark section

System Name	The Banshee
Processor	Ryzen 5 5600 @ 4.65GHz CO -30
Motherboard	AsRock X370 Taichi
Cooling	CM Hyper 212 Plus
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Video Card(s)	RTX 3060M 6GB @ 1750-2100MHz Core / 1875MHz Mem
Storage	1TB Kingston NV2 & 1TB Mass Storage HDD
Display(s)	LG 25UM57-P @ 75Hz OC
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Audio Device(s)	ATH-M20x
Power Supply	Evga SuperNova 1300 G2
Mouse	Evga Torq X3
Keyboard	Thermaltake Challenger
Software	Win 10 Pro 64-Bit

Processor	Intel i5-12600k
Motherboard	Asus H670 TUF
Cooling	Arctic Freezer 34
Memory	2x16GB DDR4 3600 G.Skill Ripjaws V
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX 1060 SC
Storage	500GB Samsung 970 EVO, 500GB Samsung 850 EVO, 1TB Crucial MX300 and 2TB Crucial MX500
Display(s)	Dell U3219Q + HP ZR24w
Case	Raijintek Thetis
Audio Device(s)	Audioquest Dragonfly Red :D
Power Supply	Seasonic 620W M12
Mouse	Logitech G502 Proteus Core
Keyboard	G.Skill KM780R
Software	Arch Linux + Win10

Processor	Ryzen 9 7900 - Ryzen 7 8700G - Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	MSI B650 Project Zero - MSI B650 Project Zero - MSI B650 Project Zero
Cooling	Custom water loop - Noctua NH - P1 - Custom water loop
Memory	64GB DDR5 - 64GB DDR5 - 32GB DDR5
Video Card(s)	Integrated - 780M - Red Dragon RX 6800 XT
Display(s)	Samsung Odyssey G7 32" WQHD 2560x1440 240Hz
Case	JONSBO D300 - JONSBO TK-1 - Montech King 95
Power Supply	Be Quiet 12M 850 - Be Quiet 12M 750 - Corsair 850
Mouse	Logitech G403 + Logitech Trackman Marble
Keyboard	Logitech G512
Software	Win 11 - AIDA64 - HWInfo - Afterburner

System Name	DLSS / YOLO-PC
Processor	i5-12400F / 10600KF
Motherboard	Gigabyte B760M DS3H / Z490 Vision D
Cooling	Laminar RM1 / Gammaxx 400
Memory	32 GB DDR4-3200 / 16 GB DDR4-3333
Video Card(s)	RX 6700 XT / RX 480 8 GB
Storage	A couple SSDs, m.2 NVMe included / 240 GB CX1 + 1 TB WD HDD
Display(s)	Compit HA2704 / Viewsonic VX3276-MHD-2
Case	Matrexx 55 / Junkyard special
Audio Device(s)	Want loud, use headphones. Want quiet, use satellites.
Power Supply	Thermaltake 1000 W / FSP Epsilon 700 W / Corsair CX650M [backup]
Mouse	Don't disturb, cheese eating in progress...
Keyboard	Makes some noise. Probably onto something.
VR HMD	I live in real reality and don't need a virtual one.
Software	Windows 10 and 11

System Name	Not a thread ripper but pretty good.
Processor	Ryzen 9 5950x
Motherboard	ASRock X570 Taichi (revision 1.06, BIOS/UEFI version P5.50)
Cooling	EK-Quantum Velocity, EK-Quantum Reflection PC-O11, EK-CoolStream PE 360, XSPC TX360
Memory	Micron DDR4-3200 ECC Unbuffered Memory (4 sticks, 128GB, 18ASF4G72AZ-3G2F1)
Video Card(s)	XFX Radeon RX 5700 & EK-Quantum Vector Radeon RX 5700 +XT & Backplate
Storage	Samsung 2TB 980 PRO 2TB Gen4x4 NVMe, 2 x Samsung 2TB 970 EVO Plus Gen3x4 NVMe, AMD Radeon RAMDisk
Display(s)	2 x 4K LG 27UL600-W (and HUANUO Dual Monitor Mount)
Case	Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic Black (original model)
Power Supply	Corsair RM750x
Mouse	Logitech M575
Keyboard	Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2
Software	Windows 10 Professional (64bit)
Benchmark Scores	Typical for non-overclocked CPU.

System Name	PC on since Aug 2019, 1st CPU R5 3600 + ASUS ROG RX580 8GB >> MSI Gaming X RX5700XT (Jan 2020)
Processor	Ryzen 9 5900X (July 2022), 150W PPT limit, 79C temp limit, CO -9~14
Motherboard	Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro (Rev1.0), BIOS F37h, AGESA V2 1.2.0.B
Cooling	Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420mm Rev7 with off center mount for Ryzen, TIM: Kryonaut
Memory	2x16GB G.Skill Trident Z Neo GTZN (July 2022) 3600MHz 1.42V CL16-16-16-16-32-48 1T, tRFC:288, B-die
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900XTX (Dec 2023) 314~465W (390W current) PowerLimit, 1060mV, Adrenalin v24.5.1
Storage	Samsung NVMe: 980Pro 1TB(OS 2022), 970Pro 512GB(2019) / SATA-III: 850Pro 1TB(2015) 860Evo 1TB(2020)
Display(s)	Dell Alienware AW3423DW 34" QD-OLED curved (1800R), 3440x1440 144Hz (max 175Hz) HDR1000, VRR on
Case	None... naked on desk
Audio Device(s)	Astro A50 headset
Power Supply	Corsair HX750i, 80+ Platinum, 93% (250~700W), modular, single/dual rail (switch)
Mouse	Logitech MX Master (Gen1)
Keyboard	Logitech G15 (Gen2) w/ LCDSirReal applet
Software	Windows 11 Home 64bit (v23H2, OSB 22631.3155)