36

Chapter 1

Installing Windows Vista Client

Figure 1-17

Browsing for driver software

The driver software installs, and the computer might request that you reboot.

Driver Signing

Before allowing the installation of a device driver, Windows Vista examines the driver’s digital

signature. A digital signature is a special block of code used to verify the identity and integrity

of a set of files. If a signature is present, Windows Vista validates the integrity of the driver files.

Windows Vista then assigns the driver one of the following categories:

■

Signed by Windows Signing Authority

This driver is either included in Windows Vista

or distributed through Windows Update. This driver is signed either by Windows Hard-

ware Quality Lab (WHQL) testing or Windows Sustained Engineering.

■

Signed by trusted publisher This driver is signed by a third party (non-Microsoft orga-

nization) that the user has explicitly chosen to trust.

■

Signed by untrusted publisher This driver is signed by a third party that the user has

explicitly chosen not to trust.

■

Signed by publisher of unknown trust This driver is signed by a third party that the

user has not designated as trusted or untrusted.

■

Altered Using the digital signature, Windows Vista has determined that the driver files

have been altered since being signed by the publisher.

■

Unsigned These drivers do not have a valid digital signature.

If the user attempting to install the driver has no administrative privileges, Windows Vista

automatically installs drivers from trusted publishers and silently refuses to install drivers

from all other categories. Trusted publishers are designated by a user who has administrator

privileges using a special tool called the Certificates console. Using the Certificates console is

beyond the scope of the 70-620 exam.