Windows 10: How to remove unwanted OEM Windows driver or app updates

This became worse and worse over the last 1-2 years. MS did more and more to remove the possibility for users to remove driver updates or Apps which are pushed through Windows Update for devices, especially for Laptops.

In the beginning, you could easily disable driver updates through control panel system. This doesnt work anymore since over a year now. I am not sure if this is a bug, or MS secretly deactivated the functionality.

Then they also removed the specific driver and OEM app updates from the Update list, most updates are not listed anymore in the installed update list, you cant remove them anymore after Windows installed them.

wushowhide.diagcab doesnt work too anymore 100%. Most driver updates you flag with them are ignored and Windows still installs them. Most OEM app updates are not even listed to hide.

I had so many issues over the past months on my Dell XPS laptop, because of Windows just pushes and forces broken drivers or apps through Windows Update, and then even ROLLS back drivers. I have literally no control anymore over my PCs.

Here is an example:








These forced OEM app updates are not listed in the Updates to remove list. These driver updates are forced through even you deactivated the functionality in several ways. That yellow flagged Intel Media SDK, for example, is broken since weeks and Windows tries to install it everyday and fails.

How do I remove for example the unwanted OEM app "Waves - SoftwareComponent - 5/15/2018 12:00:00 AM" which runs as a service in the background all the time I dont want. Same as "9NB9SRTL2KPT-WavesAudio.WavesMaxxAudioProforDell".

This is just unbelievable. There has to be a way to deactivate this out of control nonsense. And also remove the already installed updates.

:)

 

Removal of unwanted apps

The default apps cant be removed using normal methods. You can remove them from the start screen.

If you REALLY want to uninstall them you can try the below. They will be re-installed the next insider build. You have to realize Microsoft gets revenue from their advertisers based on how many machines they are installed on

Step 1: Uninstall it completely

• Run Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
• Type Get-AppxPackage, press Enter.
• From the output list, find Mail App package and remember its PackageFullName as below:
• And then type the following command: Remove-Appxpackage –Package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_17.6120.42011.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Repeat for all the apps you want to remove.

 

Unlocked Realtek HD Audio Drivers Windows 7 & 8 (With Dolby Digital Live and DTS Interactive)

DTS supported natively by Windows 8/8.1 and it should work on windows 10 too just DDL require to unlock your driver .

 

How to remove driver and prevent Windows 10 from updating driver

You can remove the old drivers with the inbox tool pnputil.exe

• run pnputil -e > C:\drivers.txt
  
  
  
• open the file drivers.txt and look which .inf file is associated with
  the driver you want to remove
  
• run pnputil.exe -d oem<NUMBER>.inf
  

This removes the driver correctly. If this is too complicated, you can use the tool DriverStore Explorer [RAPR]





Click on enumerate, select the 215 driver and click on Delete Package.

Here are the steps to prevent that windows installs the driver again.