Close

The Windows Configuration Situation

A project log for PD Buddy Sink

Smart power jack for USB Power Delivery

clara-hobbsClara Hobbs 12/09/2017 at 17:571 Comment

I think, maybe, but I don't know, but I'm starting to feel like Microsoft's got a brain problem situation on their hands. (or they had one before Windows 10 came out, anyway)

After some discussion about configuring the Sink on Windows, I finally took a close look at the situation.  What I found is not good.  While Windows has included a driver for USB CDC-ACM since Vista, for some inane reason, versions older than 10 don't load it without an INF file listing each specific USB VID/PID pair that needs the driver.  Also, Windows 8 requires this file to be signed.  As of now, there's no way I'm going to pay for a code signing certificate just to tell an operating system to load a driver for a standard protocol that it provides itself.  This project just isn't profitable enough for that to be worth it.  If I was shipping a hundred units a month I'd probably do it, but somehow I doubt that will happen any time soon.

So, if you run Windows and want to configure a PD Buddy Sink, either make a live USB Linux system to configure the Sink with, or get Windows 10.

Discussions

patrick wrote 12/31/2017 at 08:32 point

indeed my experience Clayton. Win10 work perfectly, win7 had issues. good to hear that it works standard on any win10 system

  Are you sure? yes | no