Registry key setting to enable windows to download driver from windows update

windows windows-registry windows-update drivers

31,010

Solution 1

I found it,

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching]
"SearchOrderConfig"=dword:00000002

and here's a reference for SearchOrderConfig

SearchOrderConfig 0 = Yes, do this automatically
SearchOrderConfig 1 = No, let me choose what to do, Always install the best...
SearchOrderConfig 2 = No, let me choose what to do, Install driver software from windows update ...
SearchOrderConfig 3 = No, let me choose what to do, Never install driver software from Windows update

Solution 2

Actually the correct answer is:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching]
SearchOrderConfig 1 = No, let me choose what to do, Always install the best...
SearchOrderConfig 2 = No, let me choose what to do, Install driver software from windows update ...
SearchOrderConfig 3 = No, let me choose what to do, Never install driver software from Windows update

there is no actual SearchOrderConfig 0

the "zero" is trigerred automatically by a combination of registry keys SearchOrderConfig 1 + PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork 0, if you were to manually change SearchOrderConfig to zero, it does nothing if PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork is not enabled.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata]
PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork 0 = enhanced icons enabled
PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork 1 = enhanced icons disabled

31,010

shadowfoxmi

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

shadowfoxmi almost 2 years

I have to issue an update to software enable the setting shown in the picture below.

I have systems that are set to "Never install driver software from Windows Update". I was wondering if there is a registry entry corresponding to this setting so I can set it to either "Yes, do this automatically (recommended)" or "No, let me choose what to do" with "Install driver software from windows update if it's not found on my computer".

The closest thing I was able to find was NoDevMgrUpdate but that did not seem to help.

Thanks,
Ramhound almost 11 years

This answer is not complete.
Taegost almost 11 years

Yes, what is the registry key in question?
BigRedEO almost 11 years

The registry key IS the one mentioned mentioned by shadowfoxmi - [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersio‌n\DriverSearching] "SearchOrderConfig"=dword:00000000 But the options are what I listed above.
E.V.I.L. almost 5 years

Verified with procmon. The exe to look for is newdev.exe
E.V.I.L. almost 5 years

Make sure to include the PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork mentioned by @allgamer