Windows 7: Updating Driver: Windows cannot verify driver

Hello,

I went into my device manager to see which devices need to be updated. I then went and clicked update "Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adapter" - then as seen in the below photograph, a Windows error popped up and said "Windows can't verify this driver software". Can anyone tell me what is going on here? Could this be a zombie driver or is it safe to continue the update? Thanks.

Hi,

Are you running any Virtualization software (Virtuabox, XP Mode)?

If so then that would explain the Virtual WIFI Adapter. Also, as you're running X64 then some drivers will produce this message as it's part of the X64 system to alert of any X86 drivers that may be installed.

"Back in 2002, the research department at Microsoft started experimenting with the virtualization of 802.11 wireless adapters under the project code name VirtualWiFi. They discovered a way to make a single physical Wi-Fi adapter look like multiple adapters in Windows.
VirtualWiFi lets users simultaneously connect to multiple wireless networks with only one wireless card. They hoped this technology could be used in a variety of applications, including wireless diagnosis and troubleshooting, Wi-Fi mesh networking, virtual access points, and wireless repeating........see the link below."

How to: Create Wireless Hosted Networks in Windows 7

It is safe to continue the update, it just means the driver hasn't been verified by Microsoft yet.

Hi Orbital Shark,

Thanks for your quick response.

I used to have VirtualBox installed on my computer - however I have since uninstalled it. I guess the best thing to do would be to leave the driver alone? I might need VirtualBox again in the future, so no real point removing the driver.

Again, thanks for your response.

A better question would be why are you trying to update a system driver that comes default with Windows, and only comes from Microsoft?