CIS 170F: Windows 7 Administration

Week 3

Using the System Utilities
Hardware Management
Device Driver Compatibility

  • Some device drivers designed for previous versions of Windows do not work properly with Windows 7. The driver incompatibility is due to changes that make Windows 7 more stable and secure. If a driver does not function properly in Windows 7, you must get an updated driver from the device manufacturer.
  • Some of the potential device driver compatibility issues include:
    • A 32-bit version of Windows 7 requires 32-bit drivers and a 64-bit version of Windows 7 requires 64-bit drivers.
    • All driver files referenced in an INF file must be part of the driver installation package.
    • Installers cannot display a user interface during installation. Some device drivers display a user interface during installation to request conf guration information. You must obtain an updated device driver from the manufacturer that does not present a user interface during installation.
    • Digital signatures are required for 64-bit drivers that run in kernel mode. The 64-bit version of Windows XP allowed unsigned drivers to be installed. You must obtain a signed version of 64-bit drivers from the device manufacturer if a driver is not included with Windows 7.
    • Driver user interfaces may not appear properly. Windows 7 isolates services in session 0 and runs applications in other sessions. Processes running in session 0 cannot access the display driver to display a user interface. This is most likely to be a problem with printer drivers.
    • Registry management changes for 64-bit Windows 7 may prevent drivers from updating settings properly. The 64-bit Windows 7 registry supports ownership of keys. This may re- sult in a user other than the original installer being unable to change device driver settings.
    • Video drivers written for Windows 2000 or Windows XP cannot support the new Aero Glass interface. You must obtain a new device driver that meets the requirements of the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
    • Windows 7 uses the NDIS 6.20 interface for network devices. Network drivers for Windows XP are NDIS 5.x and are translated, which reduces performance. To ensure the best performance, obtain an NDIS 6.0 or newer network driver.
    • Kernel mode printer drivers cannot be used in Windows 7. Replace Kernel mode printer drivers with newer, user mode drivers from the printer manufacturer. This affects a very small number of printer drivers. Affected printer drivers are typically specialized devices used in manufacturing environments, such as barcode printers.