Vista SP2: Windows Driver Model Upgrade
Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista extends the operating system's support for drivers that play nice with all Windows operating systems.
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28.12.2008 The Vista driver outlook gets a little brighter
’ve been watching for the past six months as PC hardware makers deliver updated drivers to make their products work with Windows Vista. Lately, the trickle has turned into a steady stream.
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8.7.2007 Windows Vista Display Driver Model
The Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) is a new display driver architecture supported in Windows Vista. This display architecture is an overhaul of the Windows XP-based display architecture and gives users a better performing, more reliable desktop experience, while supporting new scenarios, graphics, and applications.
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2.8.2006 Vista SP1 Has Driver Compatibility Problems? Do Tell!
Ever since February 4, 2008, the day Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 were released to manufacturing, Microsoft made a move indicating that it was not entirely comfortable to release Vista SP1.
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4.3.2008 Device driver updates causing Vista to deactivate
After weeks of gruelling troubleshooting, I've finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA -- something as small as swapping the video card or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation.
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24.10.2007 ATI driver flaw exposes Vista kernel to attackers
An unpatched flaw in an ATI driver was at the center of the mysterious Purple Pill proof-of-concept tool that exposed a way to maliciously tamper with the Windows Vista kernel. Thanks to pacpis for this news.
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12.8.2007 Windows Driver Kit Beta release hints at upcoming Vista SP1
Thanks to pacpis for this post. One of our members received the following e-mail earlier today from the WDK team:
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18.7.2007 Windows 7 E Full Version at Upgrade Prices, but No Upgrade SKU
With a new edition of Windows 7 tailored especially for Europe, Microsoft revealed that with this release of its Windows client, it was doing things differentially.
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25.6.2009 Driver Magician Lite 3.31
Driver Magician Lite is freeware, it identifies all the hardware in the system, extracts their associated drivers from the hard disk and backs them up to a location of your choice.
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11.10.2007 Driver Magic - Automatically updates your computers drivers
Automatically updates your computers drivers quickly and easily.
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4.7.2007 Xinput Driver for Microsoft Common Controller (64 Bit)
The Microsoft Common Controller Driver is a new game input standard that is used for both the Xbox360 console and for Windows XP SP1 and above.
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6.5.2006 Windows Driver Kit RTM Build 6000.16386 Available on Connect
UPDATED! Microsoft have made the final version of the Windows Driver Kit available on Connect under the
Microsoft Windows Driver Kit Beta Program.
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5.11.2006 Intel Centrino Wireless Driver Malformed Frame Remote Code Execution
Security vulnerabilities exist in the Microsoft* Windows* drivers for the Intel® 2200BG and 2915ABG PRO/Wireless Network Connection Hardware because of the way that they currently handle certain frames.
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7.8.2006 An easier upgrade to Vista is foreseen
For most people, the normal time to upgrade to a new operating system is when they get a new computer.
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30.5.2006 Windows Vista - Anytime Upgrade
Yesterday, Windows Vista blog announced how windows anytime upgrade works.Current windows users can purchase and download a digital key to upgrade to a more feature-rich edition of Windows Vista.
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21.1.2007 How to Upgrade to another edition of Windows Vista
If you want more features in Windows Vista, you can upgrade to another edition. You can either buy an upgrade disc at a retail store or use Windows Anytime Upgrade to buy the upgrade online, and then use your Windows Anytime Upgrade disc or the Windows installation disc to complete the process.
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21.1.2 Vista upgrade workaround revealed
An IT professional claims to have discovered a way of upgrading to a full version of Vista from scratch, while only paying the cost of an upgrade for an earlier version of Windows.
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14.2.2007 Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor 1.0
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is designed to help Windows XP users identify whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista, which edition of Windows Vista meets their needs, and which features of Windows Vista will be able to run on their PCs.
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18.2.2007 Should You Upgrade from Vista to XP SP3?
