Archived White Papers

The papers listed here are archived, to allow access to information related to earlier versions of Windows operating systems. The information in these papers has not been validated or updated since original publication.

Accelerated Graphics Port Archives
White PaperRecommendations for AGP 3.x Capability Register Design
White PaperUniversal Accelerated Graphics Port (UAGP)

ACPI / Power Management Archives
White PaperACPI Notify Codes for ACPI Source Language
White PaperAdvanced Power Management v. 1.2
White PaperAPM Support for Windows 2000 Professional
White PaperAPM Theory of Operation for Windows
White PaperBIOS and Hibernate Issues for FAT32 File System
White PaperBuilding S4OS Hibernate-Capable PCs for Windows Me
White PaperDesigning Games to Run on Power-Managed Comupters
White PaperDevice Wake-up for OnNow and Windows 98
White PaperGPE Routing for Windows
White PaperHot-Swapping Device Support and ACPI
White PaperI/O Ports Blocked from BIOS AML
White PaperOnNow and the Evolution of the PC Platform
White PaperOnNow Device Power Management
White PaperOnNow Pow. Mgmt. Architecture for Applications
White PaperOnNow Power Management and WDM
White PaperPCI IRQ Routing on a Multiprocessor ACPI System
White PaperPower Management for Network Devices
White PaperRemovable Devices and Windows
White PaperSuspend/Resume and Windows 95 OSR 2
White PaperSystem State-to-Device State Mappings (SxD)
White PaperVCOMM Port Driver Power Management Interface
White PaperWindows 98 Retail Upgrade for ACPI Systems
White PaperWindows Native Processor Performance Control
White PaperWindows Power Management
White PaperWindows Support for Portable Computers

Audio Archives
White PaperAC 97 and AMR Plug and Play Design
White PaperAnalog Audio Classification Using Device Impedance
White PaperAudio Device Performance and Windows XP: Best Practices for Drivers
White PaperAudio Driver Support for the WMA Pro-over-S/PDIF Format
White PaperDirectKS Sample Application
White PaperDRM for Audio Drivers
White PaperEnsuring CD-ROM Digital Audio Quality under Windows 98
White PaperFuture of Digital Music in Windows
White PaperGetting Started with WDM Audio Drivers
White PaperImplementing Speakerphone-Quality Audio on Computers
White PaperIntroduction to Digital Audio
White PaperKernel Mixer and WDM Architecture
White PaperNon-PCM Wave Formats and WDM Audio Drivers
White PaperTesting Proves Quality of WDM Game Emulation
White PaperWave Filters and WDM Audio Drivers
White PaperWDM Audio Drivers
White PaperWindows and Red Book Audio

CardBus / PC Card Archives
White PaperCardBus Controllers and Windows
White PaperCardBus I/O Resource Windows in Windows Vista
White PaperCardBus Wakeup Events and Windows 2000
White PaperDesign Guidelines for PC Card and CardBus
White PaperIRP Parameters for PCMCIA-Based Devices: IRP_MN_FILTER_RESOURCE_REQUIREMENTS
White PaperLegacy PCI Interrupt Routing and CardBus in Windows
White PaperPC Card Voltage Requirements for Windows
White PaperPCI-to-PCI Bridges and CardBus Controllers on Windows
White PaperPCMCIA IRQ Routing on Windows XP
White PaperVS Pins and PC Card for Windows

Display Archives
White PaperBinary Surface Support and Image Filtering
White PaperCaution for Display Driver Dependencies on Windows 9x GDI
White PaperClearType Font Technology and LCD Displays
White PaperColor Management and Windows: An Introduction
White PaperColor Management Concepts
White PaperColorspace Interchange Using sRGB
White PaperCompatibility Testing Requirements for Display Drivers
White PaperGDI+: Next-Generation Graphics Device Interface
White PaperImplementing Custom Refresh Rates in Win 95/98
White PaperImplementing Display Control Panel Extensions in Win95/98
White PaperLCD/Monitor Switching on ACPI Notebooks with Windows 98
White PaperMetaData in Image Files and GDI+
White PaperMobile System Displays and Windows
White PaperMultiple-Monitor Support with Onboard Display Adapters for Windows 98
White PaperPCI Express FAQ for Graphics
White PaperPoint Sprite Implementation in Microsoft DirectX 8
White PapersRGB Color Management Case Studies
White PaperWinColorKit: Windows Color Quality Test Kit for Device OEMs
White PaperWrite-Combining Memory in Video Miniport Drivers
Microsoft.comWindows Millennium Hibernate Feature

