FAQ: Process

[Question] Can we resell logo-qualified products overseas with a different name?

[Answer]: You can use the alternate marketing name option available at your product submission page in Winqual. This is available for products that have the same major version and minor version and binaries.

[Question] What is the cost to get a product certified as Compatible with Windows 7?

[Answer]: There is no cost associated to test your application for the Compatible with Windows 7 Software Logo Program. You only need to have a Winqual account to create the submission. However to create a new Winqual account, you need a VeriSign Organizational Certificate ($99).

[Question] Why is code signing required?

[Answer]: Signing the application files (exe, dll, ocx, sys, cpl, drv, scr) using an Authenticode digital signature allows users to be sure that the software is genuine. It also allows detection if a file has been tampered with, for example, infected by a virus. Kernel-mode code signing enforcement is a Windows feature known as code integrity (CI) that improves the security of the operating system (OS), by verifying the integrity of a file each time the image of the file is loaded into memory. CI detects whether malicious code has modified a system binary file. It also generates diagnostic and system-audit log events when the signature of a kernel module fails to verify correctly.

[Question] How do I code-sign files with my VeriSign Digital Certificate using SignTool.exe?

[Answer]: You can follow the readme document that comes as part of the Winqual.exe zip package that you get from the Winqual signup process. Also you can refer to the Winqual help here.

[Question] Do we need to retest for Compatible with Windows 7 if we have a version change?

[Answer]: Just as you should validate your application’s eligibility before testing it with the toolkit, you should also validate the eligibility for major and minor version changes. The Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program considers applications distinct when they have differing major or minor versions. In general, application version numbers are broken down to Major, Minor, Build, and Revision. In your application, if the major and minor versions are not same then you must retest and resubmit these applications. Updates only to the build or revision do not require retesting and resubmission. Please see Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program Technical Requirements for more details).

Example of version changes that do not require resubmission:

1.0.0.0 To 1.0.1.1
2.1 To 2.1.1

Example of version changes that require resubmission

1.0.1.1 To 1.1.1.1
2.0.1 To 2.1
2.1 To 3

[Question] How can we apply for a waiver for the Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program?

[Answer]: The waiver process is now built into the automated Windows 7 Client Software Logo Toolkit itself. After you run through the tests using the toolkit, it will provide you with an option to apply for a waiver on your failed test cases.

[Question] Can we use the same waiver for all the submissions?

[Answer]: A waiver is valid for only one submission. In the future, if you submit another version of the same application, you must apply for a waiver again.

[Question] Are plug-ins eligible for the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo Program?

[Answer]: Plug-ins/add-ins are not eligible for the software logo program.To be eligible for the Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program, an application should be able to run on its own and be detected by the OS (make an ARP entry/footprint on the system). For further requirements on application eligibility, please check the Technical Requirements and Program Eligibility document.

[Question] Are ClickOnce applications eligible for the software logo program?

[Answer]:

• Online-only (network deployed, no physical existence in the system) ClickOnce applications are currently not eligible for the logo program because they don’t have any footprint in the system and therefore are not detected by the OS (in ARP) or by the logo toolkit.

• Offline ClickOnce applications (detected by both the OS and the toolkit) are eligible for the program.

[Question] Do we receive any confirmation mail after a successful submission?

[Answer]: You might not receive any confirmation e-mail after a successful submission in Winqual. In the Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program, Winqual submission status itself is the confirmation. Also, after your submission is signed, the product will appear globally in the Winqual List and the Windows 7 Compatibility Center.

[Question] What will be the tested product ID to request for the partner points?

[Answer]: For the Windows 7 Client Software Logo Program, your Submission ID is the Tested Product ID and Product Name is the exact Product Name in the Winqual submission. To request partner points, go to the partner portal a week after the date submission is signed.

Note:

According to the MSPP rules and calculations, you can get at most 30 points for Windows 7 certification and only the product earning the most points will be awarded points (for example, in case you have two logo-qualified products that are both earning 30 points, you will get 30 points only).

[Question] If we submit multiple applications or different versions of the same application, do we get partner points for all the versions or applications?

[Answer]: Microsoft partners do not accrue points by having multiple applications or multiple versions of one application that pass testing. If a Microsoft partner submits multiple applications or multiple versions of one application for testing, Microsoft will only award points for the one version of the one application that has the most points associated with it.

[Question] How do we map drivers to WER?

[Answer]: Navigate to Hardware -> Manage Driver Mapping (from the left hand menu) after login to Winqual site.