Hello everybody!
This video will show you what to do if you see a security warning “Windows cannot verify
the publisher of this driver” and how to disable driver signature verification.
When a new device is connected to the computer, Windows tries to find and install a corresponding
driver.
Sometimes you can see a notice that the driver is unsigned, was modified after signing or
that it cannot be installed by Windows.
Should you install an unsigned or modified driver?
If the driver is signed by the publisher and the authenticity of such signature has been
confirmed by a certification center, you can be sure that the driver was issued by this
publisher and was not modified by anyone else.
It’s better to avoid installing a driver if you have doubts as to its origins and the
safety of its contents.
An original version of the unsigned driver can actually come from the device manufacturer,
but if the driver is unsigned it’s quite possible that it has been modified by someone
else.
After all, today most manufacturers sign the drivers they have created before they issue
them.
However, if you decided to disable driver signature verification, there are several
ways to do it.
Some of them differ, depending on the operating system - Windows 7 or Windows 8 and 10.
The first way is for Windows 7.
You can disable driver signature verification in Windows 7 with the help of the advanced
boot options menu: • To use it, restart the computer.
• Somewhere between the BIOS logo and Windows 7 splash animation, press F8.
To make sure you did it, press it several times.
• As a result, the Advanced Boot Options screen will appear.
• Use the arrow keys to highlight this option: “Disable driver signature enforcement”
and press Enter.
• After restarting the computer, the driver signature enforcement will be turned off.
The second way is for Windows 8 and 10.
You can disable driver signature verification in Windows 8 from the recovery environment.
Watch a detailed video guide on entering and using Windows 10 recovery environment.
You will find the link in the description: To do it:
• Go to Settings / Update and Security / Recovery.
• In the Advanced startup section click on “Restart now.”
• After the restart, the recovery environment window will open.
• In the recovery environment, click on Troubleshoot / Advanced options / Statup settings
• In the “Startup settings” menu you can see that the operating system can be restarted
to perform a number of functions.
Among them, there is also “Disable driver signature enforcement.”
• Click Restart.
• The system restarts.
• The window to select an option appears.
You can choose the one you need by pressing keys from F1 to F9.
• The one we are looking for - “Disable driver signature enforcement” - is number
7 of the list.
So I press F7 to choose it.
• After restarting the computer, the driver signature enforcement will be disabled.
The third way of turning off driver signature verification might be the easiest and the
most correct.
It will work with Windows 7, 8 or 10.
• This method involves modifying Local Group Policy Editor settings.
• To start it, press Windows + R key sequence.
• In the window that opens, enter the command “gpedit.msc.”
You can visit our channel and watch a detailed video about the Run tool and its main commands.
If you are interested, follow the link in the description:
• Ok • When the Local Group Policy Editor opens,
go to User Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Driver Installation.
• In the right pane, find the policy “Code signing for device drivers.”
• Double-click on it.
• This policy determines how the system responds when a user tries to install device
driver files that are not digitally signed.
By default, this function is on.
That is, the system checks the driver signatures and does not allow installing the ones that
are not digitally signed.
• To turn off this check, select Disabled.
• If you select Enabled, you can choose what the system does when it spots a driver
missing a digital signature: Ignore, Warn or Block.
Select the one you like.
• To save changes, click Ok / Apply.
The choice is always yours, but reinstalling drivers is not something you do very often,
so it’s better to consider the system’s warning and think twice than take unnecessary
risks.
That is all for now.
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Ask questions in your comments.
Thank you for watching.
Good luck.