Driver Archives
ToolsArchive: Driver Install Frameworks Tools v.2.01
ToolsDriver Install Frameworks Tools 2.0
White PaperAnalyze Driver Performance
White PaperCreating Windows INF Files
White PaperDevice Driver INF Guidelines for Windows XP
White PaperDriver Protection List for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
White PaperDriverVer INF File Directive for Windows
White PaperFile Source and Target in Windows INFs
White PaperInteractiveInstall and Windows Device Driver Installation
White PaperKernel Enhancements for Windows XP
White PaperLow Pool Memory and Windows XP
White PaperPersonalized Icons for Devices on Windows XP
White PaperPREfast with Driver-Specific Rules
White PaperWDM: Introduction to Windows Driver Model
White PaperWhen to Write WDM Class Drivers
White PaperWindows 2000 Device Driver Installation
White PaperWindows Driver Model (WDM) Technology
White PaperWriting Drivers for Reliability, Robustness and Fault Tolerant Systems [WinHEC 2002 paper]

DVD Archives
White PaperDVD and DirectShow
White PaperDVD and Microsoft Operating Systems
White PaperDVD Multifunction Devices: Avoiding Multiple Logical Unit Devices
White PaperImage Mastering API (IMAPI) [V.0.9; 93 KB]
White PaperRequired Commands for Writable CD/DVD Devices

Fast Boot Archives
White PaperBuilding Fast-Booting PCs for Windows Me

Infrared Archives
White PaperConnecting Windows and Non-Windows Devices with IrDA
White PaperInfrared Extensions to NDIS

Input / HID Archives
White PaperButtons for USB HID Devices
White PaperCompatibility of Type 2 Pointing Devices with MS IntelliMouse
White PaperDeveloping HID Minidrivers for Non-USB Devices for Windows 98
White PaperEnhanced Keyboards and Windows
White PaperHardware IDs for HID Devices
White PaperHardware IDs for Mobile PC Input Devices
White PaperHID Audio Controls and Windows
White PaperHID Game Controllers and DirectInput
White PaperHID System Devices, DirectInput, and Windows
White PaperHID v. 1.0 Draft #4 Compliance
White PaperInput Device Drivers and Windows
White PaperKey Support, Keyboard Scan Codes, and Windows
White PaperMouse Wheel Support and Windows 98
White PaperPointer Ballistics for Windows XP
White PaperScan Code Mapper for Windows
White PaperSupport for USB and Legacy Keyboards and Mice
White PaperWindows and the 5-Button Wheel Mouse
Microsoft.comWindows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4

Legacy Free / Legacy Reduced Archives
White PaperACPI Specification Changes for Legacy Free
White PaperDebug Port Specification
White PaperLegacy vs. Legacy-Free Interfaces
White PaperLegacy-Free Hardware and BIOS Requirements
White PaperTargeting the Audiences for New PC Designs
White PaperWindows and the Market for Non-Legacy Interfaces

Modem Archives
White PaperModem Diagnostics
White PaperModem Support for Windows 95
White PaperOEM Caution for Preinstalling Dialup Services
White PaperStandard Modem Command Sets and INFs
White PaperWDM Software Modem Design Guidelines

Networking / Wirelesss Archives
White Paper5GHz Wireless Meetings
White PaperChoosing a WAN Miniport Driver Model
White PaperGPRS Auto-Configuration in Wireless Wide Area Networks
White PaperHigh Performance Network Adapters and Drivers
White PaperIEEE 802.11 Networks and Windows XP
White PaperIPv6 Support in Home Routers
White PaperNative 802.11 Framework for IEEE 802.11 Networks
White PaperNDIS 5.0 and ATM Support in Windows
White PaperNDIS 5.0 Overview
White PaperNetwork INF Format for Windows
White PaperNetwork Infrastructure Device Implementer’s Guide
White PaperNetworked Audio Visual Device Support for Windows
White PaperNetworking over IrDA in Windows XP
White PaperNew INF Platform Extension for 64-bit Versions of Windows XP
White PaperPorting Miniport Drivers to NDIS 6.0
White PaperQoS: Assigning Priority in IEEE 802-style Networks
White PaperQuality of Service and DOCSIS Networks
White PaperQuality of Service and DSL Network Solutions
White PaperRecommendations for IEEE 802.11 Access Points
White PaperRemote NDIS and Windows
White PaperScalable Networking: Eliminating the Receive Processing Bottleneck—Introducing RSS [160 KB]
White PaperSupporting Broadband Configuration during Windows Me OOBE
White PaperSystem Area Network (SAN)
White PaperUnimodem Diagnostics Command Reference Specification
White PaperUSB Remote NDIS Devices and Windows
White PaperWiFi Protected Access Overview
White PaperWindows Media Connect Device Design Considerations
White PaperWindows Network Drivers
White PaperWireless Communications and Windows
OtherWriting Great Network Drivers for Windows

