| Changes to AutoPlay for Non-Optical Storage Devices in Windows
Microsoft is changing the behavior of AutoPlay in Windows. When responding to non-optical storage devices, AutoPlay will no longer display programs that are listed in an AutoRun.inf file on the device. Worms such as Conficker use AutoRun.inf files as a vehicle to trick users into clicking an option that can install malicious software onto a PC. This change in AutoPlay behavior helps to ensure that users will not be exposed to this threat. Optical storage devices, such as CDs and DVDs, which are not subject to worm injection after manufacturing, will continue to expose AutoRun.inf choices to enable users to start programs. However, manufacturers of Mass Storage Class (MSC) USB flash devices or other removable storage devices should expect that users will need to browse the contents of a device to start any programs. This new behavior will enable users to continue to use AutoPlay to access media and devices (including all system-installed and independent-software-vendor (ISV)-installed tasks) without being exposed to malicious software that uses AutoPlay to propagate. This change in AutoPlay behavior will appear in the RC build of Windows 7 and be made available later for Windows Vista and Windows XP. What You Need To Do If you ship an AutoRun.inf file that uses a CD-ROM emulation partition only, no change is required. If you ship an AutoRun.inf file with Mass Storage Class (MSC) USB flash devices or other removable storage devices, you should do one of the following: - For products currently in the market: Inform customers that they will no longer see your program in AutoPlay and they will need to browse to the folder in Windows Explorer to start the program. - For products coming out in the future: Inform customers that they need to browse to the folder to start the program, or you can modify the device to emulate CD-ROM behavior with AutoRun.inf in order to present customers with a direct link to programs through the AutoPlay interface. How We Can Help You We are currently creating a white paper with additional information about how to create a CD-ROM-emulating device that will work the best with Microsoft Windows, and we will post information on the Windows 7 blog ( http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/) and in a security bulletin. Please look for follow-up information in this newsletter. If you have any specific questions, you can contact your Microsoft account representative.
WinHEC News and Information
Planning for the Next WinHEC Conference The next WinHEC conference is not yet scheduled. Our focus this year is on finalizing Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 development. Based on feedback from WinHEC 2008 attendees, we will be planning the next WinHEC to better align with other Microsoft conferences and considering a spring timeframe. To receive the latest information on WinHEC as it develops, please visit the WinHEC Web page on WHDC ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winhec/) and subscribe to the WinHEC newsletter ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/newsreq.mspx).
News for Windows Hardware and Driver Developers
RSS for New White Papers and Tools on WHDC Did you know that you can subscribe to RSS feeds and get the latest technical content from the Windows Hardware Developer Central (WHDC) Web site as soon as it is published? For more information, see the WHDC RSS page ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/resources/rss.aspx). Windows ACPI-Emulated Devices Table This specification contains details of an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) table that was created for use with Windows operating systems when they are running in guest partitions in a virtual machine environment. The specification includes the Windows ACPI-emulated devices table format and emulated device flags. It applies for the Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. For more information, see the WHDC Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/virtual/WAET.mspx). Driver Tip: Where's the Add Hardware Wizard? Beginning with Windows 7, the Add Hardware Wizard can no longer be started from Control Panel. In earlier versions of Windows, end users often started this wizard because they believed that it would install a Plug and Play device, which often led to incorrect results. Because this wizard is intended for driver developers, removing the wizard from Control Panel helps protect the end user from making this mistake. Developers can still run the Add Hardware Wizard by following the steps outlined in this driver tip, which also offers guidance on what to do if the installation of your driver package requires the functionality that the Add Hardware wizard provides. For more information, see the WHDC Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/tips/addHWWizW7.mspx). Using Hardware Performance Counters on Windows Today's processors expose hardware performance counters that count many different events. Performance tools - the typical consumers of these events - use these counters to measure retired instructions, cache misses, and other hardware events. However, other tools and applications sometimes also use the same hardware performance counters. Such counters are a finite, global system resource. If multiple tools and applications use these counters at the same time, unpredictable behavior can sometimes occur. Windows 7 provides new functions for kernel-mode drivers to coordinate the use of hardware performance counters. A driver that allocates the counters typically exposes an interface for user-mode tools and applications that use the counters. This paper describes how to safely use hardware performance counters on Windows 7 platforms. For more information, see the WHDC Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/HW_Perf_Counters.mspx). Using PowerCfg to Evaluate System Energy Efficiency This paper provides information about new functionality within the PowerCfg utility for evaluating system energy efficiency for the Windows family of operating systems. It provides guidelines for system manufacturers to take advantage of this new PowerCfg functionality before shipping a new system model to customers. Similarly, IT professionals can use these PowerCfg enhancements to diagnose and resolve end-user problems with portable computer battery life and desktop energy efficiency. The information in this paper applies for the Windows 7 operating system. For more information, see the WHDC Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/pnppwr/powermgmt/powercfg.mspx).
