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Signing Drivers Through Windows HLK

Signing drivers is a crucial step in setting up new hardware devices on your Windows computer. The Windows Hardware Lab Kit (HLK) offers a solution to this challenge by providing a way to sign drivers, allowing you to install them on your system without facing security-related roadblocks. Installing drivers is an essential part of the process, and the HLK ensures that even unsigned or uncertified drivers can be successfully integrated into your Windows setup.

Signing drivers with the Hardware Lab Kit involves testing the drivers, generating signature files, and integrating those signatures into the driver package. This allows Windows to recognize the driver as certified and trustworthy. Having properly signed drivers is important for stability, compatibility, and leveraging all the features of your hardware.

This guide will walk you through the end-to-end process of using the Windows HLK to sign drivers for installation on your Windows desktop or server. We’ll cover the prerequisites, using the HLK tools to test and validate the drivers, generating signature catalog files, and integrating those signatures into the driver package.

Prerequisites Before Signing WINDOWS HLK Driver 

Before starting the Windows Hardware Lab Kit driver signing process, there are a few important prerequisites:

• Access to the Windows HLK tools: This requires an active Windows Developer account and Hardware Dev Center workspace.
• The unsigned driver files: These should be the final driver binaries you intend to release.
• A test computer running Windows: This is necessary for validating the drivers with the HLK tools. The test computer hardware should match the drivers’ intended use.
• Knowledge of driver packages: To insert the signature files in the right places, you’ll need basic familiarity with the files and components that make up a driver package.

Once you have completed those prerequisites, you’re ready to use the Windows HLK tools to test, validate, and sign your drivers.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Test and Validate Drivers Using the HLK Tools

The Windows Hardware Lab Kit includes a set of tools to run validation tests on drivers and generate the necessary signatures.

Here are the steps to test your driver with the HLK:

• Install the HLK Tools
• Configure HLK Tests
• Install Drivers on the Test Computer
• Run Tests and Validate
• (Optional) Troubleshoot Failures

Step 1: Install the HLK Tools

First, install the HLK tools on your test computer. You can do this by downloading the HLK ISO image, mounting it, and running the HLKSetup.exe installer. Once the tools are installed, reboot.

Step 2: Configure HLK Tests

Open the HLK Studio tool. This is where you’ll select the test classes and individual tests to run on your driver package. Go through and check the boxes next to all tests you wish to include. Refer to Microsoft’s documentation on recommended tests.

Step 3: Install Drivers on the Test Computer

Once the test computer boots into Windows, install the unsigned driver package you want to validate. Reboot once the installation is complete.

Step 4: Run Tests and Validate

In the HLK Studio, click the “Run Tests” button to execute your selected test cases on the installed drivers. The tests will run automatically and provide pass/fail results for each one. Ensure your driver passes all necessary tests before moving to signing.

Step 5: (Optional) Troubleshoot Failures

If some tests fail, you’ll need to resolve the issues in your driver and retest. Typical causes include bugs, compatibility problems, or failure to implement required features fully. Consult the HLK documentation and tool logs for troubleshooting.

Steps for Generating Signature Catalog Files

After successfully validating the drivers with the HLK tools, the next step is to produce the signature catalog files.

Here’s how:

• Run INF2CAT Tool
• Run SIGNING Tool
• Rename Signed Catalog

Step #1 Run INF2CAT Tool

Inside the HLK tools, run the INF2CAT command line utility. This will analyze your driver INF file and generate a catalog file (CAT) based on the details.

The basic command syntax is:

inf2cat /driver:C:\\Path\\to\\driver\\folder /os:OSVersion

inf2cat /driver:C:\\UnsignedDriver /os:10.0.18362.1

Step #2 Run SIGNING Tool

Next, take the resulting .CAT file and use the SIGNING tool to sign it. This will generate a signed catalog (.ST) file.

Basic syntax:

signing /v /ac C:\\Path\\to\\CATFILE.cat /s C:\\Path\\to\\STFILE.st

signing /v /ac C:\\UnsignedDriver\\DriverCatFile.cat /s C:\\UnsignedDriver\\SignedCatalog.st

This produces SignedCatalog.st based on DriverCatFile.cat.

Step #3 Rename Signed Catalog

Rename the .ST file to remove the .ST extension. It should now simply be:

This file contains the signatures required for your driver package.

How to Integrate Signatures into the Driver Package

After the SignedCatalog file is generated, the last step is to integrate it into the driver package, so Windows recognizes the signatures during installation.

• Copy SignedCatalog File
• Reference Signature in INF
• Include CAT and ST Files

Step 1: Copy SignedCatalog File

Copy the SignedCatalog file into the main folder of your unsigned driver package. This is the same folder containing the driver installer .INF file.

