diff --git a/.github/scripts/Install-Vsix.ps1 b/.github/scripts/Install-Vsix.ps1
index 24c7ef458..8579b36bb 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/Install-Vsix.ps1
+++ b/.github/scripts/Install-Vsix.ps1
@@ -12,34 +12,42 @@ param(
 
 $root = Get-Location
 
-# launch developer powershell (if necessary)
-if (-not $env:VSCMD_VER) {
-    Import-Module (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*\Common7\Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll")
-    Enter-VsDevShell -VsInstallPath (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*")
-    cd $root
-}
+# launch developer powershell
+Import-Module (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*\Common7\Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll")
+Enter-VsDevShell -VsInstallPath (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*")
+cd $root
+
+# Automatically resolve the latest amd64 VSIX
+$uri = "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com$((Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=DriverDeveloperKits-WDK.WDKVsix").Links | Where-Object outerHTML -like '*(amd64)*' | select -expand href)"
 
-# source environment variables
-. .\Env-Vars.ps1
+# Set local version variable
+$version = ([regex]'(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+)').Matches($uri).Value
 
-$version = $env:SAMPLES_VSIX_VERSION
-$uri = $env:SAMPLES_VSIX_URI
+# Set github environment variable for vsix version
+"SAMPLES_VSIX_VERSION=$version" | Out-File -FilePath "$env:GITHUB_ENV" -Append
 
 function PrintWdkVsix {
-    $installed = ls "${env:ProgramData}\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.DriverKit,version=*" | Select -ExpandProperty Name
-    "WDK Vsix Version: $installed"
+    "WDK Vsix Version: $(ls "${env:ProgramData}\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.DriverKit,version=*" | Select -ExpandProperty Name)"
 }
 
 function TestWdkVsix {
     Test-Path "${env:ProgramData}\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.DriverKit,version=$version"
 }
 
+# NOTE: The '$optimize' code path examines the '.vsixmanifest' when downloaded and then examines it again (in the 'MSBuild' directory) once 
+#       the necessary extension files are copied.
 if ($optimize) {
-    "---> Downloading vsix and configuring build environment..."
+    $msbuild_path = (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*\MSBuild\")
+    "---> Downloading vsix version: $version"
     Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "$uri" -OutFile wdk.zip
     Expand-Archive ".\wdk.zip" .\
-    cp ".\`$MSBuild\*" (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*\MSBuild\") -Recurse -Force
-    "<--- Finished"
+    "Downloaded VSIX Version: $(([xml](Get-Content .\extension.vsixmanifest)).PackageManifest.Metadata.Identity.Version)"
+    "<--- Download complete"
+    "---> Configuring build environment..."
+    cp ".\`$MSBuild\*" "$msbuild_path" -Recurse -Force
+    cp ".\extension.vsixmanifest" "$msbuild_path"
+    "Installed VSIX Version: $(([xml](Get-Content ${msbuild_path}\extension.vsixmanifest)).PackageManifest.Metadata.Identity.Version)"
+    "<--- Configuration complete"
 }
 else {
     "Getting installed WDK vsix..."
@@ -65,4 +73,4 @@ else {
             exit 1
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/Build-SampleSet.ps1 b/Build-SampleSet.ps1
index 2197b967b..5be14dcf3 100644
--- a/Build-SampleSet.ps1
+++ b/Build-SampleSet.ps1
@@ -10,16 +10,13 @@ param(
 
 $root = Get-Location
 
-# launch developer powershell (if necessary)
+# launch developer powershell (if necessary to prevent multiple developer sessions)
 if (-not $env:VSCMD_VER) {
     Import-Module (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*\Common7\Tools\Microsoft.VisualStudio.DevShell.dll")
     Enter-VsDevShell -VsInstallPath (Resolve-Path "$env:ProgramFiles\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\*")
     cd $root
 }
 
-# source environment variables
-. .\Env-Vars.ps1
-
 $ThrottleFactor = 5
 $LogicalProcessors = (Get-CIMInstance -Class 'CIM_Processor' -Verbose:$false).NumberOfLogicalProcessors
 
