INFO: How to Copy Driver Files During Device Installation on a Windows 2000-Based System (319592)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Driver Development Kit (DDK), when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q319592

SUMMARY

If you install a signed third-party driver on a Windows 2000-based system, the driver files are always copied, even if they are replacing the exact same binary. Moreover, if a file to be copied is in use, you have to restart your computer after installation.

On the other hand, a file that is considered valid by the third-party driver's catalog is not replaced on a Microsoft Windows XP-based system (therefore, if a driver is already installed, the installation media is not required). Additionally, Windows XP detects whether a file that is in use and being replaced is the exact same binary as the source file (compared byte-by-byte) If it is, Windows XP does not try to queue a delayed rename for the operation. Therefore, there is no need to restart the computer after installation.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2004
Keywords:kbfile kbinfo KB319592
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