Step 2: Reference Signature in INF

Open the INF file in a text editor. Add a new section:

[SignatureAttributes] 
SignatureFile=SignedCatalog

Step 3: Include CAT and ST Files

Some versions of Windows may also look for the original CAT and ST files, so it’s best practice to include them as well. Copy these files into the driver package folder along with the SignedCatalog file.

Step 4: Distribute Signed Driver Package

Your driver package now contains the required signature files. You can distribute this package and install the signed drivers on Windows systems. When installed, Windows will detect the signatures from the Hardware Lab Kit and allow the driver to load.

Verifying Driver Signing

Once you’ve gone through the signing process and installed the signed drivers, there are a couple of ways to verify that the signatures were handled properly:

• During installation: Windows setup should present a dialog indicating verification of the driver’s signature. Instead of a warning, it should show the verified publisher’s name.
• Device Manager: Open Device Manager, right-click on the installed driver, go to Properties, and then the Details tab. Verify that a valid signature is shown under the “Driver Signer” field.
• SigVerif Tool: Use the SigVerif tool from the Windows Driver Kit to analyze the driver package. It will validate all digital signatures present within the files.

If you don’t see indications of a properly signed driver, double-check that the signature files were properly included in the package, as outlined above.

Final Thoughts

Installing new hardware on Windows often requires signed drivers to enable full functionality and stability. Unsigned drivers can lead to blocked installation, compatibility issues, and general unreliability. The Windows Hardware Lab Kit provides an efficient way to test, validate, and digitally sign your custom drivers for Windows.

By leveraging the HLK tools to verify quality drivers and generate trusted signature files, you can distribute driver packages that seamlessly install on Windows systems. Carefully following the end-to-end process covered in this guide will take you through generating signatures using the HLK, integrating those signatures into your driver package, and confirming the drivers are properly signed.

Investing the time to sign your drivers properly pays dividends through smoother deployments, fewer issues, and better user experiences for your hardware solutions on Windows platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about signing drivers with the Windows Hardware Lab Kit:

What are the benefits of signing drivers?

Signing drivers enables Windows to recognize them as certified and trustworthy, allowing proper installation and functionality. It prevents warnings, access issues, or instability caused by unsigned code.

Does the HLK only work for testing Windows drivers?

Yes, the Windows Hardware Lab Kit is designed specifically to test drivers that will run on Windows platforms. It does not apply to other operating systems.

Can I test drivers without official HLK access?

Unofficially, you can leverage tools like the Windows Driver Kit to test and debug drivers without HLK access. But official driver signing requires the use of the HLK and a Windows Developer account.

What if some HLK tests fail for my driver?

Debug the issues causing test failures. You can only generate signatures once all required HLK tests pass. Failures usually indicate bugs or compatibility problems.

How do I renew expired driver signatures?

If your signing certificate expires, you will need to resign the drivers using the HLK process. Make sure to plan certificate renewals ahead of time.

Can I sign drivers for multiple Windows versions?

Yes, you can test and sign drivers for different Windows versions using the HLK tools. The process is the same; you need to:

• Install each Windows OS on separate test machines
• Select the appropriate OS when running INF2CAT
• Pass all tests on each OS before generating signatures

This allows your driver package to be signed for compatibility with multiple Windows releases.

What if I need to modify a signed driver later?

If you update a previously signed driver, you will need to resign it, even if the changes are minor. Before redistributing, follow the full HLK signing process on the modified driver package.

Can I submit drivers to Microsoft for official WHQL testing?

Yes, after internally signing drivers with the HLK, you can submit them to Microsoft for additional WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) testing. This further validates compatibility for public Windows updates.

Are there alternative signing tools I can use?

Some third-party signing tools, like Signtool.exe, can sign drivers without HLK validation, but driver testing is still recommended. Only HLK produces signatures fully trusted by Windows.

Where can I find documentation for the HLK tools?

Microsoft provides documentation on using the HLK, which is included with the toolkit and on the Windows Hardware Dev Center site. The HLKSetup also installs samples and documentation.

What hardware do I need for the test computer?

The test machine hardware should match the system for which the drivers are targeted. This ensures proper validation during HLK testing. Having compatible hardware is key.

Is it possible to bypass driver signing enforcement?

On enterprise Windows editions, it is possible to disable enforcement of driver signature requirements, but this is not recommended. Unsigned drivers should still be properly tested and signed.

Can I use the HLK to sign other types of binaries other than just drivers?

No, the HLK is specifically designed to test and sign driver packages (.INF) and their associated binary files (.SYS). Code signing for other app binaries uses different tools.

Verified Web Security Experts

Priya Mervana is working at SSLInsights.com as a web security expert with over 10 years of experience writing about encryption, SSL certificates, and online privacy. She aims to make complex security topics easily understandable for everyday internet users.