Solved How to get Windows to forget a driver

Catnip · Jul 28, 2023

Arrrgh. I am almost ripping my hair out over this one:

I have a USB JTAG device that interfaces with my Windows 10 PC to program certain development boards at work. On Monday, I was using it just fine all morning, and then I paused for lunch. When I came back I had the delight of watching Windows "reclassify" the device into a pair of serial ports. It did this all on its own and I have no idea why it would just suddenly do this, but now the JTAG device no longer works, and I am unable to put the drivers in for the JTAGger because Windows is telling me the best (and totally incompatible) driver is already loaded for this device.

I can't get rid of the new driver.

This is what I have tried:

1. Removed the new driver and tried a re-install of the proper driver ("best driver is already loaded" it says)
2. Edited the registry to take out as many of the new driver entries as I could find.
3. Uninstalled all Windows updates for the last month
4. Moved the new driver out of Windows/System32/drivers, but the PC still finds the wrong driver

This is like a cheesy guy that I cannot get away from. This driver just keeps following me around and it re-installs itself every time I connect the JTAG device to USB. How do I get rid of it and be able to put the right one in? I am puzzled.

And this is not the only computer in the office that this has suddenly happened to. All since Monday/Tuesday.

Help. Please?

Ghot · Jul 28, 2023

I don't think this will help "remove" the borky driver, but if you get it removed, this will stop MS tossing it your way again.

Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Update will include drivers when available in Windows 11 by default. You can enable the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to not include drivers...

www.elevenforum.com

Bree · Jul 28, 2023

Catnip said:
Windows is telling me the best (and totally incompatible) driver is already loaded for this device.

I can't get rid of the new driver.

When Windows loads the wrong driver, replacing a good one, I can usually recover by opening Device Manager and telling it to roll back the driver for the device in question.

zbook · Jul 28, 2023

1) Please run the V2 log collector and post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

2) Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

Dism /online /get-drivers /format:table > "%userprofile%\desktop\drivers.txt"

Post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

Catnip · Jul 29, 2023

Bree said:
When Windows loads the wrong driver, replacing a good one, I can usually recover by opening Device Manager and telling it to roll back the driver for the device in question.

Unfortunately, I am not given the option to roll back. I don't know why.

zbook said:
1) Please run the V2 log collector and post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

2) Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

Dism /online /get-drivers /format:table > "%userprofile%\desktop\drivers.txt"

Post a share link into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

I shall do that very thing on Monday when I am able to get back in the office. It's closed for some construction this weekend and I am not allowed in.

Catnip · Jul 31, 2023

Ok. Here are the contents of the file. I have no access to OneDrive or Google Drive. I hope you guys can figure this out. I looked at the list, and the JTAG driver in question is definitely missing.

Code:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.844

Image Version: 10.0.19045.3208

Obtaining list of 3rd party drivers from the driver store...

Driver packages listing:


