windows vista inside out ch 5: setting up and troubleshooting hardware last modified 8-28-07 10 am
TRANSCRIPT
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