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Microsoft Vista Notes Home Page
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.
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