Functions that Simplify Driver Installation

An installation application can use the following functions to simplify the installation of a PnP driver package.

DiInstallDevice (Windows Vista and later versions of Windows)

The DiInstallDevice function installs a specific driver package that is preinstalled in the Driver Store on a specific device present in the system.

An installation application should only use this function if both of the following are true:

• The application incorporates more than one device instance of the same type, that is, all the device instances have the same hardware IDs and compatible IDs.

• The application requires that device-instance-specific driver packages be installed on the device instances.

Otherwise, an installation application should use DiInstallDriver or UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices to install the driver package that is the best match for a device.

A caller can also call DiInstallDevice to do the following:

• Search for a preinstalled driver package that is the best match for the device.

• Install a null driver on a specific device.

• Notify the caller whether a system restart is required to complete the installation.

DiInstallDriver (Windows Vista and later versions of Windows)

The DiInstallDriver function preinstalls a driver package in the Driver Store and then installs the driver package on all devices present in the system that have a hardware ID or a compatible ID that matches the driver package.

Calling DiInstallDriver or UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices is the simplest way for an installation application to install a new driver package for a device. DiInstallDriver and UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices perform the same basic installation operations. However UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices supports additional installation options.

By default, DiInstallDriver only installs the driver package on a device if the driver package is a better match to the device than the driver package that is currently installed on the device. For information about how Windows selects a driver package for device, see How Windows Selects Drivers.

A caller can also call DiInstallDriver to do the following:

• Force the installation of the specified driver package regardless of whether the driver package is a better match to the device than the driver package that is currently installed on the device.

  Caution   Forcing the installation of the driver package can result in replacing a more compatible or newer driver package with a less compatible or older driver package.

• Indicate to the caller whether a system restart is required to complete the installation.

DiRollbackDriver (Windows Vista and later versions of Windows)

The DiRollbackDriver function replaces the driver package that is currently installed on a device with the previously installed backup driver package that is set for a device. This function is provided primarily to restore a device to a working condition if a device fails after updating the driver package for the device. This function performs the same operation that would be performed if a user clicked Roll Back Driver on the Driver page for the device in Device Manager.

Windows maintains at most one backup driver package for a device. Windows sets a driver package as the backup driver for a device immediately after the driver package is successfully installed on the device and Windows determines that the device is functioning correctly. However, if a driver package does not install successfully on a device or the device does not function correctly after the installation, Windows does not set the driver package as the backup driver for the device.

A caller can also call DiRollbackDriver to do the following:

• Suppress the display of any user interface component that is associated with the driver rollback.

• Indicate to the caller whether a system restart is required to complete the installation.

For more information about driver package rollback, see information about Device Manager in Help and Support Center.

UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices

The UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices function installs the driver package on all devices present in the system that have a hardware ID or compatible ID that matches the driver package.

Calling this function or DiInstallDriver is the simplest way for an installation application to install a new driver package that is the best match for devices in the system. The basic operation of UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices is similar to the operation of DiInstallDriver. However UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices supports additional installation options.

By default, UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices only installs the driver package on a device if the driver package is a better match to the device than the driver package that is currently installed on a device.

A caller can also optionally call UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices to do the following:

• Force the installation of the specified driver package regardless of whether the driver package is a better match to the device than the driver package that is currently installed on the device.

  Caution   Forcing the installation of the driver package can result in replacing a more compatible or newer driver package with a less compatible or older driver package.

• Suppress copying, renaming, or deleting installation files.

• Suppress the display of user interface components.

• Indicate to the caller whether a system restart is required to complete the installation.