Windows Vista was released to manufacturing and to businesses in November 2006, and the operating system hit the shelves only at the end of January 2007.
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27.12.2007 How to Upgrade Vista SP1 to Windows 7
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate 1 has been released to Microsoft Connect, MSDN, Technet subscribers, and it’s also available for free download in Windows Update. Because, make no mistake about it, Windows 7 will grow its installed base for the most part to the detriment of its precursors.
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28.2.2009 Tell Hasta la Vista to XP - Time to Upgrade to Vista SP1
Like it or not, this is the right time not only to upgrade to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 but also to tell hasta la vista to Windows XP.
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30.6.2008 exFAT DRIVER for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
Microsoft has released an update for Windows XP SP2 and SP3 system that adds exFAT file system drivers to the operating system.
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6.2.2009 Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Beta
It looks like Microsoft wants to make sure you know if your computer is ready for Windows Vista. Currently, the beta only works on Windows XP systems. Chances are, if you are running something older than Windows XP, your computer won?t run Windows Vista anyways. It?s nice to see a downloadable tool in advance. So that you do not have to buy Windows Vista and then find out your computer won't run it.
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18.5.2006 Want To Upgrade Vista Without Visiting The Store? No Problem
Microsoft testers are getting an early look at new functionality designed to allow users to upgrade to more powerful and, presumably, more expensive versions of Vista.
Microsoft is testing a new Windows upgrade mechanism, known as Windows Anytime Upgrade. A first iteration of the technology is integrated into the February CTP (Community Technology Preview) releases of Vista that went to testers starting the week of Feb. 20.
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7.3.2006 Microsoft Upgrade Planning for Windows Vista
You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista.
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31.7.2006 Vista upgrade invalidates your XP key
If you choose to purchase an upgrade version of Windows Vista to upgrade XP, you will no longer be able to use that version of XP.
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30.1.2007 Microsoft ignores Vista upgrade loophole
Microsoft will not close a loophole that offers consumers a cheaper way to upgrade to Windows Vista.
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7.2.2007 Hidden Costs of a Windows Vista Upgrade
The shiny, new Windows Vista beckons, and an upgrade is mighty tempting. But before you take the plunge, be aware that you may end up forking out a lot more money than just the cost of an operating system upgrade.
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12.2.2007 No cheap upgrade to Vista for Mac users
After years of delays and billions in development and marketing efforts, it would seem that Microsoft Corp. would want anyone who possibly can to buy its new Windows Vista operating system.
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23.2.2007 Microsoft: Some Computers Cannot Upgrade to Windows Vista
Microsoft has published a list of computers from the Tokyo-based manufacturer Toshiba that cannot upgrade to Windows Vista. The Redmond Company offers no explanation why no less than
13 models of Toshiba computers cannot be upgraded to Windows Vista.
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25.4.2007How to identify a buggy device driver on Windows Vista
If your computer is acting unpredictably, locking up, and encountering blue screens of death, then youre most likely the victim of a faulty driver.
The Driver Verifier Manager (DFV) is a great tool for troubleshooting driver problems by identifying the troubling driver. Although DFV does not
actually fix the driver, it still is a really useful tool because it helps you identify the troubling driver so you can choose to delete or update the
driver.
Before you attempt to use this tool, please be sure that your are really having driver problems. The tool will prevent
your computer from starting by identifying the troubling driver. I say this only because it may be a lengthy process for you but if you are
having troubles, it will definitely be worth it.
winbeta.org -
18.02.2008Ballmer tells companies to upgrade from XP
CEO of Microsoft Corporation, Steve Ballmer, has warned companies to upgrade from Windows XP, or else they will face anger from employees. The reason
for this is because, according to Steve, "If you deploy a four or five-year old operating system today, most people will ask their boss why the heck
they don't have the stuff they have at home". Many of you know that many companies chose to stick on Windows XP when Vista was released, due to
poor driver support on Vista, and the fact that XP did everything they needed. However, PC World states that 31 percent of IT decision-makers said
they are beginning the switch to Windows Vista.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
06.02.2009Windows Server 2008: Printer-Driver Packages
Day Twelve. We're almost halfway through our series. Today we'll continue on with our Printing theme - specifically, Printer-driver packages.
