« MyChron4 Firmware Update | Main | MXL GPS Update »
July 28, 2008
Vista 64-bit Workaround
Getting AiM, and many other companies, USB drivers to install on the 64-bit version of Windows Vista seemed about impossible. However, AiM Sports technician, Scott Jessup found a workaround.
Scott writes...
A built in feature of Windows Vista 64-bit operating systems is to automatically disable the installations of all device drivers that are not digitally signed. Unlike Windows XP, there is no way to disable this ban from within the OS. This has posed a problem for us attempting to install the AiM USB drivers.
The typical error message that will tip you off to this situation is that Windows has found the correct driver, however, it is not digitally signed, and therefore will not be installed. (Note: I’ve personally run into this issue many times, but not once has the customer read back to me the error message verbatim, therefore, I went down many incorrect paths attempting to install the driver...all of which failed miserably.)
After searching the internet for a possible workaround, it appears that many owners of Win Vista 64 were extremely upset with this “protection”. The results were a myriad of hacks to disable the Digitally signed device driver ban. I was slightly apprehensive about hacking into the customer’s registry unless I knew what the ramifications were. The last thing I wanted to do was create more problems after getting our driver installed.
As it turns out, Microsoft actually listened to their customers and made for a “one time per use” disable option in the Boot Menu. This selection can be accessed by repeatedly typing “F8” while the computer is booting up. (I found that hitting it about once a second was enough to access the Safe Boot menu.)
Once the safe boot menu appears, you will find a selection that temporarily disables the Digitally Signed driver protection. (The next time the PC is booted, the protection will be enabled again automatically.) Select this and then continue with the boot. Once fully booted, now continue with the driver installation as normal.
Note: The following issue proceeded once I had disabled the protection. I’m not sure if it was due to my many unsuccessful prior attempts to install the driver or if it is standard procedure. Once I attempted to install the driver, everything proceeded as normal until an error message popped up stating that Windows could not find “AIM_USBdrv10_01.sys”. The destination for this file is C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers. So, I copied this file into this location and reattempted the driver installation. This time the driver installed 100% without a hitch and continued to work flawlessly throughout the remainder of the week while I was there.
Posted by Mike Jaynes at July 28, 2008 05:39 PM