Turn On or Off Device Driver Automatic Installation in Windows 10

Brink · 18 Oct 2015

The "Some settings are managed by your system administrator" part in your screenshot indicates that you have a policy set that is preventing your from making changes. It's going to be a hunt in the registry now to see if we can find it.

If you like, please export the two keys below from your registry as a .reg file, and upload them here. This is where the policy should be set at, and would just be a matter of going through them to see which one it may be.

HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\SOFTWARE\Policies

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies

Ocman76 · 18 Oct 2015

Here they are.

Current User Policies.reg Local Machine Policies.reg

Brink · 18 Oct 2015

I found one entry to delete that is the only one I see that's related. The .reg file below will delete it for you. Be sure to restart the computer afterwards to fully apply.

(content of .reg file below)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching]

Remove_Policy.reg

Ocman76 · 18 Oct 2015

WOOHOO! That fixed it!

Thanks for all the help

Brink · 18 Oct 2015

You're most welcome. :)

Ano · 08 Dec 2015

Hello folks, interesting thread!
@Brink: I am having exactly the same problem as Ocman76: options are greyed out.
No group policies are defined ("not configured") and enabling./disabling the mentioned "Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings" policy has no effect. Unfortunately, the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching" key that was present on Ocman76's system is not present.
Please find enclosed the two reg files: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE-SOFTWARE-Policies .reg and HKEY_CURRENT_USER-SOFTWARE-Policies.reg

I hope someone can have a look at them and find the culprit ;-) Thanks!

Brink · 08 Dec 2015

Hello Ano, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

I don't see anything that stands out as a cause in your policy settings in your registry.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing your Device Installation Settings to see if it anything may stand out.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...en-forums.html

Ano · 08 Dec 2015

Here are two screenshots:

Turn On or Off Device Driver Automatic Installation in Windows 10-untitled.jpg

Turn On or Off Device Driver Automatic Installation in Windows 10-untitled2.jpg

Brink · 08 Dec 2015

It definitely appears to be from a set policy with the message at the bottom.

Check to see what Group Policies you have enabled using the tutorial below to see if any stand out. You might also test by temporarily setting them back to "Not Configured", and see if it these settings are ungrayed out afterwards.

Group Policy Editor - Quickly View Enabled Policies in Windows - Windows 7 Help Forums

Ano · 08 Dec 2015

Yes, I already did before my first post. *All* group policies are set to "not configured".
The only things I can think of: my Windows 10 version was an OEM version (Home), before upgrading it to Pro. Maybe I do not have a 'normal' W10 version?
Furthermore, I installed "DoNotSpy10" on my computer ( pXc-coding ) which also "tweaks" some Windows 10 settings, although I think these tweaks must always be in the registry...

EDIT: I checked the group policy using "gpedit.msc" and checking under "Computer configuration" and "User configuration" (Administative Template\All settings). Maybe there is another place to check as well?