We'll also provide some background on the driver store feature of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
Printer-driver packages
are digitally signed printer drivers that install all of the components of the driver to the driver store on computers running Windows Vista or
Windows Server 2008. Using printer-driver packages on a print server that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 enables users who are not
members of the local Administrators group to connect to the print server and install (or receive) updated printer drivers. Before we go too much
further, let's go over the concept of the driver store.
winbeta.org -
12.02.2008Microsoft: 1 in 10 Vista printer driver installations fail
At a WinHEC session in Los Angeles last week, bloggers report, just during last September, of the driver installations for Windows Vista automatically
reported back to Microsoft, over 11% of install attempts for printer drivers failed...
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11.11.2008Will your PC run Windows
Vista? Download the Windows
Vista Upgrade Advisor
The Windows Vista Upgrade
Advisor is an application that
you can run on your current
Windows XP-based computer to
find out if it's ready for an
upgrade to Windows Vista...
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25.05.2006Microsoft recommends upgrade to Vista before Windows 7
As Windows 7 gets ready for its next release, it could be already hurting Vista's remaining chances with businesses and organizations. Microsoft
has started to push Vista to its corporate customers. Earlier this month Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer warned companies to upgrade from XP. Following
Ballmer, Gavriella Schuster, Senior Director in Windows Product Management group urges businesses to upgrade to Windows Vista now, even if they plan
to move to Windows 7 when it ships. Schuster argues that the benefits of Vista upgrade would outweigh the costs of upgrading to Vista and urges
companies to start Windows 7 Beta testing as soon as possible.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
12.02.2009Why isn't Vista loved as much as XP?
Lately there are a lot of articles bashing Windows Vista for its lack of driver support, stability or poor performance. All of these concerns are true
just like all previous Windows versions.
I remember sites cropping up left and right back in 2001 that were dedicated to showing consumers
how to get hold of Windows XP drivers and if your hardware was even compatible! At the time Windows XP was completely new, Windows 98/ME drivers
didn't work on this new OS - you needed either new hardware or hope that the manufacturer would code (beta) drivers for your devices. In my case I
had a very expensive 10/100MBit Ethernet card from HP (the name escapes me, it's 7 years ago!) and I emailed customer service about lack of driver
support and they told me they would never release one and it was being discontinued, despite the driver being included in all "Whistler" builds
right up until about the 24xx releases.
I had to install the older 24xx build and then "upgrade" to the latest beta releases. I think I
did that until the RC's and finally swapped out the card for something else.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
17.01.2008Catalyst 8.12 display driver
AMD has released the new Catalyst 8.12 display driver for Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit, Windows Media Center Edition, Windows Vista 32-bit and
Windows Vista 64-bit. The new Catalyst 8.12 drivers, aside from performance improvements, enable ATI Stream technology. View: ATI website
Download: ATI Catalyst 8.12 Display Driver
Read full
story.....
neowin.net -
11.12.2008Device driver updates causing Vista to deactivate
After weeks of gruelling troubleshooting, Ive finally had it confirmed by Microsoft Australia and USA -- something as small as swapping the video card
or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation.
Put simply, your copy of Windows will stop working with very little
notice (three days) and your PC will go into "reduced functionality" mode, where you cant do anything but use the web browser for half an
hour. Youll then need to reapply to Microsoft to get a new activation code.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
24.10.2007Microsoft: Upgrade Your Vista Betas
Microsoft reminded users of
Windows Vista beta builds
Tuesday that their operating
system will expire on May 31.