-------------- | ----------------------- | ----- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ---------- | --------------
Published Name | Original File Name      | Inbox | Class Name                     | Provider Name                  | Date       | Version       
-------------- | ----------------------- | ----- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ---------- | --------------
oem0.inf       | dc3dh.inf               | No    | HIDClass                       | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem1.inf       | vboxnetadp.inf          | No    | Net                            | Oracle Corporation             | 2014-05-16 | 4.3.12.0     
oem10.inf      | atmel_devices_cdc.inf   | No    | Ports                          | Microchip Technology, Inc.     | 2019-01-10 | 42.0.1.0     
oem11.inf      | hdxrt.inf               | No    | MEDIA                          | Realtek Semiconductor Corp.    | 2012-06-12 | 6.0.1.6657   
oem12.inf      | bscsisda.inf            | No    | SDHost                         | Broadcom Corporation           | 2012-08-14 | 1.0.0.243     
oem13.inf      | jlinkcdc.inf            | No    | Ports                          | SEGGER                         | 2019-06-06 | 1.34.0.44950 
oem14.inf      | prntscl3.inf            | No    | Printer                        | TOSHIBA                        | 2009-04-22 | 10.0.17119.1 
oem15.inf      | dc3du.inf               | No    | USB                            | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem16.inf      | esc6m.inf               | No    | Printer                        | TOSHIBA                        | 2018-10-29 | 10.61.3145.28
oem17.inf      | ser2pl.inf              | No    | Ports                          | Prolific                       | 2013-10-17 | 3.4.62.293   
oem18.inf      | etd.inf                 | No    | Mouse                          | ELAN                           | 2015-08-25 | 11.15.0.16   
oem19.inf      | pantusb.inf             | No    | USB                            | Intel                          | 2011-08-26 | 9.3.0.1011   
oem2.inf       | wdcsam.inf              | No    | WDC_SAM                        | Western Digital Technologies   | 2011-01-19 | 1.0.9.0       
oem20.inf      | prnms003.inf            | No    | Printer                        | Microsoft                      | 2006-06-21 | 6.3.9600.17278
oem21.inf      | mchpusb.inf             | No    | CustomUSBDevices               | Microchip Technology, Inc.     | 2007-12-19 | 1.0.0.6       
oem22.inf      | ivybridgesystem.inf     | No    | System                         | INTEL                          | 2016-10-03 | 10.1.1.38     
oem23.inf      | intelaud.inf            | No    | MEDIA                          | Intel Corporation              | 2015-11-19 | 4.5.71.0     
oem24.inf      | apcups.inf              | No    | Battery                        | APC by Schneider Electric      | 2009-11-03 | 1.2.0.0       
oem25.inf      | silabser.inf            | No    | Ports                          | Silicon Laboratories Inc.      | 2021-01-08 | 10.1.10.103   
oem26.inf      | iwdbus.inf              | No    | System                         | Intel Corporation              | 2015-11-19 | 4.5.71.0     
oem27.inf      | nuidfltr8.inf           | No    | HIDClass                       | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem28.inf      | iaahcic.inf             | No    | HDC                            | Intel Corporation              | 2012-08-16 | 11.5.4.1001   
oem29.inf      | atmel_debuggers_cdc.inf | No    | Ports                          | Microchip Technology, Inc.     | 2019-06-25 | 7.3.0.0       
oem3.inf       | tap0901.inf             | No    | Net                            | Sophos SSL VPN                 | 2014-11-05 | 9.0.0.21     
oem30.inf      | bcmwl63.inf             | No    | Net                            | Broadcom                       | 2012-10-12 | 6.30.59.87   
oem31.inf      | jlinkwinusb.inf         | No    | USBDevice                      | SEGGER Microcontroller GmbH    | 2019-06-14 | 3.0.0.0       
oem32.inf      | appleusb.inf            | No    | USBDevice                      | Apple, Inc.                    | 2018-05-07 | 423.36.0.0   
oem33.inf      | atmel_winusb.inf        | No    | MicrochipTools                 | Microchip Technology, Inc.     | 2019-01-10 | 43.0.0.0     
oem34.inf      | unifhid.inf             | No    | HIDClass                       | Logitech                       | 2021-08-24 | 1.10.80.0     
oem35.inf      | prnms006.inf            | No    | Printer                        | Microsoft                      | 2016-11-29 | 16.0.7629.4000
oem36.inf      | heci.inf                | No    | System                         | Intel                          | 2015-07-07 | 11.0.0.1157   
oem37.inf      | etd.inf                 | No    | Mouse                          | ELAN                           | 2012-11-20 | 11.6.16.3     
oem38.inf      | ftdibus.inf             | No    | USB                            | FTDI                           | 2010-07-12 | 2.8.2.0       
oem39.inf      | type64.inf              | No    | Keyboard                       | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem4.inf       | atmel_usb_dfu.inf       | No    | MicrochipTools                 | Microchip Technology, Inc.     | 2019-01-10 | 1.2.3.0       
oem40.inf      | b57xdu.inf              | No    | system                         | Broadcom Corporation           | 2012-08-13 | 1.1.16.0     
oem41.inf      | pantherpointsystem.inf  | No    | System                         | INTEL                          | 2016-10-03 | 10.1.1.38     
oem42.inf      | bscsimsa.inf            | No    | System                         | Broadcom Corporation           | 2012-06-18 | 1.0.4.0       
oem43.inf      | intcdaud.inf            | No    | MEDIA                          | Intel(R) Corporation           | 2014-09-09 | 6.16.0.3154   
oem44.inf      | itpcdless.inf           | No    | HIDClass                       | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem45.inf      | point64.inf             | No    | Mouse                          | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem46.inf      | ipcdless.inf            | No    | HIDClass                       | Microsoft                      | 2013-12-12 | 9.5.172.0     
oem47.inf      | iccwdt.inf              | No    | System                         | Intel                          | 2015-09-20 | 11.0.0.1007   
oem48.inf      | etd.inf                 | No    | Mouse                          | ELAN                           | 2015-09-24 | 11.15.0.18   
oem49.inf      | prnms009.inf            | No    | Printer                        | Microsoft                      | 2006-06-21 | 10.0.19041.1 
oem5.inf       | ps2kb2hid.inf           | No    | HIDClass                       | Dritek System Inc.             | 2012-08-30 | 2.2.2001.803 
oem50.inf      | prnms001.inf            | No    | Printer                        | Microsoft                      | 2006-06-21 | 10.0.19041.1 
oem51.inf      | unifhid.inf             | No    | HIDClass                       | Logitech                       | 2020-03-10 | 1.10.79.0     
oem52.inf      | ftdibus.inf             | No    | USB                            | FTDI                           | 2021-07-05 | 2.12.36.4     
oem53.inf      | igdlh64.inf             | No    | Display                        | Intel Corporation              | 2020-08-06 | 10.18.10.5161
oem54.inf      | ssudbus.inf             | No    | USB                            | SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.  | 2022-09-26 | 2.19.1.0     
oem55.inf      | ssudmdm.inf             | No    | Modem                          | SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.  | 2022-09-26 | 2.19.1.0     
oem56.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem57.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem58.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem59.inf      | slabvcp.inf             | No    | Ports                          | Silicon Laboratories Inc.      | 2018-05-23 | 6.7.6.2130   
oem6.inf       | k57nd60a.inf            | No    | Net                            | Broadcom                       | 2013-10-30 | 15.6.0.14     
oem60.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem61.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem62.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem63.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem64.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem65.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem66.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem67.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem68.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem69.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem7.inf       | pnpxrtr.inf             | No    | Network Infrastructure Devices | Microsoft                      | 2010-05-13 | 1.0.0.2       
oem70.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem71.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem72.inf      | usb_device.inf          | No    | USBDevice                      | libwdi                         | 2016-07-08 | 6.1.7600.16385
oem73.inf      | ftdiport.inf            | No    | Ports                          | FTDI                           | 2021-07-05 | 2.12.36.4     
oem74.inf      | silabser.inf            | No    | Ports                          | Silicon Laboratories Inc.      | 2023-04-13 | 11.3.0.176   
oem8.inf       | jlink.inf               | No    | USB                            | Segger                         | 2018-08-02 | 2.70.8.0     
oem9.inf       | atm6124usbcdc.inf       | No    | Ports                          | ATMEL Corp.                    | 2018-02-21 | 1.0.0.0       

