Configure driver search locations
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Driver Installation Description
This setting configures the location that Windows searches for drivers when a new piece of hardware is found. By default, Windows searches the following places for drivers: local installation, floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, Windows Update. Using this setting, you may remove the floppy and CD-ROM drives from the search algorithm. If you enable this setting, you can remove the locations by selecting the associated check box beside the location name. If you disable or do not configure this setting, Windows searches the installation location, floppy drives, and CD-ROM drives. Note: To prevent searching Windows Update for drivers also see "Turn off Windows Update device driver searching" in Administrative Templates/System/Internet Communication Management/Internet Communication settings.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Configure driver search locations
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching]
"DontSearchFloppies"=dword:00000000
"DontSearchCD"=dword:00000000
"DontSearchWindowsUpdate"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchFloppies' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchCD' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchWindowsUpdate' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchFloppies' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchCD' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchWindowsUpdate' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchFloppies' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchCD' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchWindowsUpdate' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchFloppies' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchCD' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching' -Name 'DontSearchWindowsUpdate' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure driver search locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DriverSearching'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchFloppies' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchCD' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DontSearchWindowsUpdate' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.