Installing Device Drivers

[Dennis Bareis]

Hi,

I have device drivers for a plug an play USB keyboard (specialised).

To manually install it I just need to wait for detection and point it to the right directory.

Is it possible to simply copy the files somewhere or otherwise tell Windows to look at a specifical location?

I've also figured that there are two .inf files which if double clicked appear to run:

rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %1

with another possibility ("active install" whatever that is):

rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %1, DefaultInstall

The first I've tried and it does appear to do anything obvious and plugging in the keyboard doesn't pick up the drivers.

I've also tried Microsoft's "DevCon.EXE" which works ("install" option) but is useless as it is "not redistributable" (very friendly).
If I use it in an MSI which is used within the company, is that distribution?

I've tried to hunt down an alternative to "DevCon.EXE", any ideas on this or any other obvious approach?

Note that I know very little about drivers.

Thanks for any information,
Dennis

Dennis Bareis [MVP] (den...@KillSpam.dennisbareis.id.au)
http://dennisbareis.id.au/index.htm
Freeware Windows Installer creation tool (+ "ORCA automation"):
http://dennisbareis.id.au/makemsi.htm

[meaux]

Try looking at the Driver Installation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/install/DIFxtls.mspx

[dba...@cyberone.com.au]

Hi,

I am not the developer of the drivers and I don't want to have to get
them signed either. I am assuming that my knowledge level as well as
the degree of difficulty would also mean significant work and time to
use this approach. I will not get this time at work...

If I have to I'll write my own code similar to "DevCon.exe" install but
I'm hoping for something simpler. Windows Drivers seem to be stupid
compared with other operating systems and/or put a lot more common
infrastructure type work onto the developer and installer of a driver
(which really should be in the operating system)...

Bye,
Dennis

[Gary Chang[MSFT]]

Hi Dennis,

I noticed you also posted this issue in the group
microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin, and it appears you have already
got some ideas on this problem.

>If I have to I'll write my own code similar to "DevCon.exe"
>install but I'm hoping for something simpler.

>...

If you want to implement a simple DevCon.exe liked utility, how about try
to ping the microsoft.public.development.device.drivers newsgroup, may be
you will get more specific help there.

Good Luck!

Best regards,

Gary Chang
Microsoft Community Support
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[Chris Doré]

""Gary Chang[MSFT]"" <v-ga...@online.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> If you want to implement a simple DevCon.exe liked utility, how about try
> to ping the microsoft.public.development.device.drivers newsgroup, may be
> you will get more specific help there.

Not much more than "Look at the devcon source in the DDK."...I know that
would be my answer :)

Devcon can be somewhat confusing at first, but once you figure it out you
should have no trouble creating your own custom action.

Regards, Chris

[tomas.d...@repostor.com]

Hi,

I have tried to followed the example to install a driver using makemsi, but the drivers is not installed the same way as "right click -> install" on the xx.inf file.

I used this example: http://makemsi-manual.dennisbareis.com/driver_install_frameworks_difxapp.htm

Can someone give me a hint how to do this?
The driver is a kernel driver.

Regards Tomas