Chapter 14: Windows Hardware Installation

Labs you will perform in this chapter:

• Lab 14.1: Modifying Driver Signing

• Lab 14.2: Installing a Non–Plug-and-Play Device

• Lab 14.3: Installing a Plug-and-Play Device

This chapter covers how to install a device. Every device must be configured to work properly. This configuration includes installing the drivers so the device will work with the operating system. The configuration must also cover the unique hardware settings like the I/O address, IRQ, and occasionally the DMA channel.

One of the recent improvements Microsoft has introduced is driver signing, which ensures that device drivers function correctly with their operating systems. The additional benefit of driver signing is the assurance that the driver has not been modified since its signing. This eliminates the possibility of viruses being hidden in the driver. Because not all drivers are signed, especially older drivers, the first lab in this chapter will cover how to configure the driver signing policy.

Plug-and-Play (PnP) devices simplify this process by automatically configuring the device and then searching for the device driver. Unfortunately, not all operating systems do a good job with PnP, and not all devices are capable of allowing the operating system to perform their configuration. So, every technician needs to understand how to install a non-PnP device. The A+ exam covers the requirements to install both types of devices. This chapter will also cover how to install both types.

Note

For more information, see Chapter 15 of David Groth’s A+ Complete Study Guide (Sybex, 2003).