Lesson 4: Working with

Disks and Devices

MOAC 70-687: Configuring Windows 8
Working with Devices
and Drivers
Lesson 4: Working with Disks and Devices
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Device Drivers
To communicate with the operating system
running on the computer, each device requires
a software element called a device driver.
The device driver provides the operating system
with information about a specific device.
o The Properties sheet for a printer includes generic
system information.
o Other tabs, such as the Device Settings tab, are
based on hardware-specific information provided by
the device driver.

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Device Drivers
The Device Settings tab of a printers Properties sheet
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Understanding Device
Drivers
A major part of the Windows 8 installation
process consists of identifying the devices in
the computer and installing the appropriate
drivers for them.
The Windows 8 installation package (HCL)
includes hundreds of drivers for many
different devices, which is why many
installations finish without any user
intervention.
Sometimes you have to supply device
drivers yourself.
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Understanding Driver
Complexity
Virtually every component in a PC requires a
device driver.
Device drivers vary greatly in complexity.
Drivers for many standard computer devices
operate virtually invisibly.
Some drivers are more complex.
o For example, graphics adapters are self-
contained computers in themselves, with their
own processors and memory.
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Creating a Driver
Update Policy
Keeping up with the drivers for all devices
can be difficult.
Consider whether installing each driver
update is necessary and safe.
Test all driver updates before deploying
them, especially in an enterprise
environment.
Avoid installing driver updates as soon as
they are released. Wait at least a week or
more for major issues to arise.
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Understanding
Driver Signing
A signed driver is a device driver that
includes a digital signature.
The digital signature value is a protected
checksum.
A protected checksum is the value of an
algorithmic function that is dependent on
the contents of the data object and that is
stored together with the data object.
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Bypassing Digital
Signature Requirements
One of the design imperatives in Windows 8
is faster booting.
Depending on system hardware, the interval
during which a user can press the F8 key
can be as small as 200 ms.
Windows 8 has a different method for
modifying the boot options.
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Deprecated
Access Advanced Boot Options
The PC settings menu
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The General menu
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The Choose an Option menu
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The Troubleshoot menu
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The Advanced options menu
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The Startup Settings page
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Access Advanced Boot Options
The Startup Settings menu
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Working with Devices
Most PCs use Universal Serial Bus (USB)
connections for peripheral devices.
Plug and Play is an integral part of the USB
standard. (IRQs)
When you connect a USB printer or other
USB device to a computer running Windows
8, the system usually detects it, adds it to the
Devices and Printers control panel, and
installs the appropriate device driver for it.
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Working with Devices
The Devices and Printers control panel
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Working with Devices
The Choose a device or a printer to add
to this PC page
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Supplying Drivers During
Windows 8 Installation
There are occasions when the installation
program fails to identify a device. When this
occurs, one of three things happens:
o The installation program installs a generic driver
instead.
o The installation program leaves the device
without a driver and completes the installation.
o The installation program permits you to supply an
alternate driver or, failing that, halts.
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Updating Drivers with
Windows Update
The Windows Update website was originally
designed to provide users with operating
system updates, but it now includes a large
library of device driver updates as well.
If Windows 8 is configured to use automatic
updating, the system will download device
drivers only for hardware that does not have
a driver installed.
Windows Logo defined!
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Using Device Manager
The primary Windows 8 tool for managing
devices and their drivers is Device Manager.
You can use Device Manager to get
information about the devices installed in
the computer as well as to install, update,
and troubleshoot device drivers.
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Using Device Manager
The Windows 8 Device Manager
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Viewing Device
Properties
Device Manager is capable of displaying
information in the following four modes:
o Devices by type
o Devices by connection
o Resources by type
o Resources by connection

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Viewing Device Properties
Device Managers Devices By Type display
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Viewing Device Properties
Device Managers Devices By Connection display
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Viewing Device Properties
Device Managers Resources by Type display
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Viewing Device Properties
Device Managers Resources by Connection display
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Device Manager
Properties Sheet
Most devices have these tabs on their
Properties sheet:
o General
o Driver
o Details
o Events
o Resources


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Viewing Device Properties
A Device Manager Properties sheet
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Enabling and Disabling
Devices
With Device Manager, you can disable any
device in the computer, using any of these
procedures:
o Select the device and then choose Disable from
the Action menu
o Right-click the device and then choose Disable
from the context menu
o Open the devices Properties sheet and then
click the Disable button on the Driver tab
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Updating Drivers
When you update a driver using Device
Manager, you can point to a location on
your computer where you have already
saved the new driver, or you can run a
search of your computer and the Internet.
Drivers LocationsDEMO
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Update a Device Driver
The How do you want to search for
driver software? page
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Update a Device Driver
The Browse for driver software on your computer page
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Rolling Back Drivers
It is not uncommon for new drivers to cause
more problems than they solve, and many
users find that they would prefer to go back
to the old version.
Windows 8 makes this possible with the Roll
Back feature, which you initiate by clicking
the Roll Back Driver button on the Driver tab
of the devices Properties sheet.
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Troubleshooting Drivers
To troubleshoot hardware or driver problems, consider
some of these techniques:
Open the Properties sheet for the device and check the
Device Status box on the General tab. If the device is
malfunctioning, this tab informs you of its status and
enables you to launch a troubleshooter.
Open the Device Manager and delete the device
entirely. Then restart the system and allow Windows 8 to
detect and install the device over again.
If the device or driver malfunction prevents the system
from running properly, as in the case of a bad graphics
driver that prevents an image from appearing on the
screen, you can start the computer in Safe Mode by
using the Advanced Boot Options procedure.
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