DriverPack Solutions is NOT a solution

For safety's sake I am writing this post from Linux because there are three objects from DriverPack Solutions embedded in my Windows 10 installation, and I can't get rid of them with Malwarebytes, Avast boot time scans, or with a file unlocker. So on booting into Windows, I disconnect the Ethernet cable, so that their DriverPack Notifier cannot call home.

The software installed itself unexpectedly when I visited the Epson website for some software downloads. Uninstalled it with REVO uninstaller, but not completely because, when I went to the Intel website for mobo updates, they activated themselves again and displayed an unremovable warning that I am inundated with viruses. Their app didn't show up in the Windows Task manager. Malwarebytes removed 91 PUPs from the company, but a rootkit scan and the Avast boot time scan found nothing.

Then I used "Everything" and found three instances of DriverPack files.

C:\System Volume Information\SPP\OnlineMetadataCache\E8FAA4F6-7910-4F8D-909F-EFC7CA6531E6
C:\System Volume Information\SPP\SppGroupCache\E8FAA4F6-7910-4F8D-909F-EFC7CA6531E6 DriverPackageInfo
C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\SWCUData\Cache\InstallLocation\DriverPack Notifier

So I am going to try and delete them from Linux. Also, first of my concerns that this is a Russian company. Enough said.

cereberus said:

There is one driver pack solution you can trust - it's called Windows 10!

Any driver pack is only as good (at best) as the information it has gathered which may be months or even years out of date.

They are snake oil, often riddled with crap/malware.

Windows 10 is brilliant at sorting drivers - so much so, you can take a drive from an old intel drive and put in an amd pc with completely different graphics/wifi systems, and in most cases it just works.

Occasionally, the vendor website has a more up to date driver not in the W10 database - update manually.

Hi there

Absolutely correct -- no need ever to use those dubious solutions. Often they'll entice you also saying we've got the data but you need to "Go Pro" i.e pay to access the data. !! another scam. Not only Snake Oil but Alligator Oil as well !!.

If you really have trouble wanting to find out what a device is or a driver for it simply

1) Control panel (yes it still exists) --system --device manager.

2) Now select the device (or "Unknown device") you are interested in and --->properties --events

Now you can see the hardware and google it -- you might also get something like pci/ven etc there's enough details to google and obtain the driver yourself.



I've though restored a SONY laptop to an HP one and an HP one to an AMD desktop both with minimal problems !! W10 is quite sophisticated these days but if you need a better driver the method I've outlined should take you to the manufacturers sites.

In the case I've shown device is unimportant anyway so I couldn't be bothered with installing it.

Here's a fairly safe catalog of hardware components for drivers -- download relevant details from Manufacturer though AND NOT FROM THIS SITE.


This is for AMD but there's a search box to enter different parameters.

Drivers for manufacturers AMD to Motherboards

Don't download anything though or you'll be in serious Snake Oil Territory.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks for all the replies and it is much appreciated. Specifically, I make Macrium mirror backups separately for the system, and all important data partitions at a 48 hour cycle. Could have restored the system mirror, but I was curious and surprised by the maliciousness of DriverPack that I wasn't able to remove their imprint with my existing system tools and protection.

Epson download was needed for their projector software, and Intel, because of a glitch in their NIC component of my new 8th gen. mobo. Otherwise, I leave everything to Microsoft Update.

When installing drivers the preferred course of action would be:

1st. Manufacturers site.
2nd. Windows Update.
3rd. Any other source if everything else fails (I use Snappy Driver Installer). I usually got good results with this one (reliable, ad-free), but ALWAYS make backup copies of everything before using these software.