Windows may remove laptop GPU drivers after weeks in Eco Mode
ASUS users report that Windows may automatically remove discrete GPU drivers from laptops after the device remains in Eco Mode for roughly two weeks, leaving the system with only a basic display adapter.
The issue was documented by an owner of an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti. When the laptop is placed in Eco Mode, the Armoury Crate software completely disables the dedicated graphics processor. During this state, Windows treats the GPU as a non-present device.
SetupAPI logs indicate that if a PCIe device remains undetected for an extended period—typically around 15 days—Windows initiates a cleanup routine. This process removes the device entry from the system and subsequently deletes the associated driver package to free up resources.
This behavior aligns with Windows' standard device management policies, which previously showed a default timeout of 30 days for undetected hardware. While this ensures system stability by removing unused components, it means users must re-install drivers if they switch back to performance modes after an extended period in Eco Mode.
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