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    Is it safe to disable driver signing in vista 64bit?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by L4d_Gr00pie, Jun 5, 2009.

  1. L4d_Gr00pie

    L4d_Gr00pie Notebook Evangelist

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    I've got a couple of programs that don't have signed drivers for vista 64bit but are legitimate and that driver signing is annoying me. Is it safe to turn it off? So that I can run unsigned drivers?
     
    L4d_Gr00pie, Jun 5, 2009
    #1
  2. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    I'm sure you'd be fine, it'd be no different than running 32-bit Vista without it. One question I have though is whether or not once you install a driver if you turn driver signing back ON, if it will not use the unsigned driver you installed with it off?
     
    HTWingNut, Jun 5, 2009
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  3. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    I think the check is done at load time, not install time. So, I think it will invalidate the unsigned drivers at bootup if you turn signing back on.
     
    swarmer, Jun 5, 2009
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  4. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    jup. boottime should be affected as unsigned drivers take longer to load afaik.

    i'm interested what vendors release unsigned 64bit drivers, knowing that noone can easily use them :)
     
    davepermen, Jun 6, 2009
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  5. S.SubZero

    S.SubZero Notebook Deity

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    I doubt the signature affects the load time one way or the other.

    I'm curious too. The last app I used that used unsigned drivers was VMWare. That was a long time ago, and I sure hope they got their drivers signed since then.
     
    S.SubZero, Jun 6, 2009
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  6. Dgourd

    Dgourd Notebook Geek

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    If you turn driver signing back on, unsigned drivers wont load. Also NHC and RMclock both use unsigned drivers.
     
    Dgourd, Aug 21, 2009
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  7. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    it is documented to behave that way. the os creates a virtual "signing" every bootup and compares it to the last, if something changed the file. that takes some time.
     
    davepermen, Aug 22, 2009
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  8. Dgourd

    Dgourd Notebook Geek

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    How do you guys turn your driver signing off? I am trying it out but nothing works.
     
    Dgourd, Aug 22, 2009
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  9. S.SubZero

    S.SubZero Notebook Deity

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    Can you show me some official websites documenting this process, and specifically, benchmarks from official sites showing the exact increase in boot times?

    I really can't see how checking the signature on some files dramatically and noticeably alters the boot time.
     
    S.SubZero, Aug 23, 2009
    #9
  10. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    no, don't find them anymore. thought it was something of russinovich, but haven't found it anymore..

    benchmarks i've never seen, so no here as well.

    sorry..
     
    davepermen, Aug 23, 2009
    #10
  11. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    I can see that it would be some alteration in boot time, but not dramatically nor noticeably. As to OP, my personal view is that unless it is necessary, I would not disable the driver signing in 64 Bits or in any Windows versions.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Aug 23, 2009
    #11