The Windows Driver Kit (WDK) 1

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The DDK has been superseded by the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). While the DDK can be downloaded openly, you may need to register for free and participate in the respective Microsoft community to download WDK. Microsoft said that the WDK should be used for the following reasons:

 

  1. Use the Windows Vista build environments in the WDK to build drivers that use new features or functionality available only in Windows Vista.
  2. Use the Windows Server 2003 build environments in the WDK to build drivers that use new features or functionality available only in Windows Server 2003.
  3. Use the Windows XP build environments in the WDK to build drivers that do not use new functionality available only in Windows Vista or only in Windows Server 2003 and that are targeted for either Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP. The Windows XP build environments in the WDK contain minor updates to the Windows DDK that shipped with Windows XP SP1 and with Windows XP.

 

 

You should use the Windows 2000 build environments in the WDK to build drivers designed to run on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000. The Windows 2000 build environment in the WDK includes updated headers and libraries for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4).

 

Installing the WDK

 

Firstly, go to the WDK site to download the ISO. If you download the ISO, you need to burn it on the CD to make it usable. If needed, you can rename the .ISO extension to .IMG. If you want to get an idea how to install/extract the .IMG/.ISO files, go to this link. Newer DVD/CD-ROM can read directly the ISO, so no need for us to burn it and you can skip the ISO burning steps. Then we are ready to install the WDK. Insert the previously burned ISO CD into the DVD/CD-ROM drive and the autorun should be launched welcoming you with the following splash screen. Click the splash screen.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK): Install welcome splash screen

 

Select the features that need to be installed. In this case we select all the features. When you select any of the features, the description will be displayed at the bottom window. Click the OK button to continue.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install selecting features to be installed

 

Next, the default path was given to us. Edit or use the Browse button if you need to modify the installation path. In this case we just accept the given default path. Click the OK button.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: selecting the installation path

 

Accept the EULA and click the OK button.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: accepting the EULA

 

The installation progress window will start. You can cancel the installation any time.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: installation progress

 

Just accept the Device Simulation Framework (DSF) warning page.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: Device Simulation Framework (DSF) warning message

 

The installation should begin. Just wait until it finish.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: installation progress 1

 

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: installation progress 2

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: installation progress 3

 

If there is no error, the installation should be completed successfully at this stage. Any error should be welcomed with Windows error message and you should take appropriate action for re-installation. Next, you can verify the installation through the Start menu as shown below.

 

Windows Driver Kits (WDK) install: WDK and Windows Debug Tools start menu

 

 

 

< Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Programming | Win32 Programming | Windows Driver Kit (WDK) 2 >