PC Design Archives
White PaperFAQ for SDG v.1
White PaperGuidelines for Bus and Device Specifications
White PaperLegacy Design and Non-ACPI Systems
White PaperLegacy Plug and Play Guidelines
White PaperNetwork PC System Design Guidelines
White PaperServer Design FAQ
White PaperWindows Hardware Instrumentation Implementation Guidelines (WHIIG)
White PaperWindows Home Concept

PCI Archives
White PaperInterrupt Architecture Enhancements in Windows
White PaperPCI Express and Windows
White PaperPCI Express FAQ for Graphics
White PaperPCI IRQ Routing on a Multiprocessor ACPI System
White PaperPCI IRQ Routing Table Specification
White PaperPCI Multi-Level Rebalance in Windows Vista
White PaperPCI Power Management and Device Drivers
White PaperPCI Subsystem IDs and PCI-to-PCI Bridge Devices
White PaperPCI, PCI-X, and PCI Express FAQ
White PaperPCI-to-PCI Bridges and CardBus Controllers on Windows
White PaperPIIXA and IRQ Routing for OSR 2
White PaperShared Interrupts in PCI Device Drivers
White PaperSpecification for Use of PCI IDs with Windows
White PaperSupporting Subtractive PCI-to-PCI Bridges in Windows
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)PCI Express Update for Windows [WinHEC 2005; 462 KB]

Plug and Play Archives
White PaperCreating ISA Plug and Play Device IDs
White PaperGuidelines for Handling Plug and Play IRPs
White PaperHardware Design for Surprise Removal
White PaperIDs and Serial Numbers for ISA Plug and Play
White PaperLegacy I/O Removal to Advance the PC Architecture
White PaperPlug and Play BIOS Functionality and MS Win 95
White PaperPlug and Play for Windows 2000 and Windows XP
White PaperRemovable Devices and Windows
White PaperRequirements for the Generic Bus Driver Model
White PaperWhat's New for Plug and Play in the Windows XP DDK
White PaperWindows 2000 and Unreported Memory from Option ROMs
White PaperWindows XP and Surprise Removal of Hardware

Print Archives
White PaperDesigning Multifunction Devices for Windows Operating Systems
White PaperGPD Creation for Unidrv 5
White PaperHow to Update Printer Drivers Supported in Windows
White PaperIEEE 1394 Printers, SBP-2, and the SCSI-2 Command Set
White PaperMultifunction Printer Design Recommendations
White PaperRedistributing USB Printing Solutions for Windows 98
White PaperUSB Printers and Windows
White PaperWindows NT 4.0 Installation of Printer Drivers with Device Information Files
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Printer Driver Setup and 64-bit Implications [690 KB]

Server Archives
White PaperApplication Software Considerations for NUMA-Based Systems
White PaperMultiprocessor Wakeup and Intel PIIX4
White PaperWindows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition Driver Program Overview

Streaming Devices Archives
White PaperDVD Region Selection in Windows
White PaperFunctional Specification for De-Interlacing and Frame Rate Conversion in DirectX VA
White PaperOptimizing Video Quality for Windows XP Media Center Edition
White PaperQuality Windows Audio-Video Experience - qWave
White PaperWindows Kernel Streaming Architecture

Still Imaging Archives
White PaperBuilding a Site for Web Publishing and Print Ordering
White PaperDigital Still Camera Support
White PaperExposing Enhanced Functionality for Scanners
White PaperMigrating TWAIN drivers to WIA
White PaperSecurity-related Best Practices for WIA Driver Development
White PaperStill Image Architecture and Windows 2000
White PaperStill Image Connectivity for Windows (WIA)
White PaperWDM Still Image Architecture
White PaperWIA Architecture
White PaperWIA Device Drivers Shipping in Windows Millennium Edition
White PaperWIA Drivers in Windows XP
White PaperWriting WIA Drivers for Windows 64-bit Edition for Extended Processors
DownloadableWinColor Overview and sRGB Reference Image [1.3 MB]

