Using the System Utilities

132 Chapter 3 Using the System Utilities
Device Driver Compatibility
Some device drivers designed for previous versions of Windows do not work properly with
Windows 7. The driver incompatibility is due to changes that make Windows 7 more stable and
secure. If a driver does not function properly in Windows 7, you must get an updated driver
from the device manufacturer.
Some potential device driver compatibility issues are:
• A 32-bit version of Windows 7 requires 32-bit drivers and a 64-bit version of Windows 7
requires 64-bit drivers.
• All driver files referenced in an INF file must be part of the driver installation package. In
previous versions of Windows this was preferred, but not enforced. This may cause the installation
of some drivers to fail.
• Installers cannot display a user interface during installation. Some device drivers display a
user interface during installation to request configuration information. You must obtain an
updated device driver from the manufacturer that does not present a user interface during
installation.
• Digital signatures are required for 64-bit drivers that run in kernel mode. The 64-bit version
of Windows XP allowed unsigned drivers to be installed. You must obtain a signed
version of 64-bit drivers from the device manufacturer if a driver is not included with
Windows 7.
• Driver user interfaces may not appear properly. Windows 7 isolates services in session 0
and runs applications in other sessions. Processes running in session 0 cannot access the
display driver to display a user interface. This is most likely to be a problem with printer
drivers.
• Registry management changes for 64-bit Windows 7 may prevent drivers from updating
settings properly. The 64-bit Windows 7 registry supports ownership of keys. This may result
in a user other than the original installer being unable to change device driver settings.
• Video drivers written for Windows 2000 or Windows XP cannot support the new Aero
Glass interface. You must obtain a new device driver that meets the requirements of the
Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
• Windows 7 uses the NDIS 6.20 interface for network devices. Network drivers for Windows
XP are NDIS 5.x and are translated, which reduces performance. To ensure the best
performance, obtain an NDIS 6.0 or newer network driver.
• Kernel mode printer drivers cannot be used in Windows 7. Replace Kernel mode printer
drivers with newer, user mode drivers from the printer manufacturer. This affects a very
small number of printer drivers. Affected printer drivers are typically specialized devices
used in manufacturing environments, such as barcode printers.
By using only devices certified as Designed for Windows 7, you can ensure
that appropriate device drivers are available.
Device Manager
Device Manager is the primary tool for managing device drivers. The main purpose of Device
Manager is to allow you to view and modify hardware device properties. Some of the tasks that
can be performed with Device Manager are:
• Determining whether installed hardware is functioning correctly
• Viewing and changing hardware resource settings
• Determining and changing the drivers used by a device
• Enabling, disabling, and uninstalling devices
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