Device Driver Questions(Driver works Win-7 and earlier, not on Win-10)

dw85745 · 29 Oct 2023

I have a scanner. The device drivers (dll files) are the same for Win-7 and Win-10
I can use the scanner under Win-7, and it functions as designed.
Under Win-10 it does not work (Win-10 says the driver is OK).
A new driver is Not available.
I wrote a program using WIndows Image Acquisition (WIA) LIbrary and I can pull the properties from the scanner.
But I am unable to actually drive the scanner.

If I recall correctly, I've read a lot of material, MIcrosoft now has a driver list (I assume linked to Trusted Installer) where they are checking drivers, and based on certain criteria, the driver is flagged to fail. Whether this is correct??

Can anyone shed some light on this subject (details please)?

Thanks

dalchina · 29 Oct 2023

Hi, I have an old scanner that definitely doesn't work under Win 10.. yours is probably newer.
You don't mention the model... have you seen any evidence that ANYONE has got it to work - presumably under 64 bit rather than 32 bit Windows? If so, there's hope. If the evidence is to the contrary, a different approach is needed.

Have you tried installing the driver in an appropriate compatibility mode?

If the driver uses any 16 bit elements you're of course out of luck by definition with 64 bit Windows.

There are 2 other options:
a. Use a virtual machine under Win 10 (e.g. Virtualbox, free). Install Win 7 as a VM, and install your scanner under that.
I've used mine like that.

b. Vuescan - not free- supports many old scanners.

dw85745 · 29 Oct 2023

dalchina: As always thanks for responding.

1) I'm not sure how one even installs a device driver in compatibility mode -OR- tells the OS to use it in compatibility mode.
. Right clicking the driver does NOT bring up compatibility options or properties. (I'll have to research this one)..
The drivers have at least resided on the system since 2007, with OS upgrades automatically taking care of them working.
This is an HP scanner that uses HP universal driver, which is still available.
So my bet this is on the OS side.

2) The primary reason for this post, was to get info on what is going on behind the scenes in regard to why drivers don't work with OS upgrades. If the OS (Win-10 here) shows the driver is OK, then something else is going on. What?

dalchina · 29 Oct 2023

1 - depends how the driver is packaged - no info.. no screenshot.. no URL.. exe? msi? inf file? something else?

History: unclear if the scanner was working under Win 10 and has now stopped, and you are attributing that to an update, or whether you mean you have tried to use the scanner with a Win 10 machine for the first time.

2. Clearly it's impossible for MS to test and verify all possible drivers and hardware combinations with each and every update.
Thus sometimes some users experience problems- occasionally almost all in some way (!).

MS has 'feature update holds' where a new build is not delivered to particular users based on known issue criteria.
Likewise a KIR policy for updates is possible (known issue rollback).

Someone may be able to comment on your concern.

If the OS (Win-10 here) shows the driver is OK,

- what suggests it's being validated? Was it delivered via Windows Update?

dw85745 · 29 Oct 2023

As indicated this was a Win-7 system upgraded to Win-10 (several Win-10 update since).
The scanner has never worked in Win-10. ( I always have to reload Win-7 to use it PITA.)

I just tried checking if I could set compatibility mode for::
1) The driver itself (dll),
2) The software I use (Microsoft FAX and Scan) > WFS.exe, and
3) Creating a shortcut to WFS.exe.
In all three cases I could NOT bring up compatability mode.

My searches indicate other people have this same issue related to older printers, scanners, and video cards (with video even newer cards).

- what suggests it's being validated? Was it delivered via Windows Update?

Checking it in device manager says driver is up to date.

dalchina: Thanks again. Hopefully someone who has programmed the Kernel will respond.

=======================
This answer part of my question:

Compatibility mode is not available for all software programs. If you cannot see the compatibility mode option on your software program, it indicates that this option is unavailable, and the app/program/game may only run on the current Windows version. You cannot use compatibility mode for Microsoft Store apps. And to prevent potential data loss or to avoid leaving your PC to security risks, it’s recommended not to use compatibility mode on antivirus programs, firewall software, backup software, disk utilities, or on system programs that shipped with the Windows OS. (How to change Compatibility Mode settings in Windows 11/10)

dalchina · 29 Oct 2023

It is not possible - nor is it meaningful- to attempt to set compatibility mode for a dll.

As I said, your option to set the compatibility mode is when you install the driver.
That is, you start with a driver package that you intend to install - not some odd dll borrowed from somewhere else.

So, I suggest your first port of call is to download the driver for your scanner.

That's assuming you need to install a driver, and the scanner is not simply relying on support provided by the O/S.

Too vague for me to deal with.. I'm out. Good luck.