However, those running the
free pre-release copies of
Vista may be happy to discover
they can simply purchase a
cheaper Upgrade version of the
OS...
betanews.com -
25.04.2007Creative Sound Blaster Audigy
series Vista Beta Driver
This download is a
beta driver providing
Microsoft? Windows? Vista
32-bit and 64-bit Beta Build
5231 support for Sound Blaster
Audigy?, Audigy 2, and Audigy
4 series audio devices. It is
not fully tested and provides
limited
functionality.
nr
This download supports
the following audio devices
only:
* Creative Sound
Blaster? Audigy including
Platinum and Platinum eX
series
* Creative Sound
Blaster Audigy 2 including
Platinum, Platinum eX, and
Value series
* Creative
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
including Platinum and
Platinum Pro series
*
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy
4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy
4
Take note of the
following:
* THIS IS AN
UNSUPPORTED BETA DRIVER. There
is no technical support for
this driver.
* We
recommend that only
experienced users install this
driver. Do not install this
driver for critical
tasks.
* This download
supports Windows Vista 32-bit
and 64-bit Beta Build 5231 and
may not work on other Vista
builds.
Dow
nload:
Creative
Audigy Beta Driver for Windows
Vista..
winbeta.org -
17.11.2005Vista Service Pack 1: It lives
With all the
Microsoft-created confusion
out there around when — and
even whether — the company
plans to deliver the first
service pack (SP) for Windows
Vista, it’s nice to see some
concrete proof that Vista SP1
does exist.
The
http://www.winfuture.de/news,3
1801.html>WinFuture.de folks
managed to grab a quick
snapshot of a machine running
a build of Vista SP1 during
one of the Rally talks at the
Windows Hardware Engineering
Conference (WinHEC) in Los
Angeles this week. Plain as
day, it says: “Windows Build
6001 Service Pack 1, v113.”)
I also saw a
PowerPoint slide mentioning
the existence of Vista SP1
during a WinHEC chalk talk on
“The Future of Input” at
this week’s show. (The
context: A shim for the
kernel-mode driver foundation
version of the digitizer
driver will ship as a Windows
Driver Kit sample in Vista
SP1. That was it.)..
winbeta.org -
17.05.2007NVIDIA & Vista Driver News
No doubt NVIDIA's lack of
Vista drivers for their
hardware has been a heated
topic since the launch of the
8800 series. Well we have a
lot of good news tonight
direct from the mouths at
NVIDIA. NVIDIA has released
their "NVIDIA Windows Vista
Driver version 100.54"
tonight to developers,
testers, and reviewers under
an information embargo. So
obviously it will likely be
found online any minute for
your download. Some things to
note though.
This
driver is intended for testing
on GeForce 8800 GTX/GTS series
GPUs. This driver is intended
for DirectX 9 and DirectX 10
application testing in single
GPU only. It is not
recommended for NVIDIA SLI
testing. 3D performance of
this driver is improved over
Release 95 Vista drivers, and
is on par with Windows XP for
the top applications, with the
exception of OpenGL
applications. This driver can
also be used with GeForce 7
and GeForce 6 series GPUs,
though performance can be
slower on some applications
because we still have work to
do on our drivers.
jcxp.net -
26.01.2007ATI driver flaw exposes Vista kernel to attackers
An unpatched flaw in an ATI
driver was at the center of
the mysterious Purple Pill
proof-of-concept tool that
exposed a way to maliciously
tamper with the Windows Vista
kernel.
Purple Pill, a utility
released by Alex Ionescu and
yanked an hour later after the
kernel developer realized that
the ATI driver flaw was not
yet patched, provided an easy
way to load unsigned drivers
onto Vista effectively
defeating the new
anti-rootkit/anti-DRM
mechanism built into
Microsofts newest operating
system.
In an interview, Ionescu
confirmed his tool was
exploiting a vulnerability in
an ATI driver atidsmxx.sys,
version 3.0.502.0 to patch
the kernel to turn off certain
checks for signed drivers.
