Updating drivers, both software and hardware, are usually very delicate processes. Some drivers are renewed with the deployment of new updates for the operating system, and others are simply downloaded automatically when they are available. ¿ What happens if a driver is updated and stop working ? Can you block the update of a driver that works well so that it does not report problems in the future?
Update your drivers as a general rule
Usually the driver update is a positive process and more than recommended. If a device, accessory or piece of hardware receives an update, that means that the manufacturer still cares, and that it continues to offer support to face the latest updates to the operating system that your PC uses.
However, driver updates do not always go well with all versions of operating systems, or they can even conflict with other hardware components that you have installed on your computer. Without wanting to or drinking it, you can find yourself in a situation where an updated driver has broken something instead of improving or fixing it.
In these latter cases, it is best to go back and go back to the previous version of the driver that we know works correctly.
How to revert to the previous version of a driver in Windows 10
Driver updates are quite easy to undo, all we need is a user who has administrator permissions on the computer. In this sense, if we have several accounts configured in Windows, it is best to close the session and re-enter with an administrator user (much more recommended than using a standard user and entering the administrator credentials when the system requires elevated permissions).
- Use Windows Finder to open DeviceManager . Also press Win + R and write the command “devmgmt.msc” to perform this same action alternatively.
- Now locate the hardware component that is giving you problems and whose driver you want to return to the previous version. Here we can find two different situations:
- Double click on the device to open its “Properties” window. Go to the “Driver” tab and click on ” Revert to the previous version” if this option is available.
- If the option to revert the driver is grayed out, it means that Windows does not have any version of the driver that you can restore. This does not mean that we cannot do it, but we will have to find another method to achieve it.
If you know what version of the driver you need, download it separately. You can find drivers in their different versions on the website of the device manufacturer or on the website of the manufacturer of your PC.
If the driver comes in an executable installation package
The drivers usually come in files with an .EXE extension and are installed without many complications. However, before installing the driver make sure you uninstall the device from Device Manager .
Once uninstalled, run the driver installation file and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
If the driver is a .SYS file
If the driver is not an executable file but a .SYS file:
- Open the device manager again.
- Click on the hardware device.
- Go to the “Driver” tab and select “Update Driver.”
- Choose the option “Browse my computer for drivers” and manually indicate the folder where the driver file you just downloaded is located. Windows will automatically identify the driver to install.
Finally, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
