Editor’s take: The Windows platform is consistently sprouting unusual and doubtlessly harmful bugs, despite the fact that Microsoft would favor to declare in any other case. And it’s not simply safety or reliability points – even the conventional Windows GUI can flip in opposition to customers when hidden {hardware} choices start to behave erratically.
According to current studies, Windows has as soon as once more began to show an option to “eject” discrete GPUs on each desktop and laptop computer gaming methods. This option is meant to stay hidden and inaccessible, as you can’t realistically eject a {hardware} part that’s completely connected to the system’s motherboard and important for regular operation.
The bug seems to add discrete graphics playing cards to the record of gadgets that Windows often considers protected to take away. The characteristic is historically meant for bettering knowledge security and reliability on detachable storage, although loads of customers do not even hesitate to disconnect USB dongles immediately with out going via the protected removing characteristic first.
Users have encountered the GPU eject bug for years, and now Windows 11 is as soon as once more displaying the option on newer methods. While this characteristic would possibly make sense for particular {hardware} configurations – corresponding to methods with an built-in GPU that may take over for a discrete one – it’s typically not meant for many PCs. Budget laptops utilizing exterior GPUs may theoretically profit from the option as effectively.
Some customers affected by this unusual UI bug have shared considerations about the penalties of making an attempt to eject a discrete GPU whereas the system is operating. In not less than one case, somebody examined it on an older system. The consequence was not catastrophic: the display went black, the working system performed the regular “gadget unplugged” sound, after which the GPU reconnected with out requiring a reboot.
For the most half, this bug appears to have an effect on methods geared up with Nvidia GPUs. It may very effectively be the results of a defective graphics driver so far as we all know.
Regardless, it’s best to merely keep away from attempting to eject your discrete GPU until your system is imply to help that performance. While we look forward to Microsoft (or Nvidia) to patch this bug once more, involved customers can disable the “eject GPU” option by modifying a selected key in the Windows Registry and restarting the laptop.