2.4.2.3 Default Classes and Class Installers

Windows NT defines a set of default device classes and provides corresponding class installers for these classes. The system uses the default installers to install devices belonging to the default classes. The default classes and their corresponding default installer are as follows:

Display

DisplayClassInstaller (desk.cpl)

Keyboard

KeyboardClassInstaller (syssetup.dll)

Modem

ClassInstall32 (modem.cpl)

Mouse

MouseClassInstaller (syssetup.dll)

Ports (COM and LPT)

PortClassInstaller (syssetup.dll)

SCSI Controllers

ScsiClassInstaller (syssetup.dll)

Tape Drive

TapeClassInstaller (syssetup.dll)

Unknown Hardware

Default class installer

If your device belongs to a default class but the default installer does not provide the installation support you need for your device, you can create your own installer to be called whenever the user installs a device of that class.

The default class installer adds new classes to the system if the specified INF file contains a ClassInstall32 section and the class has not been previously installed. If you specify a class installer for this new class in the ClassInstall32 section of the INF file, the installer is loaded and called when appropriate.