Discussion:
windows drivers
(too old to reply)
muta...@gmail.com
2021-06-05 14:38:04 UTC
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When a manufacturer produces a driver for their Wifi
or other hardware, do they give it to Microsoft for free
for incorporation into Windows or what?

Can ReactOS legally use that driver too?

Does ReactOS support Windows drivers unmodified?

I'm guessing nothing besides ReactOS can use the
driver, and then it is up to the whim of the manufacturer
whether they also produce a Linux driver, or whether
some random people on the internet can write a Linux
driver themselves.

Thanks. Paul.
JJ
2021-06-06 11:49:41 UTC
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Post by ***@gmail.com
Can ReactOS legally use that driver too?
If it's illegal, linux's WINE would be long gone.
Post by ***@gmail.com
Does ReactOS support Windows drivers unmodified?
ReactOS is Windows binary compatible. But both Windows and Kernel API
implementations are not yet fully complete, so IMO, there's still a high
chance that the driver won't work in ReactOS.
Joe Monk
2021-06-06 23:10:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@gmail.com
When a manufacturer produces a driver for their Wifi
or other hardware, do they give it to Microsoft for free
for incorporation into Windows or what?
No. Microsoft has published specs called the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Every driver written for Windows must conform, or it will not pass WHQL and get certified for installation.
Post by ***@gmail.com
Can ReactOS legally use that driver too?
Legally is one thing. Practically is another. Does ReactOS conform to WDK?
Post by ***@gmail.com
Does ReactOS support Windows drivers unmodified?
Probably not.
Post by ***@gmail.com
I'm guessing nothing besides ReactOS can use the
driver, and then it is up to the whim of the manufacturer
whether they also produce a Linux driver, or whether
some random people on the internet can write a Linux
driver themselves.
Some drivers have source available on Github so its possible to fork/modify to get it to work.
Post by ***@gmail.com
Thanks. Paul.
Alexei A. Frounze
2021-06-07 00:42:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Joe Monk
Microsoft has published specs called the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Every driver written for Windows must conform, or it will not pass WHQL and get certified for installation.
Some bugs survive testing and live on fully certified while still
occasionally BSODing the PC or causing other problems.
Even known bad bugs aren't always fixed. Their impact is
assessed relative to other bugs and so only the nastiest ones
get fixed.
So, we have lots of certified buggy software.

Alex
wolfgang kern
2021-06-07 05:33:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Alexei A. Frounze
Post by Joe Monk
Microsoft has published specs called the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Every driver written for Windows must conform, or it will not pass WHQL and get certified for installation.
Some bugs survive testing and live on fully certified while still
occasionally BSODing the PC or causing other problems.
Even known bad bugs aren't always fixed. Their impact is
assessed relative to other bugs and so only the nastiest ones
get fixed.
So, we have lots of certified buggy software.
Yeah, confirms my saying for windoze contain more bugs than functions.
But ask M$-guys: these aren't bugs, are required security features.

Bill Gates know how to make money out of BS... and that's it.
__
wolfgang

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