driver Archives

Winsage

August 28, 2026

Windows 11 Deletes ASUS GPU Drivers After Extended Eco Mode Usage

An ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 owner reported that after using Eco Mode for several weeks, Windows 11 removed the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU driver when switching back to performance mode. This behavior is expected due to Windows 11's automatic driver removal for inactive GPUs, managed by a maintenance task called pnpclean.dll, which cleans up drivers for devices not connected for 15 to 30 days. After the driver was deleted, the GPU was recognized as a generic display adapter, requiring reinstallation of the driver. The user found a workaround by disabling the Disk Cleanup handler in PowerShell to prevent automatic deletion, but this increased storage usage as Windows would no longer purge old driver packages.

Winsage

August 28, 2026

Time for gamers to upgrade to Windows 11? Nvidia GPU driver support for Windows 10 ends in two months — here’s what you need to know

Support for Nvidia Game Ready Drivers for Windows 10 will end in October 2026, with the last compatible driver being released then. After that, Nvidia will provide quarterly security updates for Windows 10 until October 2029, but no performance optimizations or fixes will be included. Microsoft has extended consumer support for Windows 10 until October 2027. Upgrading to Windows 11 may be necessary for users, but not all PCs may meet the hardware requirements.

Winsage

August 28, 2026

Microsoft rolls out fix for Windows 11 crashes, gaming issues

Microsoft has begun rolling out a permanent solution to a system stability and gaming performance issue on Windows 11 devices, which has caused crashes, game launch failures, and freezing, often with the "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION" error message. The problem was linked to updates from August 2026 and was identified as being related to peripherals with RGB lighting features that installed disruptive drivers. Specifically, the inpoutx64.sys driver was found to be responsible for these disruptions. Microsoft is deploying a fix that disables this driver on affected systems, starting from August 26, 2026. This driver block will also be included in the September 2026 Windows security updates. For enterprise-managed devices, a temporary workaround involves manually disabling the inpoutx64 driver via the Windows Registry. Microsoft has assured users that this action should not cause unintended behavior and can be reversed.

Winsage

August 28, 2026

Microsoft rolls out fix for Windows 11 crashes, gaming issues

Microsoft has begun rolling out a permanent solution to a problem causing system crashes and gaming disruptions on Windows 11 devices, specifically related to game launch failures and freezing with "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION" errors. The issue affects various games, including ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, particularly on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is linked to peripherals with built-in RGB lighting. The inpoutx64.sys driver has been identified as the cause of these complications. Microsoft is deploying a fix that disables this driver on affected devices, starting on August 26, 2026, and it may take up to 24 hours to reach all impacted devices. This driver block will also be included in the September 2026 Windows security updates. For enterprise-managed devices that do not automatically receive the fix, a temporary workaround involves disabling the inpoutx64 driver via the Windows Registry. Microsoft has stated that disabling this registry key should not lead to unintended behavior.

Winsage

August 28, 2026

Microsoft “Resolves” Windows 11 Crashing Games with a Registry Hack

Late last week, reports emerged about gameplay disruptions linked to the Windows 11 August update, causing issues like forced crashes, unexpected freezing, and device restarts. Microsoft identified the interaction between gaming applications and RGB peripherals as the cause. They released a workaround involving a registry modification to prevent the inpoutx64 driver from loading, which resolved the issue temporarily. This workaround specifically targets devices with the inpoutx64 driver enabled and the game ARC Raiders installed. Users can disable the driver by modifying the registry key HKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesinpoutx64, changing the Start value to 4, and restarting the computer. Microsoft is also working to block RGB peripherals for the game MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and has addressed similar issues for THE FINALS. The driver block will be included in the September 2026 Windows security updates and future releases.

Winsage

August 27, 2026

Final NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver for Windows 10 Goes Out in October

NVIDIA plans to provide GeForce Game Ready drivers for Windows 10 until October 2026, marking the end of support for the operating system in this capacity. The last Game Ready Driver compatible with Windows 10 will be released in October 2026, after which no game and feature updates will be provided. However, NVIDIA will continue to deliver critical security updates for Windows 10 until October 2029.

Winsage

August 27, 2026

Microsoft is blocking the problem to fix Windows 11 KB5121003 restarts, crashes

Microsoft addressed printing issues and gaming-related complications linked to recent .NET Patch Tuesday updates. The problems were associated with RGB applications and the inpoutx64 system driver, which caused compatibility issues when certain games were launched. Microsoft has implemented a block to prevent the inpoutx64 driver from loading on affected devices, specifically targeting systems with the driver enabled and ARC Raiders installed. Users will receive a notification after the block is implemented, and the game should launch without further issues. The block is also being extended to systems running MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, while the issue with THE FINALS has been resolved. The resolution is being distributed automatically, and users need to restart their devices after the fix is applied. For enterprise-managed devices, IT administrators must manually apply the fix. Microsoft provided a temporary workaround by suggesting users disable the inpoutx64 driver through the Windows Registry. Users can change the Start value in the Registry Editor to 4 to disable the driver and may need to restart their devices for changes to take effect. Users are advised to back up the Registry before making modifications, and they can restore the driver by reverting the Start value back to its original setting.

Tech Optimizer

August 26, 2026

AVG Antivirus Review 2026: Is the Free Version Enough?

AVG AntiVirus Free has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with specific scores of 4.7 for protection, 4.3 for performance and features, and 3.5 for customer support. The software is available for free or can be purchased starting at .88 for the first year, with pricing verified in August 2026. It achieved a 99.77% malware detection rate with only four false alarms and offers features such as real-time protection and Ransomware Protection. However, customer support is rated lower, and there are upselling prompts after scans. AVG is owned by Gen Digital and has been in operation for over 35 years, originally founded as Grisoft in the Czech Republic. The free version includes essential features like File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, and Ransomware Protection, while some features like Enhanced Firewall and Fake Website Shield are exclusive to paid versions. AVG's performance on Windows 11 has been validated by independent tests, scoring 6/6/6 in AV-TEST and achieving a 96.3% offline detection rate in AV-Comparatives. The software is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. AVG's customer support includes email and phone options, with a reasonable response time. The software is safe to install when downloaded from official sources, and it has been recognized for its effectiveness in malware detection.

BetaBeacon

August 26, 2026

LDPlayer 14 vs LDPlayer 9 vs BlueStacks: 21% FPS Gap [2026]

LDPlayer 14 has moved to an Android 14 kernel, allowing newer titles that reject Android 9 installs to run natively. BlueStacks allows users to spin up separate instances running different Android versions, giving flexibility to users. LDPlayer 14 has introduced Eco Mode and an updated LDMultiplayer manager for running multiple accounts in parallel. LDPlayer 9 remains the stable version listed on LDPlayer's homepage and has a mature ecosystem of community macro and script tools. BlueStacks offers multiple Android versions from a single install, catering to users with a game library spanning old and new titles.

Winsage

August 26, 2026

Windows NT 4.0 was released on this day 30 years ago

On August 24, 2001, Microsoft launched Windows XP to manufacturing. Five years earlier, on August 24, 1996, Windows NT 4.0 was released to the public, following the launch of Windows 95 in 1995. Windows NT 4.0 featured a user interface similar to Windows 95, incorporating elements like the Start button, taskbar, and Windows Explorer, while maintaining the security and networking advantages of the NT line. It emphasized business networking, with its Server edition including Internet Information Server and support for PPTP for virtual private networks. However, it faced challenges such as increased risk of system crashes due to architectural changes and limited driver availability, lacking official USB support. The legacy of the NT line continues in modern Windows operating systems, including Windows 2000, XP, and Windows 11.