How to change USB device name ?

spilz · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 219

Hello

To start, I already try to find the answer but finally never find it in all subjects about it.

I want to change the name of the device in "device manager" of WIN10.

I tried to USB_STRING_DESC[] but the name appear in wizard installation but then never find a way to get it again. (That was explain in some USB files).

So if I understand well the name in "device manager" comes from driver.

I tried to change the name in "cdc_NTXPVista_7_8_10.inf".

CCS_CDC2 = "CCS USB to UART" to CCS_CDC2 = "CCS USB to UART 2"

For test, but driver seems to be changed by default Windows driver after the change :(

Do I understand well that the solution to change the name is in driver ?

How can I change the driver for this ?

Thanks for your help

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19535

Multiple parts to this.

Windows 10, will now only run 'registered' drivers. When you tried
to change the name in the driver, it said 'not registered', and puts back the
standard driver. To actually change this like this, you would have to have a
registered driver for your device... Sad

The full driver as well as the .inf file, has to have a matching .cat file.
There are tools to build this, but you are talking having to use the full
driver development kit.

However, you can change the device 'name' that is associated with a
specific driver. This thread shows how:
https://www.avoiderrors.com/rename-devices-device-manager/

This is probably by far the easiest way to do this. Remember also that
you can export this registry entry and have this added as part of your install
to support the new name on other machines.

spilz · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 219

Thanks for your reply Ttelmah

So if I understand well USB_STRING_DESC[] is no more really used by Win10 :(

With the .inf can i directly build a .cat (what ever how) ?
or other files are needed ?

My goal was to change the name of serial port to make difference between devices and so a software in C# will directly identify the right device and run a specific program
What I understand, it’s no more possible. Right ?
If they use the same driver they will have the same name, aren’t they ?

No other magic solution for my need ? ^^

Thanks again

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19535

It is used, to identify which driver to load. Problem is if you change this,
you have to have a matching driver, and the driver now needs to be a
'signed' type. You can't just create your own .inf file as you used to.

It is actually 'possible' to put in a unsigned driver still, but a lot of work:

https://www.howtogeek.com/167723/how-to-disable-driver-signature-verification-on-64-bit-windows-8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/
and (of course) will be have to done on every machine where you use
the device....

spilz · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 219

Ok :(

No other way to make difference between 2 devices which use same driver ?

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19535

If you give the devices a unique serial number, then the name allocation
(done by the method shown), will be permanently assigned to the specific
device.
You have to assign a new string descriptor for the serial number. It is
normally blank.

spilz · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 219

Which method ?

Where can I change the serial number ? In CCS ? What is the name of variable ?

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19535

spilz · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 219

hello

I tested the method and i'm able to change the name of the driver, but I can't make différence between two device

I changed :