How to Install Windows Drivers with Software Applications

Updated: August 1, 2006

File name: app_drv.doc
182 KB
Microsoft Word file
Get Office File Viewers

Download

About This Download

Microsoft Windows Vista provides enhanced support for both software-first and hardware-first installations of driver packages that have accompanying software applications. These enhancements, along with changes in the requirements for the Windows Vista Logo Program for Hardware, enable hardware vendors to support both software-first and hardware-first installations more easily.

The Windows Vista logo program requirements allow device co-installers to invoke other programs to install applications. Vendors can use this technique to dramatically improve hardware-first installation scenarios.

Windows Vista implements new features that further improve the user's experience:

• A co-installer can use finish-install actions to present a user interface outside the Found New Hardware Wizard, which enables the co-installer to implement a customized user interface or to launch Microsoft Internet Explorer to download applications.

• A new INF directive, HardwareId, can be added to Autorun.inf to prevent the Found New Hardware Wizard from running and allow AutoRun to run the application installer first.

This paper describes methods that vendors can use to implement driver installation packages that support both software-first and hardware-first installation of driver packages. These methods work together with the driver store, which is a special storage location on a user's computer where Plug and Play saves drivers that have yet to be installed. The driver store improves security, driver versioning, and corporate deployment of drivers on the Windows Vista operating system.

This information applies for the following operating systems:
Windows Vista
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows 2000

References and resources discussed here are listed at the end of this paper.

Included in this white paper:

• Methods for Installing Drivers with Applications

• Software-First Scenarios

• Hardware-First Scenarios

• Method 1: A Co-Installer that Launches an Application Installer

• Method 2: An Application that Is Integrated with the Driver Package

• Method 3: A HardwareId INF Directive in Autorun.inf

• Device Installation Process

• Implementing Installation Methods

• Multifunction

Looking for drivers and updates for your personal computer?