Unsigned driver warning message while using network device for ASR restore operation on Windows Server 2003

Source: Microsoft Support

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On a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer, when you use network device with 3rd party device driver for Automated System Recovery (ASR), an unsigned driver warning popup message is prompted even if all NIC (Network Interface Card) device drivers are digitally signed.

When this issue occurs, the following message is displayed:


The software you are installing for this hardware:

<NIC device name>

has not passed Windows Logo Testing to verify its compatibility with this version of Windows. Continuing your installation of this software may impair or destabilize the correct operation of your system either immediately or in the future. Microsoft strongly recommends that you stop this installation now and contact the hardware vendor for software that has passed Windows Logo testing.

<Continue Anyway> <STOP installation>

 

This issue may occur if the NIC device that you use to restore the backup requires third-party device driver files. In the ASR method, only the device driver files that are included in Microsoft Windows operating systems are loaded during the restore operation. If the NIC device requires any 3rd Party device driver files, you must separately copy these device driver files to the hard disk during the Text mode portion of the ASR restore operation. You also need to establish the path that the Plug and Play Manager uses to locate and install those drivers.

To resolve this issue, you need to do the following preparation.

1. Modify the [InstallFiles] section of the Asr.sif file to include the information about the third-party device driver files. The Asr.sif file is available on the floppy disk that you created during the ASR backup process. To do this, follow these steps:

A) Copy the third-party driver files for the NIC device to the root folder of the floppy disk that you created during the ASR backup procedure (referred to as ASR Floppy).

Note: NIC device driver files might be available on a manufacturer-supplied driver CD, or from the manufacturer's web site. Typically you need to copy 3 of the third-party NIC device driver files to the root folder of the floppy: 

    Driver.inf 
    Driver.sys 
    Driver.cat

The actual name of these files will vary depending on the manufacturer. In addition, third-party driver packages may contain a processor-specific driver.sys file in a I386, Ia64, or Amd64 sub-folder. Copy the driver.sys file that is appropriate for your processor to the root folder of the ASR Floppy.

B) Using a text editor such as notepad, open the ASR.SIF file

C) Insert the following lines under the [DISKS.GPT] section: 

    [INSTALLFILES] 
    1=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.sys","%TEMP%\driver.sys","Vendor name",0x00000026 
    2=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.inf","%TEMP%\driver.inf","Vendor name",0x00000026 
    3=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.cat","%TEMP%\driver.cat","Vendor name",0x00000026

D) The driver name of driver files that are used in this example is generic. The actual driver names will vary depending on the manufacturer.

E) During the ASR restore process, there are two folders available to copy these drivers to, %SYSTEMROOT% and %TEMP%. We recommend that you use the %TEMP% folder instead of copying these drivers to the Windows folder.

F) The volume label can be any string from 1 to 11 characters. For example, the volume label can be ASR.

G) Add a volume label to the ASR Floppy disk by using the Label.exe tool. This volume label must match the one that is used in the Asr.sif entries from step C.


2. Create a new text file named Winnt.sif and add [Data] section and [Unattended] section into Winnt.sif to establish the path that the Plug and Play Manager can use to locate and install the third-part device drivers. To do this, follow these steps:

A) Create a new text file that is named Winnt.sif.

B) Add the following lines to the Winnt.sif file: 

    [Data] 
    AutoPartition = 1 
    MsDosInitiated = 0 
    UnattendedInstall = Yes 

    [Unattended] 
    OemPreinstall = YES 
    OemFilesPath = a:\ 
    OemPnPDriversPath = TEMP

Note: The Winnt.sif file is required to establish the path that the Plug and Play Manager will use to locate and install drivers. By default, PNP only searches the %SYSTEMROOT%\INF folder.


3. Create folder A:\$OEM$\TEXTMODE directory on floppy disk to include SCSI or RAID drivers if typically install SCSI or RAID drivers by pressing F6 key during ASR restore operation. To do this, follow these steps:

A) Prepare a floppy disk

B) Create folder A:\$OEM$\TEXTMODE.

C) Copy all the SCSI or RAID drivers (.inf, .sys, .cat) into folder A:\$OEM$\TEXTMODE.
To start the ASR restore operation, you need to follow these steps.


4. Start your computer by using the Windows Server 2003 CD depending on the operating system that is being restored.

5. Insert the ASR Floppy disk immediately after you press a key to boot to CD ROM.

Note: This step is required for the Setup program to process the Winnt.sif file. If the bios is configured to boot from floppy after the CD-ROM, you can typically have the floppy inserted prior to booting from CDROM.

6. Select F2 for Automated System Recovery. At the end of Text mode Setup, Windows Setup may repeatedly generate the following message: 

    Insert the disk labeled: <volume label you used in step 1-G> into drive A:

If you receive this message, and the ASR floppy disk is in the drive, press ENTER to copy the file from the floppy disk to the hard disk. This message may appear for each file that is listed in the [InstallFiles] section of the Asr.sif file.

Additionally, during the PNP portion of the GUI mode ASR recovery, you may receive a Files Needed message that indicates that the driver.sys file is needed. This may occur if the third-party manufacturer used processor specific sub-folders for their driver installation. The path that is listed in this message would be referring to this sub-folder. For example, this message might refer to the c:\Temp\I386 folder. To work around this issue, change the path to c:\Temp, and then click OK.

If you also need to install SCSI or RAID drivers by pressing F6 key, ASR restore operation displays following message: 

Setup cannot copy the file: xxxxxxx.inf To retry, press ENTER. If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows CD is in the CD-ROM drive. To skip this file, press ESC.

Caution If you skip this file, Setup may not complete and Windows may not work properly.

To skip Setup, press F3. Winnt.sif

"OemPreinstall = YES" can cause this problem. SCSI or RAID drivers are loaded from A:\$OEM$\TEXTMODE directory in preinstall mode. When you have to install both NIC device driver and SCSI/RAID driver in ASR restore operation, use the disk created at step 3 when the above message is displayed.


For more information about how to modify the [InstallFiles] section of the Asr.sif file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

299044 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299044) How to install additional files during Automated System Recovery

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