@@ -56,26 +53,30 @@ finally {
 }
 
 #
-# Determine build environment: 'GitHub', 'NuGet', 'EWDK', or 'WDK'.  Only used to determine build number.
+# Determine build environment: 'GitHub', 'NuGet', 'EWDK', or 'WDK'.
 # Determine build number (used for exclusions based on build number).  Five digits.  Say, '22621'.
 #
 $build_environment=""
 $build_number=0
+$nuget_package_version=0
 #
 # In Github we build using Nuget only and source version from repo .\Env-Vars.ps1.
 #
 if ($env:GITHUB_REPOSITORY) {
     $build_environment="GitHub"
-    $build_number=$env:SAMPLES_BUILD_NUMBER
+    $nuget_package_version=([regex]'(?<=x64\.)(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+)').Matches((Get-Childitem .\packages\*WDK.x64* -Name)).Value
+    $build_number=$nuget_package_version.split('.')[2]
 }
 #
 # WDK NuGet will require presence of a folder 'packages'. The version is sourced from repo .\Env-Vars.ps1.
 #
-# Hack: If user has hydrated nuget packages, then use those. That will be indicated by presence of a folder named .\packages.
+# Hack: If user has hydrated nuget packages, then use those. That will be indicated by presence of a folder named '.\packages'. 
+#       Further, we need to test that the directory has been hydrated using '.\packages\*'.
 #
-elseif(Test-Path(".\packages")) {
+elseif(Test-Path(".\packages\*")) {
     $build_environment=("NuGet")
-    $build_number=$env:SAMPLES_BUILD_NUMBER
+    $nuget_package_version=([regex]'(?<=x64\.)(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+\.)(\d+)').Matches((Get-Childitem .\packages\*WDK.x64* -Name)).Value
+    $build_number=$nuget_package_version.split('.')[2]
 }
 #
 # EWDK sets environment variable BuildLab.  For example 'ni_release_svc_prod1.22621.2428'.
@@ -164,6 +165,10 @@ $jresult = @{
 $SolutionsTotal = $sampleSet.Count * $Configurations.Count * $Platforms.Count
 
 Write-Output ("Build Environment:          " + $build_environment)
+if (($build_environment -eq "GitHub") -or ($build_environment -eq "NuGet")) {
+    Write-Output ("Nuget Package Version:      " + $nuget_package_version)
+}
+Write-Output ("WDK VSIX Version:           " + ($env:SAMPLES_VSIX_VERSION) ? $env:SAMPLES_VSIX_VERSION : (ls "${env:ProgramData}\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.DriverKit,version=*" | Select -ExpandProperty Name).split('=')[1])
 Write-Output ("Build Number:               " + $build_number)
 Write-Output ("Samples:                    " + $sampleSet.Count)
 Write-Output ("Configurations:             " + $Configurations.Count + " (" + $Configurations + ")")
diff --git a/Building-Locally.md b/Building-Locally.md
index bb9fc610b..e3db8dde7 100644
--- a/Building-Locally.md
+++ b/Building-Locally.md
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ To build the Windows Driver Samples you need a "driver build environment".  In e
 
 ### Option A: Use WDK NuGet Packages
 * See [Download the Windows Driver Kit (WDK)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/download-the-wdk) for instructions on how to install Visual Studio, but only complete "Step 1".  You do not need to install the SDK or the WDK.
-* Install the Visual Studio Windows Driver Kit Extension (WDK.vsix).  Open Visual Studio -> Extensions -> Manage Extensions... -> Online -> Visual Studio Market Place -> Windows Driver Kit -> 10.0.26100.0 -> Download
+* Install the Visual Studio Windows Driver Kit Extension (WDK.vsix). 
+    * Open Visual Studio -> Extensions -> Manage Extensions... -> Browse. 
+    * In the search bar type: `Windows Driver Kit`. 
+    * Find the `Microsoft` signed extension. 
+    * Click the Install button.
 * Launch a "Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022".
 * Restore WDK packages from feed :
 
diff --git a/Env-Vars.ps1 b/Env-Vars.ps1
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d37e03cc..000000000
--- a/Env-Vars.ps1
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-# Environment variables for script sourcing.
-# Note: When a new WDK ships the following need to be updated: 
-#       1. Environment variables in .\Env-Vars.ps1 (this script)
-#       2. Nuget package versions in .\packages.config 
-#       3. Nuget package versions in .\Directory.Build.props
-#       4. SDK and WDK versions and WDK vsix link in .\configuration.dsc.yaml
-$env:SAMPLES_VSIX_VERSION = "10.0.26100.0"
-$env:SAMPLES_VSIX_URI = "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/_apis/public/gallery/publishers/DriverDeveloperKits-WDK/vsextensions/WDKVsix/10.0.26100.0/vspackage?targetPlatform=5e3e564c-03bb-4499-8ae5-b2b35e9a86dc"
-$env:SAMPLES_BUILD_NUMBER = "26100"