Embedded Files
Installing custom driver in Windows 7 is actually a painful process if your vendor did not properly pack the drivers according to Windows Development Kit (WDK) standards. Moreover, with drivers involving kernel modules are required to be digitally signed. These are some countermeasures to protect Windows 7 users from malicious drivers.
However, this guide is intended for those who are developing drivers for a device. You shouldn't use these methods unless you know what you're doing. Otherwise, a malicious driver can create drastic damages to your system and even your entire network as well.
TL; DR - Use at your own risk
TL; DR - Use at your own risk
Seek Official Installers
Seek Official Installers
Windows 7 does not packed with automatic drivers installation mechanism like Windows 10 does. Hence, the very first thing to do is to seek out official installers. This happens when your software vendors did not do a good job with installer package distribution.
Step 1 - Find Your Device Manager
Step 1 - Find Your Device Manager
There are various ways to go to your "Device Manager". One way is START> type "device manager" > select "Device Manager".
Step 2 - Find Your Device Properties
Step 2 - Find Your Device Properties
Now, locate the unknown device. It is usually listed in Other devices with question mark symbol (unknown). Right click on it and select Properties. This will bring up the device properties window.
Step 3 and 4 - Get Device Device ID and Vendor ID
Step 3 and 4 - Get Device Device ID and Vendor ID
- Now, switch the tab from "
General" to "Details". You then be able to see the screen similar as below. - Then set the property to "
Hardware Ids". - Get the ID number shown in step 4. All devices has a registered IDs.
- Example, USB has USB registered ID convention; PCI has its vendor ID and device ID.
- In the screenshot below, it is a PCI device with Vendor ID as
1033, Device ID as0194.
Step 5 - Search ID for Data
Step 5 - Search ID for Data
Now the actual instruction here is to search the internet with the ID you found. There are various ID repositories across the internet. These IDs are internationally registered so it is quite easy to search for it. USB has its own ID repository, etc.
Based on the example above, I found my PCI device (1033:0194) is actually a Renesas uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controlller.
Step 6 - Search for Driver
Step 6 - Search for Driver
Now that you know your device name, search the internet for the official installer. In my example, I found my driver available at Intel Download Center.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- Always download from recognizable, trust-able source. DON'T visit those unofficial driver installer pages. You usually get painful malware or infection from there.
- In my case, I trust Intel as a good driver supplier and download the driver from their official site "https://downloadcenter.intel.com".
- If you have trust issues, call the company up.
- If you can't find any official driver, you should think twice about using that device on your system. Chances are, that's a counterfeit or dangerous device. This is an exception if you're a device developer.
Step 7 - Install the Driver
Step 7 - Install the Driver
With everything in place, install the driver. It's the standard procedures.
Step 8 - Check The Driver Status Again
Step 8 - Check The Driver Status Again
Now switch back to "General" tab again at your "device properties". You should see that the status is saying the device is working properly.
Custom Driver Seeking
Custom Driver Seeking
There are vendors who supply a non-packaged drivers. These are usually a directory with those driver .sys files, which is the most notorious way of distributing driver.
WIP - Updating soon.
That's all about installing custom drivers on Windows 7.
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