Ahead-looking: Microsoft has historically maintained sturdy backward compatibility with older {hardware} and software program. Nevertheless, the corporate is now working to section out as many legacy drivers as potential in an effort to streamline the Home windows Replace course of and cut back its general complexity.
In response to a latest submit addressing companions within the Home windows {Hardware} Program, Microsoft is working to take away legacy drivers from the Home windows Replace system. The corporate says the aim is to scale back safety and compatibility dangers, which is why it’s now embarking on this “strategic” initiative – although it is going to make backward compatibility throughout the Home windows ecosystem considerably worse than earlier than.
Within the not-so-distant future, Microsoft goals to supply solely essentially the most up-to-date, optimum set of peripheral drivers via Home windows Replace. To attain this aim, the corporate will periodically carry out cleanup duties in its driver catalog. Because of this, some drivers will not be supplied to programs that depend on Home windows Replace.
Microsoft explains that the primary legacy drivers to be eliminated might be people who have already got newer replacements accessible through Home windows Replace. “Cleansing up” implies that a specific set of peripheral drivers will expire, and Home windows Replace will not set up them on appropriate gadgets. {Hardware} producers can have the chance to request that Microsoft reinstate expired drivers, though they could be requested to supply justification.
Microsoft is reportedly conscious of the most important shift coming with the removing of previous driver assist from Home windows Replace, so it plans to roll out the modifications in levels. After the preliminary cleanup, the corporate will publish a weblog submit confirming that the primary batch of out of date drivers has been eliminated. Following that, producers can have a six-month window to request reinstatement of any driver downloads.
In response to Microsoft, driver removing is a proactive measure geared toward enhancing safety and making certain higher-quality drivers for Home windows customers. The corporate is advising producers to evaluation their present drivers within the Home windows {Hardware} Program, as Redmond intends to make driver cleanup a routine optimization apply.
Whereas Microsoft is working to make Home windows Replace a leaner and extra dependable service for delivering patches and different content material, it may face stress to reverse course, simply because it did with WSUS driver synchronization up to now. There is not any doubt Home windows Replace would profit from important optimization, given how usually it causes complications for tens of millions of customers.
Nonetheless, Microsoft stays assured in Home windows Replace’s potential to boost the general Home windows expertise by managing varied software program downloads extra successfully.