Solved Impossible to Remove Traces of Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

Steve C · Aug 24, 2024

I have a HP ProBook 450 G6 laptop with an i5-8265U CPU. A while ago I must have installed Intel Extreme Tuning Utility which has since been uninstalled but leaves these devices in Device Manager:

I would normally reinstall the software then uninstall it using Revo Uninstaller. However, the latest issue of the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility is not compatible with my CPU and I did not keep the version I used. There is also a service and driver left behind in Autoruns (see below). I've uninstalled the devices and deleted the service but they just reappear on restarting the PC. How can I remove remains of this program due to poor software engineering by Intel?

Steve C · Aug 24, 2024

Update.

I finally exterminated traces of this errant program despite having uninstalled it as follows:

Use this instruction in an admin command prompt - For /f %P in ('dism /online /get-drivers /format:table^|Findstr xtu') do pnputil.exe /d %P /u /f
Delete all entries relating to Intel Extreme Tuning Utility in Autoruns.
Reboot

Almighty1 · Aug 24, 2024

Thanks @Steve C, even though I have my XTU uninstalled. I never got it working in Windows 11 due to having virtualization security features enabled so I uninstalled it successfully but wanted to make sure nothing is left behind.

For /f %P in ('dism /online /get-drivers /format:table^|Findstr xtu') do pnputil.exe /d %P /u /f

pnputil.exe /d oem121.inf /u /f
Microsoft PnP Utility

Driver package uninstalled.
Driver package deleted successfully.

Steve C · Aug 25, 2024

Almighty1 said:
Thanks @Steve C, even though I have my XTU uninstalled. I never got it working in Windows 11 due to having virtualization security features enabled so I uninstalled it successfully but wanted to make sure nothing is left behind.

For /f %P in ('dism /online /get-drivers /format:table^|Findstr xtu') do pnputil.exe /d %P /u /f

pnputil.exe /d oem121.inf /u /f
Microsoft PnP Utility

Driver package uninstalled.
Driver package deleted successfully.

I suggest caution in deleting oem121.inf since that is a Realtek audio driver for my PC.

I spoke too soon. Windows Update just found an Intel update and reinstalled all the above! Windows Update finds the update "Intel - Extension - 7.5.0.0" which then just reinstalls all the XTU related stuff mentioned above. I've turned off automatically download manufacturer's apps under Device Installation settings already. How to prevent such automatic updates.

Almighty1 · Aug 25, 2024

@Steve C - How did you get it to show both the hdx and the oem121.inf names as DriverStoreExplorer seems to only show the one on the left.
Windows Update hasn't updated anything for me for drivers since a few months ago.

Steve C · Aug 25, 2024

Almighty1 said:
@Steve C - How did you get it to show both the hdx and the oem121.inf names as DriverStoreExplorer seems to only show the one on the left.
Windows Update hasn't updated anything for me for drivers since a few months ago.

Did you click the title row to choose the OEM inf filename column? You might as well select all columns if you have a large monitor.

I stopped the automatic updates by using WinAeroTweaker to disable driver updates. I also tried the Group Policy method of blocking driver updates using the device ID but this resulted in 8 unknown entries for the XTU software devices. I wish firms would design their software properly to ensure it uninstalls correctly.

After using the WinAeroTweaker fix, this Show / Hide Updates tool found and let me hide the offending updates Intel Extension 7.5.0.0 & Intel Extension 7.5.3.3. I then reenabled driver updates in WinAeroTweaker and all is fine so far.

Almighty1 · Aug 26, 2024

Steve C said:
Did you click the title row to choose the OEM inf filename column? You might as well select all columns if you have a large monitor.

I stopped the automatic updates by using WinAeroTweaker to disable driver updates. I also tried the Group Policy method of blocking driver updates using the device ID but this resulted in 8 unknown entries for the XTU software devices. I wish firms would design their software properly to ensure it uninstalls correctly.

After using the WinAeroTweaker fix, this Show / Hide Updates tool found and let me hide the offending updates Intel Extension 7.5.0.0 & Intel Extension 7.5.3.3. I then reenabled driver updates in WinAeroTweaker and all is fine so far.

Ah, forgot about the title row as I thought you used something other than Driverstore Explorer. My screen is 15.6" but 4K 3840x2160 so it does fit everything. I did a let me pick from available list of drivers and reinstalled the same Realtek Audio Driver version to make sure I didn't lose anything and there is no oem121.inf on my system.

Hopefully your fix works. Did you try what was mentioned here:

How to Uninstall the Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)

Provides steps to uninstall and reinstall Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU) when getting an installation error.

www.intel.com

Steve C · Aug 26, 2024

Almighty1 said:
Ah, forgot about the title row as I thought you used something other than Driverstore Explorer. My screen is 15.6" but 4K 3840x2160 so it does fit everything. I did a let me pick from available list of drivers and reinstalled the same Realtek Audio Driver version to make sure I didn't lose anything and there is no oem121.inf on my system.

