Amd Smbus Driver Update Failed
[German]Microsoft has released an update ‘Advanced MicroDevices, Inc. driver update for AMD SMBUS’, dated 03/31/2017, via Windows Update for all Windows systems with AMD CPU. Here are some details about this driver update package.
I have windows 8.1 installed a few months ago and I wanted to update the driver today. I tried all kinds of methods to fix it and still returns failed in the log.
I receive a comment about this update along Microsoft’s April 2017 patch day (although the driver doesn’t belong to Microsoft’s patch day). The reader reported, that the SMBus driver has been offered via Windows Update on all of his AMD Windows 7 machines.
The update changes the driver to version 5.12.0.31 (date 02/18./2015) – see Screenshot below.
The previous driver have had version 5.12.0.16 (dated 03/16(2011) – see screenshot below.
The diver is available via Microsoft Update Catalog
I checked Microsoft Update Catalog and found the driver is offered for all supported Windows platforms.
The driver package is 30 KB in size and release notes say, the driver is for Advanced Micro Devices, Inc Other hardware::
Description: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc Other hardware software update released in January, 2015
Company: Lenovo
Driver Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc
Driver Class: Other Hardware
Driver Model: AMD SMBus
Driver Provider: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc
Version: 5.12.0.31
Version Date: 1/18/2015
Supported Hardware IDs
pciven_1002&dev_4353
pciven_1002&dev_4363
pciven_1002&dev_4372
pciven_1002&dev_4385
pciven_1022&dev_780b
pciven_1022&dev_790b
Supported Update IDs
def0a545-77e8-495c-a2cd-599515773173
No mor details are provided.
What’s behind the SMBus driver update?
SMBus stands for System Management Bus, a two line bus used for communication between ICs. According to Wikipedia it helps to detect the state of several components. The driver belongs to the mainboard and the chipset.
Amd Smbus Driver Download
The reason, why this driver exists: Windows ‘thinks’ it need such a driver. So if device manager shows an unknown device with the hardware id enlisted above, the driver will fix this issue. The new update installs an Null driver via SMBUSAMD.inf. The file SMBUSAMD.cat just contains a digital signature. I don’t know, why Microsoft intended to ship this driver package via Windows Update (and especially without providing any details).
Shall I install this driver?
My answer is No. In normal cases, a null driver shall not harm. But we have had a couple of null drivers shipped via Windows Update within the last months, that’s causing serious issues.
Within this MS Answers forum thread somebody experienced install errors during updates. Also within this forum thread it’s recommended to hide this update. If the driver has been installed and is causing issues, fire up device manager. Then search for SMBus entry, right click the entry and uninstall the driver. Then reboot the machine and hide the update.
Similar article:
Windows: optional update ‘Intel – System – 6/28/2016’
Windows: optional update ‘Intel – System – 8/19/2016’
Windows update: Microsoft – WPD – 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM – 5.2.5326.4762
Windows 7/8.1: Optional INTEL System driver updates
Intel Bluetooth driver released via Windows Update (02/15/2017)?
Uninstall of AMD Catalyst driver kills USB keyboard and mouse
No support for new Intel CPUs in Windows 10 LTBS
Microsoft confirms: SMBus Controller devices loss functionality through Windows Update
Microsoft’s Fix for the ‘Microsoft – WPD – 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM – 5.2.5326.4762’ driver issue
How is the update failing?
What is the error message?
If you think your AMD APU needs an update why not get it right from the AMD driver page which is here:
Driver Update For Amd Smbus Failed
If you are seeing something like this:
Update For Amd Smbus Failed
That message is telling you that the driver update offered from Windows Update is an older or lesser version than the currently installed driver or has a lower compatibility rating than the installed driver. That means you probably don't want that update and you should be glad the installation is failing.
It is generally not a good idea to accept hardware driver updates (network, audio, video) offered by Windows Update and if you ever see them it is best to hide them so you never see them again. Only get hardware driver updates from your hardware manufacturers WWW site.
Just because Microsoft offers you a driver update does not mean you have an out of date or afflicted driver and it certainly doesn't mean you have to install the driver updates MS offers - it is generally best NOT to install hardware driver updates offered by Microsoft.
Accepting hardware driver updates from Microsoft is one reason there are so many topics in the community that start with 'Windows update broke my computer...'.
One rule of thumb is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' so if you are not having a problem with video, audio or network don't accept or install those driver updates offered from Microsoft. If you are having a problem like that you should only get driver updates from the hardware manufacturer.
If you see and can recognize those hardware driver updates offered you should right click and hide them:
Pretty soon you might have quite a few hidden hardware updates:
Windows has a way built in to not allow these kinds of updates and I'm not 100% sure it works as advertised but this is a safe adjustment that may prevent a whoops event in the future and how you might undo them if they happen:
Windows 7 has built in ways to disable driver updates from Windows Update that you can read about here: