Section 12.4. Driver Signing


12.4. Driver Signing

Every now and then, when you try to install the software for one new gadget or another, you'll see a warning box that says, "Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software."

It's not really as scary as it sounds. It's just telling you that Microsoft has not tested this driver for Windows Vista compatibility and programming solidity. (Technically speaking, Microsoft has not put its digital signature on that driver; it's an unsigned driver .)


Note: In very rare circumstances, you may also see messages that say, "This driver software has been altered " or "Windows cannot install this driver software." In those cases, go directly to the hardware maker's Web site to download the official driver software; Windows is trying to warn you that hackers may have gotten their hands on the driver version you're trying to install.

In theory, you're supposed to drop everything and contact the manufacturer or its Web site to find out if a Vista-certified driver is now available.

In practice, just because a driver isn't signed doesn't mean it's no good; it may be that the manufacturer simply didn't pony up the testing fee required by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs. After all, sometimes checking with the manufacturer isn't even possiblefor example, it may have gone to that great dot-com in the sky.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Driver vs. Driver

Which is better: the drivers that come with Windows, or the drivers I've downloaded from the manufacturer's Web site?

In many cases, they're the same thing. The drivers included with Windows usually did come from the hardware's manufacturer, which gave them to Microsoft. However, you should still use the drivers that came from your gadget's manufacturer whenever possible, especially if you got them from the manufacturer's Web site. They're likely to be newer versions than the ones that came with Windows.


So most people just plow ahead. If the installation winds up making your system slower or less stable, you can always uninstall it, or rewind your entire operating system to its condition before you installed the questionable driver. (Use System Restore, described on Section 14.2, for that purpose. Windows automatically takes a snapshot of your working system just before you install any unsigned driver.)


Tip: If you'd rather not contend with the "unsigned driver" message every time you install something, you can shut it upbut it's a lot of work. The trick is to press F8 each time you turn on the PC. On the black screen shown on Section 14.5, choose Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. (Come to think of it, it's not really worth the effort.)



Windows Vista for Starters
Windows Vista for Starters: The Missing Manual
ISBN: 0596528264
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2007
Pages: 175
Authors: David Pogue

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