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Driver updates will no longer cause compatibility issues
2 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Unfortunately,driversare one of the top causes of problems, even if you installed them through aWindows Update. Some number ofdriverissues interfered with the installation of major feature updates in 2019 but that can be expected as Microsoft needs to work with so many manufacturers and devices.
No more drivers compatibility issues in Windows 10
However, this isn’t an implacable issue, and Microsoft has been working on changes to avoid situations when adriverupdate causes compatibility issues.
The Optional Updates screen from toWindows Updatewas a big step and another idea was that hardware manufacturers would able to block updates when incompatibledriverswhen you try to install incompatible updates.
Analyzing cohorts might be a solution
For those who are not familiar with the term, cohorts are basically insiders and everyone who offers feedback.
Well,Microsoft saysthat they will evaluate better the quality and reliability of aWindows10driverupdate by analyzing the data coming from cohorts. In this case, the cohorts refer to a set of systems and devices that share the same targeting attributes including HWID, CHID, andOSversion.
This way, Microsoft will be able to identify anydriverthat fails to meet the requirements.
In the reverse method, if adrivercauses problems, they will be able to find out which are the affected devices. The final measure will be to block the problematicdriverupdate only for the affected devices, judging by their hardware ID, revisions, andOSversion ofWindows10.
Looking forward, during that period,Windows10 will not offer thedriversto any PC with the known incompatibility, thus protecting them.
Other data sources for measures
Microsoft says that the measures will incorporate data from machines running in two distinct customer groups:WindowsInsider Program (WIP) and Retail.
The reasons are somehow obvious. The WIP data comes from users who willingly want to provide this data with increased levels of detail and the retail data is collected from the generalWindowsecosystem and allows Microsoft to monitor the quality issues on releaseddriversright away.
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More about the topics:Windows 10 drivers
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.
His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.
With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!
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Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft
