Topic: JRiver Media Window Audio Driver for Windows 10 (Read 9129 times)

gordec · « **on:** February 21, 2018, 04:58:23 pm »

Anyone able to install the audio drive for version 23? Windows 10 keeps saying the driver is unsigned and won't allow it to be used.

Hendrik · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2018, 03:59:56 am »

We do not currently provide a driver that is compatible with the latest Windows 10 signing requirements (because those are really outrageous in my opinion, and cost an arm and a leg to fullfill) - you can still use the WDM driver if you disable "Secure Boot" in your system, because that disables the enhanced requirements.

RD James · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2018, 08:08:26 am »

Is it possible to temporarily disable Secure Boot, install the driver, and then re-enable Secure Boot to keep the JRiver driver working?
My system reports that it has Secure Boot enabled, but I also have the JRiver WDM driver working, and that's the only thing I think it could possibly be - though I would have expected that enabling Secure Boot would disable the driver again.
This was a clean install of 1709 too, so it's not like the driver was migrated from an older version of the OS with less-strict requirements.

Hendrik · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2018, 08:41:57 am »

I don't think so. The only exceptions that I know is that either your system was upgraded from any version before Windows 10 1607, or Secure Boot is off (secure boot status can be seen, for example, in "msinfo32")

RD James · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2018, 09:04:38 am »

I'm surprised by it too. I tried looking into the possible reasons for what may be allowing the driver to be installed but I can't really find an answer.
I thought that maybe I had disabled Secure Boot temporarily and installed the driver then, but I really don't know.

Could it be a Home / Pro difference?
Note: this install is now 'Pro for Workstations' but I only upgraded to that recently; long after installing the WDM driver.

gordec · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2018, 11:07:52 am »

Is it helpful if I roll back a previous JRM version?

Hendrik · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2018, 11:20:37 am »

No, that won't change anything. Especially since older WDM drivers could cause BSODs.

RD James · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2018, 12:38:26 am »

(removed - my speculation about what may have been allowing my system to continue updating the MC23 driver past 23.0.80 was wrong)

hvac · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2018, 02:07:58 pm »

I'm no expert, my solution has been to install MC20 and that WDM driver is accepted in MC23. Can't uninstall MC20 without loosing the driver unfortunately. Will MC24 correct this issue? My workaround functions well enough. With WDM have the ability to use JRiver MC for enhanced listening of the streaming web or my optical drive. Without WMD River is seriously limited in value to end user.

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2018, 02:15:19 pm »

MC20 uses an older WDM driver, so it's going to be prone to BSODs and potentially other issues (like Hendrik pointed out above), so I wouldn't recommend using it if I were you.

However, you *can* boot into the computer's UEFI BIOS and disable the Secure Boot feature which *should* allow you to install MC23/MC24's WDM driver without issue if you need the WDM driver. But yeah, relying on the older, BSOD-prone driver isn't the answer here.

RD James · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2018, 03:56:59 pm »

Surely if the issue is Secure Boot/HVCI, you wouldn't be able to install the older WDM driver either?

Hendrik · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2018, 05:25:18 pm »

The restrictions don't apply for drivers signed before a certain date, so they don't break hardware which doesn't get driver updates anylonger.

hvac · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2018, 07:42:04 pm »

Now with MC24 can't seem to use either method to allow WDM driver to function properly. MC20 driver worked with MC23 but not with MC24, so I tried recommended disable of BIOS secure boot. This wasn't helpful either. (Boot didn't fit). Can you please suggest an option other than default to MC23/MC20. I can not overstate the importance of having this function in the era of streaming music from the Internet.

JimH · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2018, 07:59:52 pm »

WDM works. The problem is probably with either installation or configuration.

Having more than one version installed could complicate things. You can turn WDM off in Tools > Options > General > Features.

RD James · « **Reply #14 on:** April 19, 2018, 06:01:42 am »

Quote from: JimH on April 18, 2018, 07:59:52 pm

WDM works. The problem is probably with either installation or configuration.
Having more than one version installed could complicate things. You can turn WDM off in Tools > Options > General > Features.

The problem is that the WDM driver does not meet the signing requirements for Windows 10.
Microsoft started to enforce them with the release of the Anniversary Update in 2016, so the WDM driver cannot run on Windows 10 systems with Secure Boot enabled (and Secure Boot is required for other security features to work correctly).

Drivers signed with a certificate issued prior to 2015-07-29 - which applies to the old WDM driver that is known to cause BSODs - were granted an exemption, but the fixed (current) WDM driver was signed with a certificate issued after that date, and does not meet the requirements for Windows 10 drivers.

For some reason my system had been allowing the driver to continue being updated - which was supposed to only happen if the driver had been installed prior to installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, but installing MC24 invalidated that and I can only run the driver from 23.0.80 or earlier now.

hvac · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2018, 04:37:26 am »

So, may I know just what "works" (with WDM checked and secure boot disabled) on MC24? By way of explanation, I would like to listen to one of the major for pay streaming services like Deezer or Amazon Music Unlimited or Spotify or any other that "works" thru MC24 as you have suggested. MC23/MC20 did work with no BSOD issues on my system. And it worked for any music I streamed through my Windiws 10 and MC23/MC20 system.
Now that I'm using MC24 as the sole music decoder it doesn't work with either of the above services. If any one of the major music streaming services can be made to work, and I haven't tried them all, I would call this problem solved.
As I believe the average music listener is just as likely to enjoy streamed music as ripped CDs, this function of the JRiver experience is essential. It allows one to improve the sound of what would otherwise be a marginal stream quality. It isn't the same as my FLAC files in hard drive but at 320kbs I can get pretty close to lossless for my old ears using MC.
I was able to play several PBS streams and Radio Paradise thru MC24 with your suggested modifications. This allows the wonderful decoding capabilities contained therein to come to the forefront. I'm starting to wonder if this is a proprietary issue with the majors. However I can't see why the majors would want that limit on the use of their feeds? Thanks for listening. I'll get down off my soapbox now.

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2018, 06:20:39 am »

Have you been here?
https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/WDM_Driver

It is a driver that any program can use.

You will need to set it up in MC24 and disable it anywhere else.

hvac · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2018, 06:40:07 am »

Now that you mention it, no I don't see MC24 as an option in the Windows Sound menu. Not sure what that means in this context. Is WDM driver enabled. The box in MC setup menu has been checked. Actually that was default selection and hasn't been monkeyed with. I do have playback with PBR an Radio Paradise if that helps. Thanks

hvac · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2018, 03:52:52 pm »

Having read the wiki twice, I think I now need some troubleshooting. If you read my prior entries you will note I have answered many of your concerns. The only thing I didn't do is fiddle with the zones since those instruction seemed to concern an audio/video feed which I am not trying to establish. Again I ask, does the fact that I can play Radio Paradise streaming indicate I have a WDM driver that is working properly? Thanks

JimH · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2018, 04:35:17 pm »

WDM won't play to a zone. It plays on the sound device that you have selected.

hvac · « **Reply #20 on:** April 22, 2018, 10:23:21 am »

Can I make a request? I'd like to have permission to download MC20 to my computer. Could pay if necessary. Also I am willing to accept responsibility for any problems such as BSOD. Currently this version isn't available for download. Thanks.

JimH · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2018, 11:13:41 am »

Old Versions on the wiki.

RD James · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2018, 02:57:38 pm »

Quote from: hvac on April 22, 2018, 10:23:21 am

Can I make a request? I'd like to have permission to download MC20 to my computer. Could pay if necessary. Also I am willing to accept responsibility for any problems such as BSOD. Currently this version isn't available for download. Thanks.

23.0.80 is the last version of the driver that works on Windows 10 if you have Secure Boot enabled:

Hopefully the JRiver team are working meet Windows 10's driver signing requirements and release an updated driver for MC24.

hvac · « **Reply #23 on:** May 14, 2018, 11:11:09 am »

Sweet, now we're cooking. I finally tried unchecking the WDM box, rebooting and then checked WDM and now MC24 is performing as advertised. Thanx all for your astute diagnostic skills. Hvac

tdot · « **Reply #24 on:** March 07, 2021, 08:00:23 am »

WDM works on my Windows 7/MC23 but not Windows 10/MC23. On Windows 10, it does not show up as a playback device.

I read the posts above, and tried to download the driver from this link, but it gave me an access denied error.

http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/channels/v23/latest/MediaCenter230080-x64.exe

Can I download a Windows 10 compatible driver from somewhere?

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Author Topic: JRiver Media Window Audio Driver for Windows 10 (Read 9129 times)