No Intel Optane module but Windows Update installed an Optane driver

I have a 256GB NVMe drive and a second HDD for personal data files. Intel Rapid Storage Technology has always been installed. The desktop never had an Optane module even though it is optane capable. I don't have driver updates disabled and so WU automatically updated a new driver version for IRST (v 17.11.3.1010)

Six days after the update, a Microsoft Store app installed through Windows Update called 'Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management'.

I uninstalled the app and after poking around in Device Manager I found under the Software components node a new component called Intel Optane (TM) Memory and Storage Management Component . The driver version is the same version as the IRST driver. It was installed on the same day as the Microsoft Store app.

The app likely wouldn't have hurt anything being that it was only a tool to configure optane. But this force install makes no sense when Intel has basically shut down its Optane memory business.

I'd like to say I have enough confidence to safely manually uninstall this driver within Device Manager without causing system problems.

The Intel RST driver may currently be controlling the hard drive once the Intel RST driver has been installed. It cannot be uninstalled except only by a clean uninstall of Windows. I do not want to do that. I would only like to be certain that uninstalling the Optane Memory and Storage Component driver will not cause system issues.
And no. I don't have Optane Memory enabled in BIOS.

Would someone who has had this tell me whether I can just uninstall it? Thanks

You answered your own question. It is because it is Optanr capable.

Update v17.11.3.1010 for IRST is a critical update on my OEM's support site

Microsoft's documentation on the driver package matching process:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ection-process

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ecommendations

some devices require a vendor-supplied driver package designed specifically for that device (or one designed to support a family of devices). Perhaps had the IRST driver package been downloaded and installed from my OEM's site before the WU process installed IRST, the optional / older critical driver package for Intel's Optane Memory SM app and the Optane Memory driver component would not have taken precedence