[Version] Signature="$WINDOWS NT$" Class=Ports ClassGuid={4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} Provider=%MyCompany% DriverVer=01/01/2025,1.0.0.0 [Manufacturer] %MyCompany% = MyDeviceList, NTamd64
Fast forward to 2025 (and beyond), and INF files are still the backbone of driver installation. Whether you install a driver via Windows Update, a vendor’s .exe installer, or manually via Device Manager, an INF file is almost certainly being parsed in the background. Let’s look at a very simplified version of what an INF file looks like. Open any .inf file in Notepad, and you will see sections denoted by square brackets. inf drivers
[InstallSection] CopyFiles = DriverCopyFiles AddReg = DriverAddReg 1.0.0.0 [Manufacturer] %MyCompany% = MyDeviceList
[Version] Signature="$WINDOWS NT$" Class=Net ClassGuid={4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} Provider=%ManufacturerName% DriverVer=01/15/2024,10.0.0.1 [Manufacturer] %ManufacturerName% = DeviceList, NTamd64 a vendor’s .exe installer