| Most people understand that the "hardware" part | | | | software) for the PC. Should Microsoft be held |
| of their computer is the real physical parts, like | | | | responsible for the quality from a third-party?As I |
| the keyboard, mouse, modem, hard drive and so | | | | described in Part 1 of this article, the operating |
| on. They understand that the "software" is | | | | system doesn't interface directly to a hardware |
| computer bits stored on the hard drive, CD-ROM, | | | | device. There is a piece of software called a |
| or other storage media. But most people are a | | | | "driver" that translates the hardware's control |
| little hazy about exactly what a "driver" is.In this | | | | signals to signals that the operating system |
| article, I'm going to reveal in plain English what a | | | | expects, and translates signals from operating |
| driver is, why we need drivers, and exactly | | | | system to the hardware's control signals. |
| where the drivers are hiding. To give you a basic | | | | Obviously, the hardware manufacturer provides |
| understanding, I'm going to go back, way back, to | | | | the driver.Because the driver works between the |
| the early days of computers.The Early DaysThe | | | | operating system and the hardware, a bug in the |
| year is 1981 and the world is in the midst of a | | | | driver can cause a serious problem. Many of the |
| severe resession. IBM's main frame business has | | | | problems with Windows have come from bugs in |
| slowed and the company is losing money. Up until | | | | third-party drivers that Microsoft had nothing to |
| now they had been laughing at the array of | | | | do with. For this reason, Microsoft created a |
| microcomputers on the market: Atari, | | | | Hardware Quality Lab to test drivers. A hardware |
| Commodore, sinclair. Toys really, mostly used to | | | | manufacturer can submit their driver for testing, |
| play computer games.The problem was, these | | | | and if it is passes rigorous compatibility testing, it |
| "toys" were selling like hot cakes. IBM had to get | | | | receives Microsoft's digital signature.You may have |
| into that market and get into it fast. They didn't | | | | received a message during the installation of a |
| have time to design and build a computer | | | | hardware device warning that the driver was not |
| complete enough to compete in the market, so | | | | signed. Why would a hardware manufacturer fail |
| they built an "open system". They used | | | | to have their driver certified by Microsoft? The |
| commonly available electronic components and | | | | computer hardware market is very competitive |
| they published every design detail (including the | | | | and the manufacturer might want to bring a new |
| code), and they even provided plug in slots so | | | | product to market before thorough testing can |
| that others could build components for their | | | | be completed. Or maybe they don't want to or |
| computer.And people did provide components for | | | | can't afford to pay Microsoft for certification. The |
| the IBM PC. They provided video cards, memory | | | | question is, should you click on the "Continue" |
| expansion cards, input-output port cards, game | | | | button to install the unsigned driver?In my |
| port cards, hard disk interface cards, and much | | | | experience, I have never been able to trace a |
| more. How were all these various devices able to | | | | problem to an unsigned driver. If it's your home |
| interface with the PC's operating system? That's | | | | computer and you performed a back-up recently, |
| where a "driver" comes in.A hardware device is | | | | go ahead and install the unsigned driver. If it's a |
| constructed with various electronic components | | | | computer on a corporate network, you may |
| using various control signals, but the software | | | | want to back-out of the installation and see if you |
| interface to the operating system is standardized. | | | | can locate a signed driver first. Many times a |
| A device's interface to the operating system | | | | manufacturer will release a product with an |
| must follow the interface specification. A driver is | | | | unsigned driver, then later provide a signed driver |
| a piece of software that translates the | | | | as a free download from their website.If you |
| hardware's control signals to signals that the | | | | decide to go ahead and install an unsigned driver, |
| operating system expects, and translates signals | | | | you can always update the driver later. If your |
| from the operating system to the hardware's | | | | computer works with the unsigned driver, I would |
| control signals.When the computer is started up, it | | | | not update the driver. When it comes to updating |
| would look in the "system" directory for files with | | | | drivers (or the computers BIOS) I go by the old |
| the extension ".drv" and load them into memory. | | | | saying, "if it ain't broke don't fix it".To update a |
| Specific files like autoexec.bat, config.sys, and | | | | driver, select Start | Settings | Control Panel and |
| win.ini were used to inform the operating system | | | | double-click on the "System Properties" Utility. In |
| about drivers. Hardware would be configured | | | | the "System Properties" Utility, select the |
| through these files, or through jumpers located on | | | | "Hardware" tab and click on the "Device Manager" |
| the device itself.The driver specification evolved | | | | button. In the "Device Manager" window, right-click |
| along with the PC. Today when a PC starts, it | | | | on the device in the list and select "Properties" in |
| executes the program which queries the | | | | the popup menu. In the "Properties" dialog box, |
| hardware components and builds the registery | | | | select the driver tab and click on the "Update |
| key | | | | Driver..." button.In the "Properties" dialog box |
| entControlSet. This key exists only in memory | | | | driver tab, you may have noticed the "Roll Back |
| and is created each time the computer boots. If | | | | Driver" button. If your computer has problems |
| all the drivers are loaded successfully, a copy of | | | | with the new drive, you can click on the "Roll |
| the key is saved as ControlSet00X.Under the | | | | Back Driver" button to roll back to the previous |
| registery key CurrentControlSet, the subkey | | | | the driver. Driver roll back saves only one |
| "Enum" contains a subkey for each harware | | | | previous driver, so if you update a driver, then |
| device on the computer. Each device key contains | | | | update it again, the original driver is gone. If the |
| fields for Hardware ID, Driver ID, Device | | | | computer has problems with the new driver, |
| Parameters, and other configuration data. The | | | | always roll back to the original driver before trying |
| 32-bit drivers are files with the extension ".sys" | | | | a different one. That way you'll always have the |
| and can be found in the folder C:/winnt | | | | original driver to roll back to.Copyright(C) Bucaro |
| system32.Driver SigningMicrosoft has been the | | | | TecHelp.Permission is granted for the below article |
| brunt of much criticism because of the poor | | | | to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, |
| reliability of the Windows Operating System. I feel | | | | newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part |
| that much of this criticism is justified. On the | | | | of a product for sale as long as no changes are |
| other hand, as I described in part 1 of this article, | | | | made and the byline, copyright, and the resource |
| the PC was designed by IBM as an "open" | | | | box below is included. |
| system. Anyone can sell a hardware device (or | | | | |