HOWTO: Use unsigned drivers under Vista x64

[YMAA]

2GB of RAM used to be the standard amount for high-end systems, but 4GB is starting to take over. That, in addition to the huge drop in price of high-end memory sticks have convinced people to make the jump to 4GB. To that end, more people have started to use 64-bit operating systems, Vista in particular. This is all well and good, but unfortunately good old Microsoft decided to ensure your system's safety by requiring programs to install signed drivers only. This wouldn't be so bad, if the following weren't true:

a) To get their drivers signed, software companies must pay a large sum of money, and

b) Most software makers don't have that kind of money.


Luckily, it is pretty easy to disable the check for signed drivers, which will allow you to use any unsigned drivers you wish.


Just as a warning, I'm not liable if following this guide messes up your computer. You do it at your own risk, but I personally haven't wrecked anything from doing this trick in the many times I've done it, on multiple computers.


Firstly, there are some updates to the 64-bit OS that enforce the check for signed drivers. The "hack" I list below in the form of a batch script will only work if these updates are not installed:


KB932596
KB938979
KB941649
KB943078
SP1 RC (see below)


If this is a fresh installation of Vista, simply don't install them. If they are installed, uninstall them immediately. Then make sure you hide them through Windows Update so you don't have to see them.



Next, create a new batch script by creating a new file called ddisable.bat (file extension is important, make sure it is a .bat file) and add this line:

bcdedit /set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS

Save and close the file. Open up a command prompt window with Admin privileges and run the batch script. Restart the computer. Now you should be able to use programs that use their own unsigned drivers, like:

CoreTemp
Modded graphics card drivers that aren't signed
VMware Server (installs its own network driver)
Rivatuner before version 2.05
ATItool
ATI Tray Tools
And more

Note: I've heard reports that even with the driver signing updates installed, pressing F8 before the OS loads and choosing an option for allowing unsigned drivers will still work, but I haven't personally tested it because:

a) My keyboard driver doesn't initialize until after the point at which I can access those options, and

b) It's inconvenient to have to do that hack every time the OS loads. It's much more convenient to do this because it's permanent, you don't need anything else after you perform the hack.

NOTICE TO SP1 RC USERS

This hack does not work for systems running SP1. I figured Microsoft would find a new way to keep you from disabling the unsigned drivers check with the new Service Pack. Will scour the web for information and update the guide should an answer surface.

Thanks to SF03 for discovering this.

There are workarounds for CoreTemp and Rivatuner for SP1 RC users, however. Thanks again to SF03 for posting these:

http://www.xcpus.com/forums/software...-pack-1-a.html
http://www.xcpus.com/forums/graphics...-pack-1-a.html

If you have a program that doesn't work without unsigned drivers, an update that breaks the ability to use unsigned drivers, or need more help getting this to work, post it here. This is a community work in progress and I can't do it alone!

[wuzy]

Wow, that's REALLY lousy/greedy of M$!
Why couldn't they have just copied how XP handled the driver signings, giving end-user the option to switch it off?

On my nLite created copy of WinXP SP2 Corp you can pre-define most tweaks including turning off non-signed driver warning. Hopefully vLite should be able to do that too (somebody check plz).

[MeltDown]

In the 32 bit version of Vista, it's like XP where it warns you but will let you continue. It's only the 64-bit where you have no option about using unsigned drivers unless you use this type of hack or the F8 while booting trick.

[YMAA]

Nope, the latest version of vLite doesn't have an option for disabling the check. I'm using a vLite'd version of Vista Business x64, and I looked for an option for that...no such luck.

[SuperFly03]

Bah didn't work.

Ah well.

[YMAA]

Which part didn't work? Can you be any more specific?

This was tested on my system running Vista Business x64 and my brother's new laptop running Vista Home Premium x64 and both worked, so I'm assuming it will work for all of Vista's versions.

[MeltDown]

It works for me on Vista Ultimate x64 as well.

[SuperFly03]

Which part didn't work? Can you be any more specific?

This was tested on my system running Vista Business x64 and my brother's new laptop running Vista Home Premium x64 and both worked, so I'm assuming it will work for all of Vista's versions.

I uninstalled those two updates then hid them. Then I restarted and ran the batch script and restarted again.

Then I tried to run CoreTemp and it did it's "I Can't load my driver thing"

I probably did something wrong... I was 1/2 asleep, lol.

[Eurasianman]

WTH is vLite

Btw, hitting F8 before the Windows boot screen works just as well

[DaSickNinja]

vLite - Windows Vista configuration tool

[YMAA]

Make sure that when you run the batch script you do it in a Command Prompt with admin privileges. Just double-clicking the script might not work, so actually run the whole cmd command and run the batch script that way.

[Eurasianman]

Make sure that when you run the batch script you do it in a Command Prompt with admin privileges. Just double-clicking the script might not work, so actually run the whole cmd command and run the batch script that way.

Simple! Just turn UAC of and make yourself an admin

[SuperFly03]

Make sure that when you run the batch script you do it in a Command Prompt with admin privileges. Just double-clicking the script might not work, so actually run the whole cmd command and run the batch script that way.

I did.

Simple! Just turn UAC of and make yourself an admin

Already done that too.

[YMAA]

Post a screenie of which updates you hid/didn't install, make sure those are the right ones. Forgive me if I sound condescending through all of this, it's just that the guide has worked for everyone else and every time I've done it...and I'm not sure where it would have failed.

[Eurasianman]

Yay! This worked for me!

Where's the sticky?!

[SuperFly03]

Post a screenie of which updates you hid/didn't install, make sure those are the right ones. Forgive me if I sound condescending through all of this, it's just that the guide has worked for everyone else and every time I've done it...and I'm not sure where it would have failed.

I completely understand, don't worry about it. I believe you that it should work but I also know my CoreTemp keeps flipping out.

I'll show you step by step what I did so you can point out where I screwed up.

I'll post screenies later tonight if I can get through David Ricardo and his views on taxation.

[SuperFly03]

Hidden Updates

Run Script

Run CoreTemp

I uninstalled and hid the updates listed in the first screen shot. I then created the .bat script and ran it in the second screen shot, then I restarted. After restarting I tried to run CoreTemp I got the same ol error.

My account is the local admin account for the computer, fyi.

Where'd I goof?

[MeltDown]

Have you turned UAC off? I seem to remember it didn't work for me otherwise.

[SuperFly03]

Have you turned UAC off? I seem to remember it didn't work for me otherwise.

Yes. UAC is the first thing I disable after installing Vista... I loathe everything about UAC (unless its for a tech stupid person).

[YMAA]

Huh, I dunno then. Weird, you seem to be doing everything right.

Have you tried the F8 at startup thing? You can probably also set it in your startup variables if you don't want to press F8 every time your machine boots up, but these steps should work. I'll do a little more research on it. But even with the latest updates these steps worked for me and seemingly everyone else.

Very strange.