The operation completed successfully.

x BlueRobot · Jul 31, 2023

That DISM command only checks for driver packages stored within the Driver Store. Windows gives each driver package a "ranking score" which it uses to determine the applicability of the driver package for a given device, what has happened is that Windows has found another driver package which it has deemed more suitable than the proper driver package. To effectively prevent this from happening, you will need to modify the associated .inf file for your driver so it has a higher ranking score.

Have a read here: How Windows Ranks Driver Packages - Windows drivers

Windows Update is actually one of the last locations which Windows will check for drivers when intialising a device.

zbook · Aug 1, 2023

1) When available please post a V2 share link into the newest post.

One drive and google drive each have free cloud space.

2) There may be a "work around" until there is a permanent fix

Catnip · Aug 3, 2023

Well, as it stands, it turned out to be a hardware failure of the JTAG device. Windows still did something weird with it, but it was caused by the device not allowing the JTAG firmware to be reached. Windows was only enumerating the serial port drivers that are used to talk to the device.

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I very much appreciate the help.

x BlueRobot · Aug 3, 2023

I guess what happened was when a bus enumeration request was send by the PnP Manager, because the JTAG device had failed, it wasn't getting "detected" as being present on that bus so Windows selected a different driver package. I'm glad you managed to find the issue though, despite it not being the best outcome.