Windows November update trips up some Intel graphics drivers • The Register

Home windows customers who put in an replace from November 2022 might run into issues rendering content material and working their video games if their programs are utilizing specific variations of Intel graphics drivers.

In response to Microsoft, after putting in KB50119980, which was launched three months in the past, Home windows and Home windows Server customers may see an error with apphelp.dll if their gadgets are working variations 26.20.100.7463 as much as 30.0.101.1190 of Intel’s graphics drivers.

“This concern would possibly occur intermittently and impacts apps which use DirectX or Direct3D to render half or all of their content material,” Microsoft wrote this week within the Home windows Well being Dashboard.

There was no reason why the Home windows replace affected the Intel graphics driver, solely that it impacts programs working Home windows 11 variations 22H2 and 21H2, Home windows 10 variations 22H2, 21H1, and 20H2, and Home windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019, in addition to Home windows Server 2022.

DirectX is a crucial rendering software, significantly with video games, which allows the software program to work straight with the system’s video and audio. It is required in lots of Home windows video games to let customers extra effectively leverage multimedia accelerator capabilities constructed into the {hardware}.

If the flawed model of DirectX is put in, the sport will not work correctly. Intel graphics drivers are a key part of DirectX.

Direct3D is an API framework and a part of DirectX that permits builders to create and modify 3D objects and providers in Home windows-based purposes the place efficiency is essential, together with video games. It contains packages, capabilities, and prewritten instructions that may be built-in into Home windows purposes.

The API can use GPU {hardware} acceleration when out there and integrates with different DirectX instruments that present options like {hardware} 3D rendering in 2D overlay planes and video mapping.

Gaming is a crucial – and rising – income stream for Microsoft so retaining the players blissful is essential. In response to Statista, the software program vendor generated greater than $16.2 billion in gaming income in 2022, up from $10.3 billion 5 years earlier. It is definitely what’s driving the controversial $69 billion bid to purchase Activision Blizzard.

Microsoft mentioned it’s engaged on a repair that shall be launched in an upcoming replace.

Till then, Microsoft has a workaround for these impacted, which basically comes all the way down to putting in a model of the Intel graphics driver that’s later than 30.0.101.1190. Customers ought to test the producer’s assist info for his or her Home windows programs to see discover the newest model of the graphics driver that may be supported.

If there isn’t a driver later than 30.0.101.1190, Intel offers info for downloading and putting in the newest graphics driver straight from the chip maker. ®