Certifying Your Device Driver

Windows Hardware Compatibility Labs (WHQL) activities ensure that quality computer hardware, both systems and peripherals, is available to users of Windows® 95. Only hardware that passes WHQL certification tests are qualified to display the "Designed for Microsoft Windows 95" logo. This logo is a customer's assurance that your hardware and associated device drivers will work with the Windows 95 family of products.

After your hardware is certified to receive the WHQL logo, you will be given a detailed test report. In addition, your hardware will be added to the Windows Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), and your hardware driver will be distributed free through the Windows Driver Library (WDL). To see the current HCL, access the WHQL-administered Web site at the URL http://www.microsoft.com/windows. Then use the Windows 95 Compatible Products link followed the by Hardware Compatibility List link.

To see the drivers currently in the WDL, use your Web browser to access the FTP site at the URL ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/services/whql.

In order to have you hardware tested by WHQL at Microsoft Corporation, follow the step-by-step instructions for your hardware category. The list of hardware categories supported by WHQL in Quarter 1, 1996 is listed below:

Audio adapters
Computer systems
Display adapters and monitors
Input devices
Microprocessors
Modems
Network adapters
Printers
Storage adapters and devices
Video capture adapters
Miscellaneous (hardware categories not listed above)

WHQL distributes step-by-step instructions for having WHQL test devices and drivers for each class of hardware listed above. You can obtain these instructions in several ways:

As downloadable files from the Internet FTP server ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/services/whql.
As downloadable files at the Web site http://www.microsoft.com/windows/thirdparty/hcl/home.htm.
As fax-back documents by calling the U.S. number 206-635-2222.

If you use WHQL's fax-back number at 206-635-2222, you must enter a document number corresponding to the product category listed in the table below, and the step-by-step instructions on how to proceed will then be automatically faxed to you.

WHQL hardware category	Document number
Audio adapters	865
Display adapters and monitors	864
Input devices	870
Modems	869
Network adapters	867
Printers	868
Storage adapters and devices	866
Video capture adapters	871
Computer systems	863
Microprocessors	872
Hardware not listed above	879

If you have any questions about WHQL's program after receiving the step-by-step instructions, e-mail whqlinfo@microsoft.com or fax your questions to 206-703-3872.