What's New in Blogs for Hardware and Driver Developers
"Touching Windows 7" by Steven Sinofsky and Others in the "E7" Blog We've come a long way in engineering Windows 7 since we first provided an engineering preview of Windows 7 and the work we are doing to support the touch interface paradigm back at the D: All Things Digital conference. We chose to kick-off the discussion about engineering Windows 7 with touch scenarios because we know this is a long-lead effort that requires work across the full ecosystem to fully realize the benefit. For Windows 7, touch support is engineered by building on our advances in input technology we began with the TabletPC work on Windows XP. Touch in Windows 7 requires improvements in hardware, driver software, core Windows user experience, and of course application support. By having this support in an open platform, consumers and developers will benefit from a wide variety of choices in hardware, software, and different PC form factors. More from "Touching Windows 7" blog...
New Things Happening with the WDK
Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Documentation By using either the WDKdocs or WDKchm download, you can install an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK) documentation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This version also includes prerelease documentation for the Windows 7 RC edition of the WDK. Both the WDKDocs.exe and the WDKchm.exe files contain the same content, however, they are viewable in different formats to better meet individual customer needs. This same content is also available on MSDN ( http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa972908.aspx). For more information, see the WDK Documents page on WHDC ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/DevTools/WDK/WDKdocs.mspx).
Windows Logo Program Tools and News
Announcing Windows Logo Program Webcasts You now have a new resource to help you through the tools and processes of the Windows Logo Program for hardware. LogoCast is a series of Web-based presentations and interactive discussions. The LogoCast series combines audio and video content in a format that supplements the traditional logo program resources of white papers, Microsoft PowerPoint slide presentations, books, and events such as LogoFests and WinHEC. The LogoCast series is designed to: - Introduce newcomers to the Windows Logo Program, including the program processes and tools. - Inform Windows Logo Program veterans about program updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. - Ensure that all Windows Logo Program participants have access to the information they need to actively participate in the program. - Facilitate direct interaction with the Windows Logo Program team members and other experts from across Microsoft without requiring travel to events. The LogoCast series has two components. The first is a series of short prerecorded videos on a variety of logo program topics. These videos will be presented by the Windows Logo Program team and other technology experts, and will be available on demand for free. The second component is a regular series of interactive events that we call Office Hours. During Office Hours, we will host a live interactive session featuring members of the Windows Logo Program team and other experts here at Microsoft. Attendees will be able to see and hear the team answering their questions and discussing hot topics. For more information, see the Windows Logo Program Webcasts page on WHDC ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/logocast.mspx). New Windows HD Imaging AQ Microsoft has added an additional qualification (AQ) to the Windows 7 Logo Program, called Windows HD Imaging. This AQ identifies devices and software that capture high fidelity color images and preserve that fidelity through image editing and printing with Windows. For more information, see the April 21 edition of the Windows Logo Program Newsletter ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/whql/resources/news/WHQLNews_042109.htm). Windows 7 - Mobile Broadband Certification for Existing Chipsets Microsoft recently published a new white paper about Windows 7 support for Mobile Broadband. The paper provides guidelines for hardware manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and mobile network operators on developing logo-qualified Mobile Broadband drivers for chipsets/modules that are already commercially deployed. For more information, see the WHDC Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/connect/wireless/W7MobileBB_ChipCert.mspx).
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