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This topic describes how to update a removable or in-chassis device's firmware using the Windows Update (WU) service. For information about updating system firmware, see Windows UEFI firmware update platform.
To do this, you'll provide an update mechanism, implemented as a device driver, that includes the firmware payload. If your device uses a vendor-supplied driver, you have the option of adding the firmware update logic and payload to your existing function driver, or providing a separate firmware update driver package. If your device uses a Microsoft-supplied driver, you must provide a separate firmware update driver package. In both cases, the firmware update driver package must be universal. For more info about universal drivers, see Getting Started with Universal Windows drivers. The driver binary can use KMDF, UMDF 2 or the Windows Driver Model.
Because WU cannot execute software, the firmware update driver must hand the firmware to Plug and Play (PnP) for installation.
Firmware update driver actions
Typically, the firmware update driver is a lightweight device driver that does the following:
Firmware update driver contentsWindows Update For Driver Software
Typically, the firmware update driver package contains the following:
Windows Update For Printer Drivers
Submit your firmware update package as a separate driver submission.
Adding firmware update logic to a vendor-supplied driver
The existing function driver can implement the firmware update mechanism, as shown in the following diagram:
Alternatively, if you want to update the function driver and the firmware update driver separately, create a second device node, on which you will install the firmware update driver. The following diagram shows how one device can have two separate device nodes:
In this case, the function and firmware device nodes must have different hardware IDs in order to be targeted independently.
There are a couple ways to create a second device node. Certain device types have the ability to expose a second device node on one physical device, such as USB. You can use this functionality to create a device node targetable by WU, and install a firmware update driver on it. Many device types, however, do not allow a single physical device to enumerate more than one device node.
In this case, use an extension INF that specifies the AddComponent directive to create a device node that can be targeted by Windows Update and install the firmware update driver on it. The following snippet from an INF file shows how you can do this:
In the above INF sample,
ComponentIDs = ComponentDeviceId indicates that the child device will have a hardware ID of SWCComponentDeviceId . When installed, this INF creates the following device hierarchy:
For future firmware updates, update the INF and binary file containing the firmware payload.
Adding firmware update logic to a Microsoft-supplied driver
To update firmware for devices that use a Microsoft-supplied driver, you need to create a second device node, as shown above.
Windows Update For Printer Drivers Not WorkingBest practices
You might need to update drivers in Windows when a new piece of hardware you've installed doesn't work automatically or maybe after upgrading to a new version of Windows.
Updating drivers is also a great troubleshooting step when the device is having some kind of problem or is generating an error, like a Device Manager error code.
A driver update isn't always a fix-it task, either. An updated driver might enable new features for the hardware, something we see on a regular basis with popular video cards and sound cards.
Updating drivers yourself is not difficult, but there are programs that will more or less do it for you. See our List of Free Driver Updater Tools for reviews of the best ones out there.
Time Required: It usually takes around 15 minutes to update a driver a Windows, even less time if the driver is self-installable or you get it via Windows Update (more on all of that below).
Windows Update For Drivers Windows Xp
Follow the easy steps below to update drivers in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP:
How to Update Drivers in Windows
Optional Walkthrough: If you'd like to follow the process below, but with more details and screenshots for each step, use our Step by Step Guide to Updating Drivers in Windows instead.
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