Writing Windows WDM Device Drivers
A nuts-and-bolts reference highlighting the Windows Driver Model (WDM).
TABLE OF CONTENTS Writing Windows WDM Device Drivers
Appendix B: PC 99
PC 99 is a hardware and software specification for various types of PCs: Consumer PCs, Office PCs, and Entertainment PCs, including mobile PCs. Windows CE portables are not covered.
Certified PC 99 compliance gets you a nice "Designed for Microsoft Windows" logo on your box.
Drivers
Software plays a large part in achieving PC 99 compliance. Having a driver for both Windows 98 and Windows 2000 is a requirement for all PC types. If a driver is bundled with a PC when it is sold, it must pass the PC 99 compliance tests.
The PC 99 specification says that a driver must not use INI files, just the registry. INF style installation must be used, if possible. Drivers must be installed in the correct directories. A driver must not use the same filename as a system driver. A driver must be installable without user input. If a driver has any special parameters, a help file for these must be provided.
WDM drivers must fit in with all the bus specifications and device class driver specs.
The Specification
The PC 99 specification is in the MSDN Library CD Books section. It has many useful appendices and checklists. There are required, recommended, and optional features.
The specification is also available in book form. The PC 99 System Design Guide, version 1.0 is available from Microsoft Press (ISBN 0-7356-0518-1).
The general drift of the specification is to move PCs away from the traditional IBM-compatible PC to one dominated by PCI, SCSI, USB, and...
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