How to Stop Automatic Driver Installation on Windows

Prologue

I'd tried to write a driver for webcam of stupid laptop of my own and I failed! So I went off the deep end and I've bought a Logitech HD Webcam C270 to be able to record videos on OpenBSD. I'm pleased to say it works on the magnificent OpenBSD which is different from crap-oriented FreeBSD. I used to use FreeBSD since who knows the 6th edition — not to be confused with the 6th edition of UNIX from ATüпдT. But their overall obnoxiousness, finally made me to move on and stick to OpenBSD.

I have to use Windows 10 though for some Windows-oriented stuff like .Net, but that's a different story. Don't Mono me, and I'll tell you that you don't know your MASM.

Logitech HD Webcam C270

Anyway, there's a problem though. The trash-Windows do Nadella-ian things and without my permission would install some drivers and tool for Logitech HD Webcam C270 without my permission. The problem is that I needn't have extra-stuff installed on Windows, and I'm completely comfortable with default webcam setting panel. I needed a way to prevent automatic driver installation on Windows 10. Those extra stuff will disable the default setting panel for the C270 webcam, and instead it ignites some soydev-written soyboy-friendly setting panel which I hate. I love to hate hateful stuff and that one is one the big one among other ones.

Prevent automatic driver installation on Windows 10

Here's the recipe for destruction of automatic driver installations for Logitech HD Webcam C270 and how to disable automatic driver downloads on Windows. One more thing: some steps are redundant, but I had to make sure it would work on different range of settings, cumulative update and feature update for all Windows 10 users. So bare with me. By the way there are many tutorials and how-to about the subject on the Internet which nearly all of them useless and have written by you-know-who copy/paste herd on the Internet

Device Manager

C:\> devmgmt.msc

Find your Hardware ID in two places:

I. Imaging devices

Let's say you've got theses gibberish. I won't disclose mine, so I write it down in a redacted form.

USB\VID_AAAAAAAA_BBBBBBBB

VID_AAAAAAAA_

II. Sound, video and game controllers

USB\VID_CCCCCCCC_DDDDDDDD

USB\VID_EEEEEEEE

System Properties

C:\> SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe

follow the path and select No

Disconnect from the Internet

Device Manager (Again)

C:\> devmgmt.msc

Uninstall drivers: Logitech HD Webcam C270 and HD Webcam C270

I. Imaging devices | Logitech HD Webcam C270

Right-click | Properties | Driver | Uninstall Device

II. Sound, video and game controllers | HD Webcam C270

Right-click | Properties | Driver | Uninstall Device

Reboot to the Safe Mode

There are many way, among them:

I. Using msconfig.exe

C:\> msconfig.exe

II. If you have BCD Boot Menu enabled

C:\> shutdown -r -t 0

Press F8

Press F4

Remove some files and directories

C:\> del /f C:\Windows\SysWOW64\LogiDPP.dll

C:\> del /f C:\Windows\SysWOW64\LogiDPPApp.exe

C:\> rm C:\Windows\Prefetch\* -r

C:\> rm C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\* -r

Reboot

If you've used F4/F8 method just reboot:

C:\> shutdown -r -t 0

C:\> msconfig.exe

Update Windows

wushowhide

STFW for wushowhide.diagcab program, download and run it.

C:\> wushowhide.diagcab

After a while it'll show you the names of LogiTech C270 drivers. Select all of them in order to HIDE 'em all!

Run the wushowhide.diagcab again to make sure all of them are actually hidden. Then close the windows and do nothing.

Local Group Policy Editor

C:\> gpedit.msc

ENABLE

Add

USB\VID_AAAAAAAA_BBBBBBBB

VID_AAAAAAAA_

USB\VID_CCCCCCCC_DDDDDDDD

USB\VID_EEEEEEEE

Force A Group Policy Update

C:\> gpupdate /force

C:\> shutdown -r -t 0

Window Update (Again)

run the Windows Update again and make sure that none of three Logitech HD Webcam C270 related don't show up there anywhere, even in the Optional Updates

Epilogue

Done! and that's how to stop automatic driver installation on Windows.

Stay woke and go broke.