System Setup Phases
For most devices, you should design your device and supporting files so that Windows can install the device at an appropriate time during system startup, or dynamically at any time after startup while the system is running. However, certain devices must be installed during a particular phase of system startup. To assist vendors of such devices, this section provides some background information about the system setup phases as they relate to device installation.
Installations during Text-Mode Setup
When Windows starts on a system, the initial phase of the setup process installs only the minimum number of devices needed for Windows to run, such as the keyboard, mouse, video adapter, SCSI/Disk, and Machine/HAL. This phase of the setup process is known as text-mode setup.
For a user to install your device during text-mode setup, your distribution disk must include a text file that is named TxtSetup.oem. For more information, see Installing a Boot-Start Driver.
Installations during GUI-Mode Setup
After text-mode setup has finished, the setup process starts Windows and proceeds with the GUI-mode setup phase of the installation. Once started, Windows installs most devices during GUI-mode setup.
Devices that are not installed during GUI-mode setup include those that require user interaction to be installed. For example, if this is the first time that a device is being configured on the system and a co-installer for the device supplies one or more custom Finish pages, Windows must display the pages to the user. Windows performs such a device installation when a user who has administrative privileges logs on.
Installations after the System is Running
Once a system is up and running, a user can install new devices:
To install a new PnP device, plug the device into the system.
If the device and the bus support hot-plug notification, device installation is initiated automatically.
If the user has to turn off the system and open the system box to plug in the device, the device will be recognized and configured when the system restarts.
If the device can be plugged in while the system is running and the device and the bus do not support hot-plug notification, use the Add Hardware Wizard to initiate device configuration.
To install a non-PnP device, use the Add Hardware Wizard.
If Windows can install the device in the trusted context of a system process, the user does not need administrative privileges to install the device. If Windows has to prompt the user for information, it requires the process context of an administrative user to install the device.
To update a driver for an installed device, use Device Manager or click the Hardware tab of the appropriate Control Panel program. Click the Properties button on the Hardware tab for a device that is listed in Control Panel to display the properties for the device.