Windows driver uninstall/install during Windows Update

NTDEV
1

Does the Windows Update process uninstalls the previous version of the windows driver by following drivers INF uninstall section before installing new version of the driver? Are there any caveats here with respect to driver uninstall via Windows Update v/s uninstall manually using Device Manager?

2

What do you mean by uninstall section?

3

Thank you for your reply.

I'm referring to MSFT documentation links below which has DefaultUninstall and DefaultUninstall.Services Sections.

### DefaultUninstall Section (optional)

And

Thanks,
Prasanna

4

Windows never processes that section. This is guidance on how you could craft an uninstallation section for you to manually invoke. On Win11 it isn't recommended that you include any uninstallation logic (instead, ensure you have a primitive driver), so this is only something you'd do for downlevel OS versions

5

Thanks Zac,

This means WU never executes Uninstall section.
But how do we deal with Del* directives to delete files, registry entries and services without using Uninstall Sections especially during Windows Update of existing drivers.

Some examples below:
DelFiles = Minispy.DriverFiles, Minispy.UserFiles
DelReg = Minispy.DelRegistry
DelService = Minispy,0x200

6

File system filter drivers aren't supported on Windows Update at all, since they don't target device hardware IDs. These can only be managed/installed through some other piece of software

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