Intel Graphics driver (igfxEM.exe) messing with Skyrim resources

[rickyipcw]

GPUs: Intel® HD Graphics 530 + Nvidia GTX 1060 (notebook)

Intel Driver: 21.20.16.4534 (Auto-installed via Windows Update)

Nvidia Driver: 376.33

I recently found that some Skyrim mods cannot be installed, modified, or removed, even with administrator rights. The game itself also failed to load some textures or mods with proper file system rights.

Later I used Process Explorer, and searched for the word ”Skyrim” for any process that might be occupying the game resources, then I found the executable called ”igfxEM.exe” has been opening a lot of Skyrim resource files for some reason. I googled this program and it was a part of the Intel Graphics driver.

 

The process simply opened the files and actually did nothing to them. It had no disk IO, but kept the files open. I tried to modify some settings in the Intel control panel, but it didn't stop the process from occupying the Skyrim files. Reinstalling or updating the Intel driver didn't help.

I force-stopped the process, and I successfully took back control of the resources again.

Any solution or suggestion? Thanks in advance.