If you’re using the Windows 11 Insider Preview, you might have noticed some hiccups with Nvidia drivers or DirectX 9 (D3D9). Let’s break it down step by step so you can figure out what’s going on and what to do about it.
Table of Contents
What’s Happening?
Forced Driver Updates
Some users reported that older Nvidia drivers were installed during Windows updates—even if newer ones were already in place. This seems to happen on custom-built systems more than OEM machines.
D3D9 Crashes
Microsoft acknowledged a bug in the Insider Preview builds (Canary Channel). The issue involves the d3d9.dll crashing, which prevents applications from launching.
Update Service Glitches
There are reports of the Windows Update service hanging and becoming unresponsive after prolonged use, leading to shutdown problems.
What Users Are Saying
A reader shared that their system forcibly installed outdated Nvidia drivers during March’s patchday updates. Another user mentioned similar issues with HP workstations but noted they could deselect driver updates in Windows 10—something that wasn’t possible this time around.
Additionally, one user described how the update service hangs on systems running Windows 11 24H2. Killing the process via Task Manager doesn’t fix it, and restarting doesn’t help either. Sometimes, only a hard shutdown works.
What Microsoft Says
Microsoft confirmed the D3D9 bug in its blog post about Insider Preview Build 27808 (Canary Channel). They’re investigating crashes tied to d3d9.dll, but they haven’t directly blamed Nvidia yet. However, user comments suggest Nvidia software could be involved.
Possible Solutions
Solution 1: Check Your Drivers
Manually verify your Nvidia driver version through Device Manager or Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software. If an older driver was installed, update it directly from Nvidia’s website.
Solution 2: Disable Automatic Updates
If you’re comfortable tweaking settings, you can disable automatic driver updates via Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor to prevent forced installations.
Solution 3: Rollback Builds
If you’re using the Insider Preview and experiencing issues, consider rolling back to a stable version of Windows 11 until Microsoft resolves the bug.
Solution 4: Restart Fixes
For hanging update services, try restarting your computer in Safe Mode and manually stopping the service via Command Prompt (net stop wuauserv).
This situation feels like a tangled web of bugs—some tied to Windows updates, others linked to Nvidia drivers or DirectX conflicts. If you’re affected, take proactive steps to manage your drivers and consider pausing Insider Preview updates until Microsoft addresses these issues.