How can I stop Windows 8 from installing nVidia software?

windows-8 drivers nvidia-graphics-card bloatware

11,958

Solution 1

Okay, that's not windows update that you get. Thats an ITB (In the box ) driver that's getting loaded. It comes as a feature with Windows 8 onwards. Regarding disabling it, Not sure. But you could try custom installation of an updated driver version(just driver package and not additional components). ITB should not load of the installed version is an updated version

Solution 2

In my case, updating NVidia drivers caused a endless failed windows update loop when I was not connected to my corporate domain because of the Trend Micro software. I was losing 4 hours recovering every time it updated undoing and manually fixing it. The group policy forced updates through even though I disabled automatic update installations.

I found these links helpful:

https://www.tenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/31033-kb3073930-will-not-hide-nvidia-driver-update-2.html

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/how-do-i-stop-nvidia-driver-34965-from-auto/1e82e119-789c-4809-bcd3-56e1515bedc2

Windows 7 Advanced System Settings:

Navigate to Control Panel->System
On the bar on the left, click Advanced System Settings

Windows 10 Advanced System Settings:

Type “System Settings” in the search next to start.
Select View advanced system settings.

Windows 7/10 Disable Driver Updates:

Click on Hardware Tab in system properties.
Click on Device installation settings.
Select No, Let Me choose what to do.
Select Never install driver software from Windows Update.
Click on Save changes.

11,958

Merger

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

Merger over 1 year

Windows 8 is installing NVIDIA's bloated driver software packages on start-up.

A number of negative responses to this question have shown misunderstands about the differences between the core drivers and the other software that is bundled with them. The drivers themselves are required for the device to operate, and they have been included with Windows for at least the last two versions.

However, the software that is bundled with the drivers in the driver packages is not required for the operation of the device, and I don't want or use them. These include the system tray utility, automatic updater and Windows service. (I also don't use the 3D Vision driver.) None of these are needed for correct operation of the device, so they are bloatware to me.

Every time I uninstall them, Windows reinstalls the whole lot without my permission the next time the computer starts.

I recall that previous versions of Windows didn't do this; I chose whether and when to install the nVidia software. I believe that previous versions of Windows already included compatible drivers and functioned correctly without the bloatware.

I am using Windows 8 Pro 64-bit. I have an nVidia 8800GT graphics card.

I have already disabled automatic driver installations in the Device Installation Settings dialog. This seemed to be the most logical starting point. However, it didn't seem to make any difference.

In Windows 7, the nVidia software was delivered as a recommended Windows update. However, in Windows 8, it's now delivered to me as an important update.

Consequently, I changed the Windows Update settings to prevent the automatic installation of important updates to gain control of the installation of the nVidia software. From there, I also hid the update for convenience. Doing this at first appeared to solve the problem.

Unfortunately, after several days I discovered the bloatware was secretly reinstalled again. Preventing its automatic installation through Windows Update only appeared to reduce the frequency of the installations.

How can I prevent Windows 8 from installing this nVidia bloatware?
- Dennis over 11 years
  
  NVIDIA Graphics Driver and NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver are the plain graphics card drivers.
- Merger over 11 years
  
  @Dennis, my understanding is that the graphics card drivers are the .sys and .dll files that Windows uses to abstract the device. This is what I was referring to by "plain drivers". NVIDIA Graphics Driver also includes the control panel applet, system tray utility and other software that are not required for the operation of the device. I've updated the question to clarify this.
- ta.speot.is about 11 years
  
  You don't leave nVidia Update installed and turned on, do you?
- Merger about 11 years
  
  @ta.speot.is, no; the problem occurs when all three of the NVIDIA software packages shown in the Programs and Features window are not present.
Merger over 11 years

I suppose it really depends on the person. From your profile picture and what you've said, it sounds like all of the software is useful to you. To me, however, I just want the graphics card to work with Windows; I have no use for the included software. I don't want any of the software except for the actual device driver files.
Merger over 11 years

Also, it sounds like you're just guessing about the need for the included software. The graphics card works fine with Windows without any nVidia software installed (except for the plain device driver files).
Merger almost 10 years

The card works fine without some of the bloatware running. For example, I can close the system tray and automatic updaters and it still works fine. So it isn't true that all of the software is needed.
KillerXtreme almost 10 years

You can close the system tray, but it still runs in the background. It may not be on your tray, but it is still needed by the system to properly control the graphics card. Its what tells the graphics card what kind of paramiters its to be run under, what settings you would like your colors set to, how you want your videos rendered. (etc.) The automatic updater true isn't needed, however it doesn't effect your system in such a way that it necessarily needs to be removed. Nor takes up enough space to truly be 'bloatware' its used by the control panel to look for updates for you.
KillerXtreme almost 10 years

If you don't want to have these things running, then go into MSconfig and disable them.
Merger almost 10 years

To me, bloatware isn't just about permanent storage space consumption. It's also about OS start-up time, memory consumption and CPU utilisation.
Merger almost 10 years

Why do you think the system tray utility is needed in the background? Have you tested it and found that it's needed, or did you read this somewhere?
Merger almost 10 years

Disabling the stuff is a work-around. This question is about a solution. I don't want to have to disable the bloatware every time the driver package is automatically updated.
KillerXtreme almost 10 years

I know, I've stopped it before, and while yes you can still use your computer most hardware acceleration would be stopped.
thewhiteambit over 9 years

works for me. love the downvoters not even giving a comment about what is wrong...
j_kubik over 9 years

I also don't understand the down-votes; your answer seems to be the only one so far that provides any kind of help. I am guessing that disabling update of the driver to stop installing the bloatware is a bit pointless - indeed, you want to get the newest device drivers from windows update. You just don't want what comes with it.
j_kubik over 9 years

-1, "they may be required" try not to guess what OP needs/wants, especially if he openly says he doesn't need it.
thewhiteambit almost 5 years

You have to install the regular driver then, where it is possible to disable undesired components.