Windows VistaWindows VistaInside OutInside Out

Ch 5: Ch 5: Setting Up and Troubleshooting Setting Up and Troubleshooting HardwareHardware

Last modified 8-28-07 10 am

A Crash Course in Device Drivers

Each hardware device needs a Each hardware device needs a driverdriver A compact control programA compact control program

Vista has a library of drivers called the Vista has a library of drivers called the Driver StoreDriver Store In C:\Windows\System32\DriverStoreIn C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore

Using the Driver StoreUsing the Driver Store

Any user can read and execute files in the Driver Store No Administrator credentials are required

The Driver Store is created when Vista is The Driver Store is created when Vista is installedinstalled Windows Update can add drivers to itWindows Update can add drivers to it Administrators can add other drivers to the Administrators can add other drivers to the

store, even ones that are not Microsoft store, even ones that are not Microsoft approved or signedapproved or signed

INF FilesINF Files

Each driver has Setup Each driver has Setup Information file (.inf)Information file (.inf)

Contains instructions Contains instructions Windows uses to install Windows uses to install the driver filesthe driver files

Driver Store drivers Driver Store drivers have INF files inhave INF files in %systemroot%\inf%systemroot%\inf Usually C:\Windows\infUsually C:\Windows\inf

Three Types of DriversThree Types of Drivers

WHQL-Signed by MicrosoftWHQL-Signed by Microsoft

Signed by a third partySigned by a third party

UnsignedUnsigned

Best

Worst

WHQL-Signed DriversWHQL-Signed Drivers

Windows Logo ProgramWindows Logo Program Signed by Microsoft’s Windows Hardware

Quality Lab (WHQL) Proves the driver has not been altered Also proves the driver has been thoroughly Also proves the driver has been thoroughly

tested so it won’t crash Windowstested so it won’t crash Windows The most trustworthy drivers

Can be installed by any user with no warnings

Drivers Signed by a Third PartyDrivers Signed by a Third Party

Signed with digital certificates called Signed with digital certificates called “Authenticode Signatures”“Authenticode Signatures” Proves the driver has not been altered Not tested by Microsoft, may cause Windows Not tested by Microsoft, may cause Windows

to crashto crash

Drivers Signed by a Third PartyDrivers Signed by a Third Party

If the user has not chosen whether to trust If the user has not chosen whether to trust a publisher or not yeta publisher or not yet

This box appears, so the user can decide This box appears, so the user can decide whether to trust that publisherwhether to trust that publisher

Drivers Signed by a Third PartyDrivers Signed by a Third Party

If an Administrator has designated that If an Administrator has designated that publisher as trustedpublisher as trusted The driver can be installed by any user with The driver can be installed by any user with

no promptsno prompts If the publisher is not trustedIf the publisher is not trusted

Only an Administrator can install the driverOnly an Administrator can install the driver Installation will fail silently for Installation will fail silently for

non-Administrators non-Administrators

Unsigned DriversUnsigned Drivers

32-bit Vista will 32-bit Vista will show this box show this box asking whether to asking whether to install the driverinstall the driver

64-bit Vista 64-bit Vista requires all requires all drivers to be drivers to be signedsigned

Unsigned DriversUnsigned Drivers

No guarantee that the driver has not been No guarantee that the driver has not been alteredaltered

No guarantee that anyone has tested itNo guarantee that anyone has tested it Driver may cause a system crash or contain a Driver may cause a system crash or contain a

trojantrojan Can be installed only by AdministratorsCan be installed only by Administrators

Can not be used at all on 64-bit VistaCan not be used at all on 64-bit Vista

Using Older DriversUsing Older Drivers

If no Vista driver is availableIf no Vista driver is available A Windows XP or Server 2003 driver will A Windows XP or Server 2003 driver will

usually workusually work Older drivers probably will not workOlder drivers probably will not work

Device ManagerDevice Manager

Starting point for all Starting point for all hardware and driver hardware and driver troubleshootingtroubleshooting

To launch it:To launch it: Start, DEVMGMT.MSC, Start, DEVMGMT.MSC,

EnterEnter• OrOr

Start, right-click Start, right-click Computer, ManageComputer, Manage

Device PropertiesDevice Properties

Double-click icon in Device ManagerDouble-click icon in Device Manager

Driver TabDriver Tab

Shows version, Shows version, and who signed and who signed the driverthe driver

Roll back option Roll back option – returns to the – returns to the previous driver previous driver versionversion

Error Icons in Device ManagerError Icons in Device Manager

Question mark andQuestion mark and Yellow exclamation Yellow exclamation

pointpoint Indicate a missing Indicate a missing

driver or other driver or other configuration configuration problemproblem

Installing and Configuring a New Device

Almost all devices are Plug and PlayAlmost all devices are Plug and Play When you plug in a deviceWhen you plug in a device

Vista looks in the Driver Store for a matching Vista looks in the Driver Store for a matching driverdriver

Messages like this one show the Plug and Messages like this one show the Plug and Play processPlay process

Found New Hardware WizardFound New Hardware Wizard

If Vista can’t If Vista can’t find a signed find a signed driverdriver

The Found The Found New Hardware New Hardware wizard appearswizard appears

Driver VerifierDriver Verifier

If your computer has blue-screens, If your computer has blue-screens, lockups, or other strange behaviorlockups, or other strange behavior

Driver Verifier will thoroughly test all Driver Verifier will thoroughly test all drivers at startup, and stop if it finds any drivers at startup, and stop if it finds any problemsproblems Then you can fix the problem, and turn Driver Then you can fix the problem, and turn Driver

Verifier off againVerifier off again

Driver VerifierDriver Verifier

Open an Administrator Command PromptOpen an Administrator Command Prompt VERIFIERVERIFIER