- Automatic Checks
These checks are always performed on a driver that is being verified, regardless of which options have been selected. If the driver uses memory at an improper IRQL, improperly calls or releases spin locks and memory allocations, improperly switches stacks, or frees memory pool without first removing timers, Driver Verifier will detect this behavior. When the driver is unloaded, Driver Verifier will check to see that it has properly released its resources.
- Special Pool
When this option is active, Driver Verifier allocates most of the driver's memory requests from a special pool. This special pool is monitored for memory overruns, memory underruns, and memory that is accessed after it is freed.
- Force IRQL Checking
When this option is active, Driver Verifier places extreme memory pressure on the driver by invalidating pageable code. If the driver attempts to access paged memory at the wrong IRQL or while holding a spin lock, Driver Verifier detects this behavior.
- Low Resources Simulation
When this option is active, Driver Verifier randomly fails pool allocation requests and other resource requests. By injecting these allocation faults into the system, Driver Verifier tests the driver's ability to cope with a low-resource situation.
- Pool Tracking
When this option is active, Driver Verifier checks to see if the driver has freed all its memory allocations when it is unloaded. This reveals memory leaks.
- I/O Verification
When this option is active, Driver Verifier allocates the driver's IRPs from a special pool, and monitors the driver's I/O handling. This detects illegal or inconsistent use of I/O routines.
- Deadlock Detection
(Windows XP and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors the driver's use of spin locks, mutexes, and fast mutexes. This detects if the driver's code has the potential for causing a deadlock at some point.
- Enhanced I/O Verification
(Windows XP and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors the calls of several I/O Manager routines and performs stress testing of PnP IRPs, power IRPs and WMI IRPs. In Windows 7 and later versions of the Windows operating system, all the features of Enhanced I/O Verification are included as part of I/O Verification and it is no longer available nor necessary to select this option in Driver Verifier Manager or from the command line.
- DMA Verification
( Windows XP and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors the driver's use of DMA routines. This detects improper use of DMA buffers, adapters, and map registers.
- Security Checks
( Windows Vista and later ) When this option is active, Driver Verifier looks for common errors that can result in security vulnerabilities, such as a reference to user-mode addresses by kernel-mode routines.
- Miscellaneous Checks
( Windows Vista and later ) When this option is active, Driver Verifier looks for common causes of driver crashes, such as the mishandling of freed memory.
- Force Pending I/O Requests
( Windows Vista and later ) When this option is active, Driver Verifier tests the driver's response to STATUS_PENDING return values by returning STATUS_PENDING for random calls to IoCallDriver.
- IRP Logging
(Windows Server 2003 and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors a driver's use of IRPs and creates a log of IRP use.
- Disk Integrity Checking
(Windows Server 2003 and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors hard disk access, and detects whether the disk is preserving its data correctly.
- SCSI Verification
(Windows XP and later) When this option is active, Driver Verifier monitors a SCSI miniport driver for improper use of exported SCSI port routines, excessive delays, and improper handling of SCSI requests.