Last month, we learned that Microsoft is making major changes to the development of hardware drivers in Windows. This included the retirement of Windows Metadata and Internet Services (WMIS), along with the process for pre-production driver signing. Now, the Redmond tech firm has informed partners that it will be getting rid of old drivers in Windows Update.
In what is being described as a "strategic" move to improve the security posture and compatibility of Windows, Microsoft has announced that it will be performing a cleanup of legacy drivers that are still being delivered through Windows Update. Right now, the first phase only targets drivers that already have modern replacements present in Windows Update.
As a part of its cleanup process, Microsoft will expire legacy drivers so that it is not offered to any system. This expiration involves removing audience segments in the Hardware Development Center. Partners can still republish a driver that was deemed as legacy by Microsoft, but the firm may require a justification. Once the Redmond tech giant completes its first phase of this cleanup, it will give partners a six-month grace period to share any concerns. However, if no concerns are brought forward, the drivers will be permanently eradicated from Windows Update.
Microsoft has emphasized that this will be a regular activity moving forward and while the current phase only targets legacy drivers with newer replacements, the next phases may expand the scope of this cleanup and remove other drivers too. That said, each time the company takes a step in this direction, it will inform partners so that there is transparency between both parties.
Microsoft believes that this move will help improve the security posture of Windows and ensure that an optimized set of drivers is offered to end-users. The firm has asked partners to review their drivers in Hardware Program so that there are no unexpected surprises during this cleanup process.
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