Internal and External Version Numbers

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The driver's resource file specifies the driver-file version in two ways:

  • Internal version number: the internal or binary version number is specified in the double-DWORD value FILEVERSION. The operating system currently does not use this value.

  • External version number: the external or display version number is specified in the FileVersion character string. The operating system displays this string when the user views the properties of individual driver files.

In Windows 10 there are several alternative ways to view a driver file's FileVersion string:

  • In File Explorer:

    1. Go to the location of the driver file. Typically, this is in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder.
    2. Select the driver file. Driver files usually have a .sys extension.
    3. Right-click on the driver file and select Properties from the context menu.
    4. In the Properties window, go to the Details tab. Here you can see the File version and Product version numbers.

  • In Device Manager:

    1. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.
    2. Right-click on your audio device and select Properties.
    3. Go to the Driver tab to see the Driver Version.
    4. On the Driver tab, click on Driver Details to view details about the installed driver files.
    5. Select the driver file from the list of files in the driver package, and view the File version number of the selected driver file.

  • In Control Panel:

    1. Click the Hardware and Sound icon.
    2. Click the Sound icon.
    3. On the Sound window, select the device and click the Properties button.
    4. On the General tab select Properties.
    5. Go to the Driver tab to see the Driver Version.
    6. On the Driver tab, click on Driver Details to view details about the installed driver files.
    7. Select the driver file from the list of files in the driver package, and view the File version number of the selected driver file.

To make your driver version numbers compatible with both Windows and DirectX, follow these rules when you specify the internal and external version numbers:

  • The internal version number has the format x.xx.00.xxxx. The two extra zeros before the last dot are required.

  • The external version string should use the format x.xx.xxxx (without the two extra zeros in the internal version number).

These internal and external version numbers should match (except for the two extra zeros, as noted above).