This little self-contained, no-dependency tool can be built either as a console application or a Windows application which has no visible window (ideal to use in combination with setup makers).
It offers a command-line-based driver (un-)installer and allows for simple manipulation of class filter entries.
Nefcon is a device driver installation and management tool designed to streamline the handling of drivers in both console and Windows environments. It offers a command-line interface for installing and uninstalling drivers, as well as the ability to manipulate class filter entries for precise control over device interactions.
Key Features:
Command-Line Driver Management: Install or uninstall drivers directly from the command line, providing flexibility and ease of integration into scripts.
Class Filter Manipulation: Modify class filter entries to customize how devices are recognized and managed by the system.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Run as a console application for visible operations or as a hidden Windows application, making it ideal for use in setup scripts without a visible interface.
README
nefcon
Windows device driver installation and management tool.
About
This little self-contained, no-dependency tool can be built either as a console application or a Windows application which has no visible window (ideal to use in combination with setup makers). It offers a command-line-based driver (un-)installer and allows for simple manipulation of class filter entries. Run nefconc.exe --help to see all the options offered.
Motivation
Windows Device Driver management is and always has been hard. The APIs involved are old, moody and come with pitfalls. Historically the devcon tool or nowadays pnputil have been used to offload these tedious tasks, but unintuitive and sparsely documented command line arguments and error propagation make them poor candidates for automation in e.g. setup engines. Grown tired of these limitations I made this "devcon clone" available under a permissive license which offers the following highlighted features and more:
Allows for true window-less execution
Actively suppresses and works around user interaction inconsistencies ("reboot required" dialogs and OS-included bugs)
Binaries are available to download in the page, just download and extract. However, if you are using a package manager, you can use one of the following options:
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for developers, IT professionals, and setup makers requiring reliable driver management solutions. Nefcon simplifies the process of handling device drivers, enabling seamless integration into development workflows and deployment scripts. It supports both console and hidden execution modes, offering versatility whether you need direct interaction or background processing.
Nefcon can be installed via winget for easy setup on compatible systems.
Currently the devcon install INFfile HardwareID command is implemented so you can use nefcon as a drop-in replacement for this popular software node device driver installation command! The /r flag to auto-reboot is not supported; check the exit code to determine if a reboot is required and inform the user to do so whenever convenient.
3rd party credits
This project uses the following 3rd party resources:
nefcon
