Updated feature score directive in Windows 8
The updated feature score directive is a general installation setting that's required for all Windows 8 drivers that follow the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
This table shows the values that apply for Windows 8. Key changes are italicized.
Feature scores for WDDM versions
| Driver model | Feature score |
|---|---|
| Windows 8 WHQL | E0 |
| Windows 8 Pre-Release Driver | E3 |
| Windows 7 WHQL | E6 |
| Windows 7 inbox | EC |
| Windows Vista WHQL | F6 |
| Windows Vista inbox | F8 |
| Microsoft Basic Display Driver | FB |
| XDDM third-party | FC (Not used in Windows 8) |
| XDDM inbox in Windows Vista | FD (Not used in Windows 8) |
| VGA | FE (Not used in Windows 8) |
| Default or No Score | FF |
| Unsigned drivers | No feature score = FF |
Each operating system release introduces a new feature score value. For Windows 8 this is E3 for in-box and pre-release drivers, and E0 for WHQL drivers. The feature score is used by Windows to determine which driver to install when multiple possible drivers exist. A driver with a higher ranked feature score is selected.
All Windows 8 in-box driver devices have a higher ranked feature score than all existing Windows 7 drivers because the in-box drivers are tested on Windows 8, and existing Windows 7 drivers have not been. This results in the in-box Windows 8 driver replacing existing Windows 7 drivers. An independent hardware vendor (IHV) can use the E0 feature score with a Windows 7 driver if the following is true:
- The driver has been tested for Windows 8.
- The driver has fixes that make it better than the in-box driver.
- The driver is intended to be retained on upgrade to Windows 8.