Easilly replace a Device Drive?

I was asked to:
1. Verify if the correct Device Driver is installed.
2. If not - replace said driver by another one.

My clientâ??s product is recognized as a â??Standard Deviceâ?? and Windows install
a default driver not working with the product. The user must install the
software first, but of course many do not read the manual ;)

The product is done, ready to deliver, so the solution needs to be somewhat
of a patch.

I have never done such low level development (mainly end-user applications,
GUI, and interfaces for DB) so I am not sure where to start;

I am trying to avoid the DDK, I am hopping for a quick solution with a
simple verification in the registry, and call some Windows API update/install
functions.

Does it make sense? Do I absolutely need the DDK? Where do I start? (A few
functions of the API usually gets me started)

Anyone can give me direction?

Thanks to all,

GG

Don
Wed May 17 13:21:42 CDT 2006

You need to use the SetupApi's and the best examples of these are in the
DDK. Note: this is user space code. Check out the devcon sample, it gives
you the capabilities of the device manager as a command line utillity. It
should give you everything you need for the application you propose.

Of course the real solution is to get the device driver signed so that
Microsoft will choose it instead of the standard driver.

--
Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
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"Erichard" <Erichard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:17F64708-4E45-445D-8076-2BE8E5F5D52B@microsoft.com...
>I was asked to:
> 1. Verify if the correct Device Driver is installed.
> 2. If not - replace said driver by another one.
>
> My client's product is recognized as a 'Standard Device' and Windows
> install
> a default driver not working with the product. The user must install the
> software first, but of course many do not read the manual ;)
>
> The product is done, ready to deliver, so the solution needs to be
> somewhat
> of a patch.
>
> I have never done such low level development (mainly end-user
> applications,
> GUI, and interfaces for DB) so I am not sure where to start;
>
> I am trying to avoid the DDK, I am hopping for a quick solution with a
> simple verification in the registry, and call some Windows API
> update/install
> functions.
>
> Does it make sense? Do I absolutely need the DDK? Where do I start? (A few
> functions of the API usually gets me started)
>
> Anyone can give me direction?
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> GG
>

pavel_a
Wed May 17 15:03:02 CDT 2006

In addition to Don's advise, check this:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/install/default.mspx

Download , install and read documentation.

Regartds,
--PA


"Erichard" wrote:
> I was asked to:
> 1. Verify if the correct Device Driver is installed.
> 2. If not - replace said driver by another one.
>
> My clientâ??s product is recognized as a â??Standard Deviceâ?? and Windows install
> a default driver not working with the product. The user must install the
> software first, but of course many do not read the manual ;)
>
> The product is done, ready to deliver, so the solution needs to be somewhat
> of a patch.
>
> I have never done such low level development (mainly end-user applications,
> GUI, and interfaces for DB) so I am not sure where to start;
>
> I am trying to avoid the DDK, I am hopping for a quick solution with a
> simple verification in the registry, and call some Windows API update/install
> functions.
>
> Does it make sense? Do I absolutely need the DDK? Where do I start? (A few
> functions of the API usually gets me started)
>
> Anyone can give me direction?
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> GG
>