Storage Archives
White PaperBIOS Settings for Native-Mode-Capable ATA Controllers
White PaperBIOS Support for 120-MB Floptical Drives
White PaperBooting from Alternate Devices
White PaperBooting in a Non-MS-DOS Environment for Windows Me Failure Recovery
White PaperChanges for Vendor-provided Storage Drivers Loaded Using F6
White PaperDiscontinued Support for IP over 1394
White PaperDisk Subsystem Performance Analysis for Windows
White PaperDMA Mode for ATA/ATAPI Devices in Windows XP
White PaperEliminating Phantom Floppy Disk Drives under Windows 95/98/Me
White PaperEnabling IDE DMA on Windows-based Systems
White PaperFAT32 File System for Windows
White PaperLocal File Systems for Windows
White PaperMonolithic Storage Drivers and Windows
White PaperPC Storage Directions
White PaperRecommendations for Booting Windows from USB Storage Devices
White PaperRemovable Storage Management and Windows
White PaperSerial ATA in the Microsoft Operating System Environment
White PaperWindows 95 and Windows NT SMART IOCTL API Specification
DownloadableMedia Status Notification Support Specification, Version 1.03 (44 KB)

TV and Broadcast Archives
White PaperConverging Computer and Television Image Portrayal
White PaperFOURCC for Video Compression
White PaperMicrosoft TV Technologies
White PaperSpatial Oversampling: Why HD0 Broadcasting Makes Sense
White PaperTemporal Rate Conversion
White PaperTV / Broadcast Driver Architecture
White PaperVPE and Video Capture Products

USB and 1394 Archives
White Paper1394 Open HCI 1.1: What's New
White PaperDiscontinued Support for IP over 1394
White PaperExtension Unit Plug-ins for USB Video Class Devices
White PaperFAQ for USB Storage Support in Windows
White PaperIEEE 1394 and the Windows Platform
White PaperIEEE 1394 Printers, SBP-2, and the SCSI-2 Command Set
White PaperIEEE 1394 Storage Road Map
White PaperPlatform Compatibility for USB Boot Devices
White PaperPower Management of USB Host Controllers
White PaperRedistributing USB Printing Solutions for Windows 98
White PaperSupport for USB Interface Association Descriptor in Windows
White PaperUSB and Game Devices
White PaperUSB Support on Windows 98
White PaperUSB-to-Legacy Mapper Products
Other1394 Open Host Controller Interface Specification, 1.1

Video Capture Archives
White PaperbiHeight and Video Formats in DirectShow
White PaperDesigning Video Capture Boards for Media Center PC
White PaperDigital Video Application Compatibility with IEEE 1394 and USB Devices
White PaperDigital Video Camcorder Support in Windows 98 SE and Windows 2000
White PaperDV Video Data and AVI Files
White PaperFOURCC for Video Compression
White PaperHalf-Line Implications with Video and VBI Data
White PaperI2C Interface Support in Windows
White PaperNavigating to WDM Video Capture
White PaperOptimizing Video Quality for Windows XP Media Center Edition
White PaperPC Video Synchronization and Playback
White PaperQuality Windows Audio-Video Experience - qWave
White PaperUSBCamD Differences Betweeen Windows 98 and Windows 2000
White PaperVfW-to-WDM Mapper to Support Analog Solutions
White PaperVPE and Video Capture Products
White PaperWDM Video Capture Cancel Routine for Stream Class Minidrivers

Windows File Protection Archives
White PaperDisk Subsystem Performance Analysis for Windows
White PaperPotential issues involved in updating Windows NT IFS drivers to Windows 2000
How to migrate file system filter drivers from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000.
White PaperWindows File Protection and Windows

Windows XP System Performance
White PaperBenchmarking on Windows XP
White PaperFast System Startup for PCs Running Windows XP
White PaperKey Benefits of the I/O APIC
White PaperThe Importance of Implementing APIC-Based Interrupt Subsystems on Uniprocessor PCs

Wireless Networking Archive
White PaperNative 802.11 Framework for IEEE 802.11 Networks

WMI Archives
White PaperWMI and CIM Concepts and Terminology
White PaperWMI Driver Testing for Windows 9x
White PaperWMI Support for SMART Drives