Must a Windows Update DCHU driver that publishes a software component only also publish a Base INF?

Question

Hello -

I am creating a DCHU driver for Windows Update that must only publish a software app (which in turn downloads a custom driver for the hardware to be updated). Ie, the package that I am putting together has no need to, and in fact should not, install a kernel driver directly.

So my question is: should I be able to put together and publish an Extension INF with associative Component INF without having to also publish a Base INF? It seems that a Base INF is needed, according to: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/install/using-an-extension-inf-file, which says: "Every device must have one base INF...".

Ideally, what I presumed that I needed would be to publish an Extension INF and a Component INF, but not a Base INF.

Thanks for any guidance on this.

Robert Cohn

Answer 1

A base INF is required, but you don't necessarily need to author it yourself. An inbox base INF would be sufficient to get an extension INF to install