After Win Update - PT hardware is either not installed or used by another program

[awritersparadise]

Using Pro tools with Apollo UAD quad firewire . Win 10 - working fine forever... then windows did an update last August.. and immediately upon reboot.. I get "Pro Tools hardware is either not installed or used by another program"..

Tried a bunch of things to no avail, so I uninstalled Windows Updates...and it starts back working fine. but windows forces an update every 30 day no matter what.

Same problem... repeat... uninstall... 30 days... repeat.. uninstall.

I shouldn't have to roll back my computer every month to August of 2019 to get it to work with Pro tools..
Everything else I have is up to date.. always is.. latest drivers..

Things I've tried:
- Check Ilok. same prob
- trashed prefs. same prob
- update to the latest PT driver ... same prob
- I Set Windows so it uses the Apollo for system sounds and see if that works okay. If it does then the Apollo itself is okay - so it's not Apollo.

I can't be the only one with this problem?
Appreciate any help you can give.
Thank you!
Stacy

[Southsidemusic]

As this is a Microsoft and UA issue you will get better info on UA’s foums as there are many users with that same problem there. Maybe someone can give some pointers but here I doubt anyone can do much for you TBH.

[EGS]

Don't assign Windows system sound to the Apollo.

[The Weed]

And if you have W10 Pro, use Group Policy to turn off Windows Update.