Introduction of Windows Modern Drivers for Intel Products

kemical

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Microsoft is changing the way hardware drivers work on the Windows 10 (1809 and onwards) platform. Hardware running on these operating systems can use Windows Modern Drivers (also known as Universal Windows Drivers - UWDs).
As from November 2018 Intel will roll out drivers using the Windows modern driver platform. More below:

What is changing?
Microsoft is changing the way that hardware drivers work on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Windows® 10 (and later), and Microsoft Windows* Server 2019 (and later). Hardware running on these operating systems can use Windows Modern Drivers (also known as Universal Windows Drivers - UWDs). Note that Microsoft requires the use of Windows Modern Drivers for Windows® 10 1809 (RS5) and later. Intel will begin distributing Windows Modern Drivers for its products beginning in November 2018.
How do these changes affect driver updates for Intel products?
As of November 2018, any driver updates for Intel products on these operating systems will be the Windows Modern Drivers. After a driver has been updated to a Windows Modern Driver, it's possible to roll back to a legacy driver. However, rolling back isn't recommended as it involves a complex process that could result in system instability. This system instability is especially pertinent to graphics drivers. You can find more information on this subject.
How do I load Intel® driver updates?
You can load most Intel® driver updates using the Intel® Driver and Support Assistant (IDSA), which will:
  • Detect your machine’s configuration.
  • Identify your current Intel® drivers.
  • Notify you of any drivers that need updating.
  • Give you the opportunity to update those drivers.
Note that the IDSA tool doesn't currently work for Windows* Server. For these customers, and customers who prefer to manually identify and load a specific driver, these customers can use Download Center.
More detailed information on Modern Windows Drivers can be found on the Microsoft site.
 
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