New
#1
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/win...hidden-devices
A deprecated feature as from Windows 8
On Windows 8 and later these hidden devices are not listed under the “Non Plug and Play Drivers” item but instead, they are listed on their appropriate categories. You will also notice that there are more device categories listed on it.
That said you should not normally need to be able to access what were non plug and play drivers, as most of them are kernel and system drivers.
hi Macboatmaster
yes i know about hidden device , but on w7 i can see kaspersky drivers , under w10 i can't see any kaspersky drivers
i have uninstalled an old antivirus and the drivers are still there , i have found with regscannerThat said you should not normally need to be able to access what were non plug and play drivers, as most of them are kernel and system drivers.
thanks
Your screenshot shows non plug and play drivers entry
On Windows 7 that was obtained by - show hidden devices
On Windows 10 non plug and play drivers are not shown even when you click hidden devices.
As regard the antivirus it is NOT a device so I would not expect it to show in device manager.
As regard the old AV if one is available use the uninstaller from the provider
OR if you wish REVO uninstaller.
Generally the fragments that are left can be safely left.
Last edited by Macboatmaster; 09 Aug 2021 at 12:47.
You could use the free Autoruns utility from Sysinternals to view, disable, remove drivers/ services.
Autoruns should allow you to see which services the Anti Virus app was loading, including the path to those services (this allows you to track down and delete the actual software if you want to), it presents you with an option to disable the driver/ service with a check box (this will add a disabled by Autoruns key in the registry around the driver/ service entry), if you then reboot, that disabled item is no longer in use by the system and can then be deleted physically if you wish by following the entry for the path shown in the Autoruns GUI.
Right- clicking an entry will allow you to jump to the entry, this works for both registry and scheduled task entries which can be useful for backing up/ exporting entries.
Be careful as it is possible to disable critical items related to booting if you do not understand how the driver/ service interacts with the system.
If you are talking about Antivirus drivers... most antiviruses, have a "removal tool" to do that for you.
This is the Kaspersky removal tool: kavremoval tool
https://support.kaspersky.com/common/uninstall/1464
You would probably have to re-install Kaspersky, and THEN run the removal tool.
Ghot
I agree
I still cannot remember seeing antivirus drivers - listed in device manager even when non plug and play drivers could be seenAs regard the old AV if one is available use the uninstaller from the provider
OR if you wish REVO uninstaller.
Generally the fragments that are left can be safely left.
On 10 they are not listed separately as they are included in the other entries.
RAPR can show drivers stored in the Windows driver store (hence it's other name, Driver Store Explorer), it allows you to see which drivers are installed, determine how many versions of a driver are installed, remove drivers from the system. That last option prevents Windows from re loading drivers after a re boot, but Windows update can re install drivers so you may need to take control of that aspect. What it will not show is services loaded by an app, that is where Autoruns comes in.
Be aware that improper use of both Autoruns and RAPR can absolutely wreck a system, so current full system images and backups are recommended.