View attachment 106118

Hopefully your fix works. Did you try what was mentioned here:

How to Uninstall the Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)

Provides steps to uninstall and reinstall Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU) when getting an installation error.

www.intel.com

Yes, I saw that already. My HP laptop having this problem has never had a clean install since being delivered by HP. I suspect there is a weird configuration file somewhere which incorrecteyl installs the XTU driver despite not being supported by the CPU. Anyway the Show / Hide Updates tool has fixed the issue for now.

Almighty1 · Aug 26, 2024

I had a different issue, XTU would not open because VBS blocks access to the MSR in Windows 11 so there is no way for me to revert the settings back to default/non-XTU settings which is needed before doing a uninstall. Glad the Show/Hide updates tool is working for you.

TraderGary · Aug 26, 2024

@Almighty1

Apparently Intel XTU does not support my Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. Any suggestions?

Steve C · Aug 26, 2024

TraderGary said:
@Almighty1

Apparently Intel XTU does not support my Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. Any suggestions?

I'd avoid XTU since it is a PITA to remove

BamaInArk · Aug 26, 2024

You can individually remove each one of those "software components" then manually remove any remaining in the Registry.

Steve C · Aug 27, 2024

BamaInArk said:
You can individually remove each one of those "software components" then manually remove any remaining in the Registry.

That didn't work for me since there is something in my HP laptop configuration which just downloaded an update and reinstalled the offending drivers.

abactuon · Aug 27, 2024

Steve C said:
I finally exterminated traces of this errant program despite having uninstalled it

I wonder if the unkillable Corsair iCUE can be removed like that too?

Steve C · Aug 27, 2024

abactuon said:
I wonder if the unkillable Corsair iCUE can be removed like that too?

Such bloatware often the result of shoddy software engineering is best avoided.

abactuon · Aug 27, 2024

Steve C said:
Such bloatware often the result of shoddy software engineering is best avoided

Yes, but there is no other way to customize the mouse/keyboard.
It is silly that you need to configure once and then this program is not needed. But the only way to remove it is to install Windows again.

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 27, 2024

I successfully uninstalled the Intel XTU app last week from my system and removed any traces of it including from the Device Manager. This worked for me but I cannot guarantee it will work on all systems.

Before starting as a precaution make sure you have a full system backup ( I use AOMEI Backupper).

Uninstall the app from Windows Apps > Installed apps. (I used Revo Uninstaller Pro)
In the Task Manager under Processes look for the Xtuservice, if running click End Task.
Delete any folder named Intel® XTU from these locations:
C:\Program Files\Intel and C:\ProgramData\Intel.
Delete the folder named Intel Telemetry under C:\ProgramData
Open the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareIntelXTU and delete.
Use DriverStore Explorer to clean out any residue of old drivers.
Reboot.
I used Revo Uninstaller Pro to complete additional cleanup of leftover files.
Run sfc /scannow.
Check Device Manager under Software Components to make sure Intel XTU components have been removed.

These steps I adapted from instructions by Intel.

How to Uninstall the Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)

Provides steps to uninstall and reinstall Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU) when getting an installation error.

www.intel.com

Steve C · Aug 27, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
I successfully uninstalled the Intel XTU app last week from my system and removed any traces of it including from the Device Manager. This worked for me but I cannot it will work on all systems.

Before starting as a precaution make sure you have a full system backup ( I use AOMEI Backupper).

Uninstall the app from Windows Apps > Installed apps. (I used Revo Uninstaller Pro)

In the Task Manager under Processes look for the Xtuservice, if running click End Task.

Delete any folder named Intel® XTU from these locations:
C:\Program Files\Intel and C:\ProgramData\Intel.

Delete the folder named Intel Telemetry under C:\ProgramData

Open the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareIntelXTU and delete.

Use DriverStore Explorer to clean out any residue of old drivers.

Reboot.

I used Revo Uninstaller Pro to complete additional cleanup of leftover files.

Run sfc /scannow.

Check Device Manager under Software Components to make sure Intel XTU components have been removed.

These steps I adapted from instructions by Intel.

How to Uninstall the Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU)

Provides steps to uninstall and reinstall Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel® XTU) when getting an installation error.

www.intel.com

That's basically what I did but that didn't work for me since there is something in my HP laptop configuration which just downloaded an update and reinstalled the offending drivers.

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 27, 2024

Steve C said:
That's basically what I did but that didn't work for me since there is something in my HP laptop configuration which just downloaded an update and reinstalled the offending drivers.

That's a nuisance from your perspective. It is why I made the comment that I cannot guarantee my process will work for all.

Steve C · Aug 27, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
That's a nuisance from your perspective. It is why I made the comment that I cannot guarantee my process will work for all.

I did block the updates concerned as posted above but what was initiating the updates on my HP laptop remains a mystery.

After using the WinAeroTweaker fix, this Show / Hide Updates tool found and let me hide the offending updates Intel Extension 7.5.0.0 & Intel Extension 7.5.3.3. I then reenabled driver updates in WinAeroTweaker and all is fine so far.

Solved Impossible to Remove Traces of Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

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