[RESOLVED] Unsigned drivers + Vista x64

Hey.
I got this soundcard that I would need to get installed. But apparently the manufacturer doesnt have signed drivers available...however they've written this in an article:

Note:
Additionally, Windows Vista x64 prevents installation of unsigned drivers unless a
special bootup option called “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement”. This option is
available by pressing F8 during bootup, similar to accessing safe-mode. This option
must be chosen EVERY time the computer is booted. If the computer is booted without
8
this special option, the DAS will not function, and device manager will show a error code
indicating the driver was unable to start. To read more about Vista x64 Driver Signature
Enforcement, please visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...kmsigning.mspx

However, when I try to press F8 when the computer boots, nothing happens. I dont get any "menu" of any kind. I can press the delete key and access the BIOS menu but I guess thats not what they mean is it?
How do I access this menu?

Thanks.

I'm not sure how it is in Vista, but in earlier versions you had to press F8 as the OS is starting (so just after the BIOS has shown the memory/list of drives/etc).

I've tried pressing the F8 button rapidly during the entire boot..no luck :(
At first I thought it didnt register my keystrokes due to it not recognizing my USB keyboard so early in the boot, but thats when i tried pressing delete to get to the BIOS menu...and that worked, so it should register my F8 presses.

What is the model no of the soundcard?

The soundcard is an EMU 1212M v2. :)

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But apparently the manufacturer doesnt have signed drivers available

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Do you have any drivers (signed/unsigned) for the above soundcard?

I have unsigned drivers on a CD that came with the product, those are the ones i'm trying to install..but to do that I need to find that menu that the article mentions.

Ok can you explain screen by screen what happens till you see the vista logo when you boot your pc? This exercise will help determining the place where you need to press F8

Edit:
Okay I checked at home after I went back from office... :)
If you repeatedly keep pressing F8 from the 'Del' screen you will be able to access the F8 Screen. You have to be pretty fast at it or you will miss the screen....

I only get 3 screens during bootup:
1. The POST screen, which tells me i can press DEL to access the BIOS setup.
2. The black screen with information about my RAM, drives etc..loads of technical stuff.
3. The Windows load screen.

I've tried pressing F8 on all these 3 screens. I've pressed the button like a maniac :D
I'm close to giving this up now, I dont think I was ment to access that menu :(

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2. The black screen with information about my RAM, drives etc..loads of technical stuff.

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This is the screen when you need to press F8...

I am surprised that you are not able to do it :confused:

Are you doing this on a laptop or a desktop pc?

If it is laptop then you need to press the function key and then press F8

Its a desktop PC.

I refuse to give up :lol:

1) The only other thing I can think of is that the F8 key is not working. Do you have a spare keyboard you can try that with? Also check if F8 key is working when vista starts...

2) I know I have already asked you this and you must have already tried this but the moment you get the boot screen start tapping the F8 key repeatedly about once every half a second, or faster, just after switching on the computer.

3) Does your keyboard has a F-Lock key?

Thats a good characteristics :D

1) I've checked the F8 key and it seems to be fully functional :)

2) Yeah...I've pressed the F8 key as fast as I possibly could under the entire bootup, to no luck :(

3) Nope :)

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1) I've checked the F8 key and it seems to be fully functional

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How did you check that? Did you use a spare keyboad?

Also which board do you have. F8 is usually for Intel. Try with F1 or F9. What does your bootup screen tell you... when it says press "del" for something... does it give you any clue....

If all the above doesn't work then here is my final ACE up the sleeve which I had saved for the last... :lol:

Start your pc. on the third screen when the vista is booting (refer to your post 9... point 3) directly switch off your pc from the power plug!!! And start it again. It will directly take you to that menu ;) you don't need to press any key for that :)

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Originally Posted by koolsid

How did you check that? Did you use a spare keyboad?

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What i mean is, I've tested the F8 key on this keyboard, while in Windows, to see if the actual key is broken, but it isnt.

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Originally Posted by koolsid

Also which board do you have. F8 is usually for Intel. Try with F1 or F9. What does your bootup screen tell you... when it says press "del" for something... does it give you any clue....

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I've got an Abit motherboard with an Intel processor. My bootup screen basically tells me to press DEL for bios setup and TAB for POST screen. No more than that. I havent actually tried pressing all the other F buttons, I guess I could try that.

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Originally Posted by koolsid

If all the above doesn't work then here is my final ACE up the sleeve which I had saved for the last... :lol:

Start your pc. on the third screen when the vista is booting (refer to your post 9... point 3) directly switch off your pc from the power plug!!! And start it again. It will directly take you to that menu ;) you don't need to press any key for that :)

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I guess that would work, but it could be risky. Ive had a tragic experience after pulling the plug on a booting computer..it failed to start windows after that. Besides I'd need to access this menu each time the computer boots, so doing it in that way wouldnt be feasible.

Actually, I'm giving this up. Im installing XP on a separate partition and i'll just boot into XP whenever i want to use the soundcard.:)

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I havent actually tried pressing all the other F buttons

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Try F9 first and then the F1. If it still doesn't work then ....I leave it up to you...

there's a program that can help you here. I use it myself. It's called easybcd. The program is designed for controlling boot menus in vista, and this is exactly what you need here. One of the options it gives you is a boot switch that shuts off signed driver enforcement in vista 64.

Hey Lord. I tried a program that looked pretty much like that the other day, but upon startup it told me it couldnt find my Vista install, very odd. Well anyhow i'm resolving this thread now even though it isnt resolved. I'm going for the solution that is installing XP64 on a second harddrive, which i'll boot into whenever I need to use the soundcard.
Thanks to all :)

well it's pretty well your only option. If you press f8 to bypass it and get it to install, it will still not work on the next boot unless you hit f8 again. It makes you do it on every single boot.

You also may have to simply replace it to get it to work with vista. for some reason there has not been a big rush to support sound in 64 and the whql driver certification is not free.

However this may not apply. I looked at the website for that card, and they have version 2.1 drivers that were released jun 2008. Have you tried to install those? (don't forget to be in admin mode and "run as administrator". vista 64 is more strict and 32 bit on this. I have installed plenty of stuff without the run as admin on 32 but 64 simply won't let the driver install.

Well according to the tutorial thingie that came with my card, the drivers on the website are for "v1" of the card, and I apparently have "v2", and it tells me that I should rather use the drivers that came with the card. It might be possible that they've released even newer drivers on the website now, that is for "v2"...but its too late now anyway..i've already purchased a second harddrive to install XP.
..having some problems with the XP install though, but I hope to solve that soon...