Urgh, That looks very annoying. Have you already tried uninstalling and reinstalling?

I'd give Luke's way a try. Uninstall your Realtek Device (most likely Sound) in Device Manager.

1. Right Click on Start Button
2. Choose Device Manager
3. Right Click on Realtek Device and Choose Uninstall
4. Restart your computer after Uninstall, On Boot Windows should Reinstall (Windows 10 should install drivers, no need to install anything)

BTW, there are really no options in Windows 10 to let you Choose and Install your Updates. Gotta' take what Microsoft gives you! You've basically given up being able to control things like updates when you installed Win 10 (or purchased a Win 10 computer).

Bug,

There is a configuration option to control updates in Windows 10.

1. It's offered at initial setup

2. It's offered any time you wish to change it by using administrative templates in computer configurations.

3. I'm not endorsing disabling installation of windows updates.However, I do endorse choosing when/what time windows can download and install updates.

4. It is acceptable and common practice to control optional updates as needed.

brushworks.

What I was saying above is that you Don't really have a Choice, you'll eventually have to install the updates in Win10 Home. Yes, I know you can say when and where (that is a choice you are offered). You could also set your computer as a Metered Connection and not download the updates (I'm not advising anyone to do this). I've heard that you do have more control in the Pro and Enterprise Editions (not sure, never used either). There are ways to Hide Certain Updates too (Drivers) Show or Hide Updates in Win10!

I don't endorse not downloading and install the updates either (I install them all). Updates are there for our protection, not so they can cause us problems as many think. There are just so many different computer configurations out there in the world (Motherboards, CPU's, RAM, Video, Sound, etc...) that eventually the updates are going to mess a few computers up. But for most, their computer will be just fine!

Bug,

But what about optional updates? Most of the time those optional updates include add on software I would never install on my system, like a registry cleaner included with a driver update. It's best for me to go directly to the proprietary page and download the clean driver.

I've never received a Registry Cleaner with a Windows Update or Optional Windows Update! Don't believe I've ever received Add On Software either. Or am I misunderstanding what you're saying?

I do however get Registry Cleaners and Add On Software when downloading from Unreliable Websites. It's very hard to tell which websites are reliable these days. Once reliable website have been taken over and are no longer reliable. Norton's usually warns when something bad is on the horizon!

Hmmm. Realtek isn't listed in Device Manager, and a Program search turns up nothing. Should I just download/install it myself and hope it sticks, so that Windows stops installing it automatically?

That's what I would do and here it is.

Please try to manually install the driver from here:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/Downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=15&PFid=25&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

"Card reader driver for XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1,Win10" -> click the "Global" text under "Download" column. It's the first one

Extract the .ZIP archive and run setup.exe

shaxhome,

In Device Manager did you Left-Click on the Arrow next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers, to expand it so you could see Realtek High Definition Audio?

How about in Control Panel, do you see HD Audio Manager?

There's really no software for Realtek, just Drivers to run it!

You should see a File Folder in C:/ > Program Files > Realtek > Audio > HDA (You should see about 10-11 files in the HDA Folder).

A few times I went to Device Manager and under Sound etc there was no mention of Realtek. Likewise in my Program Files. It seems that it disappears and that's why Windows has been installing it every time I start the laptop. And then it disappears again.

I've now done a fresh install from the Realtek download site that Zep linked to above, and the file is there. Will have to wait and see, but was probably originally a corrupt file and hopefully it's fixed now. Appreciate everyone's advice.

shaxhome,

Don't know what I was thinking in the First Place, it was a Card Reader and not Sound Card. I just had a Sound Card on the Brain, not sure why? Glad reinstalling the Drivers as Zep suggested seems to have worked!

Just realised I never reported back that this was resolved by the fresh install. Have been waiting to see if it continued its daily reinstall, but all good now.