The Windows Hardware Lab Kit (Windows HLK) is a
test automation
In software testing, test automation is the use of software separate from the software being tested to control the execution of tests and the comparison of actual outcomes with predicted outcomes. Test automation can automate some repetitive bu ...
framework provided by
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
to certify devices for Windows. Earlier similarly released frameworks were called ''Windows Hardware Certification Kit'' (Windows HCK) and ''Windows Logo Kit'' (WLK).
It provides automated scheduling and execution of the
driver tests that
hardware vendors are required to pass in order to qualify to use the
Microsoft Designed for Windows Logo. It also enables users to automate driver tests they have created themselves. These tests can be mixed and matched with the Logo tests provided by
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
to create a custom test pass, which enables organizations to use the DTM to validate
drivers in any way they see fit.
History
During the
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft and oriented towards businesses. It was the direct successor to Windows NT 4.0, and was released to manufacturing on December 15, 1999, and was officiall ...
,
XP,
2003 timeframe there was an old tool Hardware Compatibility Test (HCT) to certify devices. When
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. It was the direct successor to Windows XP, which was released five years before, at the time being the longest time span between successive releases of ...
was released the tool was replaced by Driver Test Manager (DTM) which can certify drivers for all then-supported platforms. At that time DTM was part of
Windows Driver Kit
The Windows Driver Kit (WDK) is a software toolset from Microsoft that enables the development of device drivers for the Microsoft Windows platform. It includes documentation, samples, build environments, and tools for driver developers. A comp ...
(WDK). Later DTM was separated from WDK and changed its name to Windows Logo Kit (WLK). For Windows 8, the name was changed to Windows Hardware Certification Kit (Windows HCK), as announced at the
//Build/ conference. Subsequently, its name was once again changed into Windows Hardware Lab Kit (Windows HLK) for Windows 10 release, intended for testing of hardware and drivers on Windows 10 platform. The Windows Hardware Certification Kit continues testing hardware on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (and their server products respectively) platforms.
See also
*
Inquisitor
An inquisitor was an official (usually with judicial or investigative functions) in an inquisition – an organization or program intended to eliminate heresy and other things contrary to the doctrine or teachings of the Catholic faith. Literall ...
— free/open-source hardware testing framework.
*
WHQL Testing — Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing.
External links
*
Windows Hardware Certification Kit User's GuideCraig Rowland of Microsoft at 2011 Build confererence presentation on Certifying hardware with the Windows Hardware Certification Kit{{Microsoft development tools
Device drivers
Microsoft development tools