DIFx + Vista + filter drivers

OSR_Community_User · October 24, 2006, 11:26am

I have filter drivers that I install (and uninstall) on-the-fly using
Service Control Manager. I do not have an .INF file for them. The driver
binaries are embedded in a user level support DLL and temp .SYS files
are created as needed. The mechanism does version checking & replacement
of persistent files. The application runs on Windows 2000 and up.

I have heard/read somewhere that in the future (Vista +), all drivers
must be installed using the Driver Install Framework (DIFx) suite. A
very quick look at the DIFx docs leads me to believe that it is for
Class & PnP drivers. File system filters do not seem to be referenced.
It looks like it demands an .INF file.

Did I hear wrong or do I need to start thinking about an .INF file and DIFx?

I’m very happy with what I have now.

Regards,
Mickey.

OSR_Community_User · October 24, 2006, 5:21pm

Start thinking, but it still works on RC2. For Vista64, make sure your drivers
are signed of course.

Mickey Lane wrote:

I have filter drivers that I install (and uninstall) on-the-fly using
Service Control Manager. I do not have an .INF file for them. The driver
binaries are embedded in a user level support DLL and temp .SYS files
are created as needed. The mechanism does version checking & replacement
of persistent files. The application runs on Windows 2000 and up.

I have heard/read somewhere that in the future (Vista +), all drivers
must be installed using the Driver Install Framework (DIFx) suite. A
very quick look at the DIFx docs leads me to believe that it is for
Class & PnP drivers. File system filters do not seem to be referenced.
It looks like it demands an .INF file.

Did I hear wrong or do I need to start thinking about an .INF file and DIFx?

I’m very happy with what I have now.

Regards,
Mickey.

Questions? First check the IFS FAQ at https://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=17

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OSR_Community_User · October 30, 2006, 11:53pm

Your current install model should continue to work on Vista and Longhorn
Server. There had been plans to require all drivers to use .INF files
and to fix DIFx to work with file systems and file system filters but
this was cut from Vista due to resource constraints.

Neal Christiansen
Microsoft File System Filter Group Lead
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no
Rights

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Mickey Lane
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:24 AM
To: Windows File Systems Devs Interest List
Subject: [ntfsd] DIFx + Vista + filter drivers

I have filter drivers that I install (and uninstall) on-the-fly using
Service Control Manager. I do not have an .INF file for them. The driver

binaries are embedded in a user level support DLL and temp .SYS files
are created as needed. The mechanism does version checking & replacement

of persistent files. The application runs on Windows 2000 and up.

I have heard/read somewhere that in the future (Vista +), all drivers
must be installed using the Driver Install Framework (DIFx) suite. A
very quick look at the DIFx docs leads me to believe that it is for
Class & PnP drivers. File system filters do not seem to be referenced.
It looks like it demands an .INF file.

Did I hear wrong or do I need to start thinking about an .INF file and
DIFx?

I’m very happy with what I have now.

Regards,
Mickey.

Questions? First check the IFS FAQ at
https://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=17

You are currently subscribed to ntfsd as: xxxxx@windows.microsoft.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com

OSR_Community_User · October 31, 2006, 8:49am

Neal,

Getting a filesystem filter installed using DIFx and an INF was one of the
most trivial things I have ever done. I was actually quite suprised at the
ease, one function call.

Are there hidden issues with this method of installation?

Pete

Kernel Drivers
Windows Filesystem and Device Driver Consulting
www.KernelDrivers.com
(303)546-0300

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Neal Christiansen
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 9:53 PM
To: Windows File Systems Devs Interest List
Subject: RE: [ntfsd] DIFx + Vista + filter drivers