This meant that a malicious
rootkit author could
essentially piggyback on ATIs
legitimately signed driver to
tamper with the Vista
kernel.
winbeta.org -
10.08.2007NVIDIA & Vista Driver News
No doubt NVIDIA's lack of
Vista drivers for their
hardware has been a heated
topic since the launch of the
8800 series. Well we have a
lot of good news tonight
direct from the mouths at
NVIDIA. NVIDIA has released
their "NVIDIA Windows Vista
Driver version 100.54"
tonight to developers,
testers, and reviewers under
an information embargo. So
obviously it will likely be
found online any minute for
your download. Some things to
note though.
This driver is intended for
testing on GeForce 8800
GTX/GTS series GPUs. This
driver is intended for DirectX
9 and DirectX 10 application
testing in single GPU only. It
is not recommended for NVIDIA
SLI testing. 3D performance of
this driver is improved over
Release 95 Vista drivers, and
is on par with Windows XP for
the top applications, with the
exception of OpenGL
applications. This driver can
also be used with GeForce 7
and GeForce 6 series GPUs,
though performance can be
slower on some applications
because we still have work to
do on our drivers.
jcxp.net -
28.01.2007ATI Driver Package Opens Vista to Flaw
In case you haven't seen it,
the ATI driver package can
potentially open your Vista
kernel up to a compromise. ATI
and MS are working to rectify
the issue.
In an interview, Ionescu
confirmed his tool was
exploiting a vulnerability in
an ATI driver - atidsmxx.sys,
version 3.0.502.0 - to patch
the kernel to turn off certain
checks for signed drivers.
This meant that a malicious
rootkit author could
essentially piggyback on
ATI's legitimately signed
driver to tamper with the
Vista kernel.
jcxp.net -
13.08.2007Vista Hardware Assessment Tool Addresses Upgrade Dilemmas
Perhaps the most oft-asked
question by consumers with
regard to whether they should
adopt Windows Vista is whether
their six-month-old or older
hardware is too obsolete for
Vista to make good use of it.
This morning, Microsoft
released for free download the
XP version of its Vista
Hardware assessment tool,
whose aim is to tell consumers
what they may need to upgrade
in order to put the best
polish on those heavily
anticipated exclamations...
betanews.com -
21.02.2007Microsoft Details Vista
Upgrade Paths
With Windows Vista nearing its
first release candidate in
preparation for a final launch
early next year, Microsoft is
providing more details about
possible upgrade paths. Of
note: Windows 2000 cannot be
upgraded to Vista...
betanews.com -
01.08.2006ATI: Linux vs. Windows Vista
The results may surprise you...
Since AMD introduced their
new Linux display driver last month, we have published a number of different articles looking at the Radeon performance across
their different GPU product generations. This ATI/AMD Linux driver testing and exploration continued this month with the release of the
8.42 driver, which finally introduced AIGLX support for the fglrx driver. One
area though we haven't yet analyzed is how their official Linux driver now compares to their much-optimized Windows Catalyst driver. Today, however,
we will be looking just at that as we compare the ATI Radeon HD 2900XT 512MB performance under Linux and Microsoft Windows Vista.
winbeta.org -
31.10.2007Understanding Windows 7 upgrade paths
Windows 7 has already earned itself a blue ribbon, and it isn't even in stores yet. Many Vista users will migrate to Redmond's latest and
greatest operating system in search of greener pastures, and countless Windows XP laggards will be lured from the woodwork by Windows 7's polish.
Microsoft will be granting both XP and Vista users the right to buy "Upgrade" versions of Windows 7 which run for considerably less money. But in
terms of how you can perform an upgrade on a machine already running Windows, for some the in-place upgrade option will make the experience seamless;
all your programs, files and settings will remain untouched coming from certain versions of Vista.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
03.09.2009
