I have posted on this topic several times but it seems to get buried so I have started a new post for future reference.
There have been several posts over the last few months where users have had issues trying to install drivers for the tinySA and TinySA Ultra.? Some have been able to easily install the drivers while others have been frustrated.?
I believe that some of the problems have to with a security feature in Windows 10 and 11 called
Memory Integrity.? Memory integrity can help prevent malicious code from accessing high-security processes in the event of an attack.? It is described in the Microsoft post below.
When Microsoft ships Windows 10 Memory Integrity is turn OFF by default and with Windows 11 it is turned ON by default.?? However most PC's purchased by users come from a manufacturer with Windows pre-installed.? The manufacturer installs drivers, applications and sets Windows settings as they see fit for the product they are selling.? So the user will only know if Memory Integrity is on or off by examining their computer settings.
If Memory Integrity is On it will block suspicious or non-compliant divers from installing or loading and you will usually see a yellow triangle with an a exclamation mark.?? Now how does this apply to a tinySA software installation?
There are
two different drivers required when using a tinySA or tinySA Ultra. One is required to get a COMxx: port so that your PC can exchange data with a tinySA. The other driver is required when you want to do firmware updates on your device.
COM port driver---------------------
With Windows 10 and Windows 11 the required driver will be installed by Windows when you connect your tinySA to a USB port.? You can check that the driver is working by plugging in and turning on your tinySA and then going into Device Manager and looking under ports to get the COM port number that has been assigned. If you power off the tinySA the COM port should disappear from Device Manager.?? The COM driver for the tinySA will automatically load in Windows 10/11 and is compliant with Memory Integrity.?
Firmware Upgrade driver---------------------------------
This driver is
only required when you want to upgrade your firmware. It
does not assign a COM port when the tinySA is plugged in and in DFU mode. DFU mode is activated by depressing the rocker switch down and powering on the tinySA. When in DFU mode the screen will be black. You can check that the driver is installed correctly by looking under USB controllers in Device Manager and seeing if it shows that your device is in DFU mode.
The DFU driver is not compatible with Memory Integrity and will not load until it is turned OFF I had this issue on a new laptop I bought a few weeks ago.
You have to turn OFF Memory Integrity so it looks like this...
Do a search in the Windows search bar for Core Isolation settings. Go to this setting and once you have turned it off you have to reboot the computer.? See if your driver is now says? STM in DFU Mode in Device Manager.??? If it still says STM32 Bootloader right click it and Uninstall.? Disconnect your tinySA.? Look in Windows Update under Optional Updates and see if the STM driver is listed.? If it is select it and install.? Whether it is there or not reboot and then plug in your tinySA in DFU mode.? If none of these techniques work after you have disabled Memory Integrity the driver will have to be manually installed and the procedure will be described in further posts.?
WARNING: Turning off Memory Integrity disables some of the security features in Windows.? Users need to do their own Google research as to whether they wish to activate it or not.? If you turn it off to update your tinySA you cannot turn it back on until you uninstall the DFU driver.
Roger
Roger Need