8-Bit Software

The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

OmniFlop:

64-bit

Last Update: Sunday, 24 December 2023 13:31 (v3.2d)

This page is for 64-bit users of OmniFlop (Windows Vista64, Windows 7x64/8x64/10x64/11).

If you are running a 32-bit version of Windows (2000, XP, Vista or 7) then go here.

v3.2d has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit OK

v3.2d has been tested on Windows 10 64-bit OK

Thanks to Chris Richardson and 8BS for starting this all off.

On This Page You Will Find
Overview	Overview
Download & Installation	Download Installation Installation (Windows Vista/7/11 64-bit) Installation (Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11) Permanent Installation Help! Explanation

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Overview

The 64-bit version of OmniFlop is written for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11.

I do not have a complete set of machines to test on, but v3.2d has been tried on:

Windows 7 64-bit, and

Windows 10 64-bit

Windows 11 has been documented but is not yet confirmed. Please help me by confirming if it works - or not.

In all cases, you must turn Driver Signing Enforcement OFF. See below for more details.

The 64-bit version of OmniFlop does not require a license if it works (like the 32-bit). I would appreciate any reports of it working (using the Contact in 'About' or 'Get a license'/'Register by e-mail') - or not - as otherwise I get no feedback and I don't know if it works.

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Download & Installation

There is an additional installation step for 64-bit users of OmniFlop compared with 32-bit users. You must 'disable driver signature enforcement' which varies depending on whether you are using Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11. Detailed instructions are provided in the User Guide included as part of the download but repeated here for ease of reference.

The download contains installation instructions in Adobe 'pdf' format. You can read these with the free Adobe Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html, if you don't already have it installed. If you want to read them immediately on-line they are also available here.

The download contains a user guide (OmniFlop.pdf), a Windows Floppy disk controller driver (OmniFDC.inf, OmniFDC.sys), a Windows Floppy disk drive driver (OmniFlop.inf, OmniFlop.sys), and a Wizard (OmniFlop.exe).

The Wizard can be used without installing the drivers, but only the 'standard' DOS formats can then be read, written or tested - none of the 'extended formats' will be available.

The drivers can also be used by your own software from v2.01 onwards. See support.

64-bit OmniFlop

The instructions for the 32-bit version of OmniFlop apply to the 64-bit version but you must 'disable driver signature enforcement' first (described below). Without this Windows will refuse to run the drivers - see below.

Download the latest release of OmniFlop64 here

Installation

Download the archive. Install the drivers following the instructions below ‑ either temporarily or permanently ‑ then run the Wizard.

Temporary Installation - Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 11

Use the Advanced Boot Options menu of Vista/7/11 to 'Disable Driver Signature Enforcement'.

1. Reboot to the Advanced Boot Options menu by holding down 'F8' as your machine reboots - see here. You should get something like the following menu:

2. Select the option 'Disable Driver Signature Enforcement' and press Enter.
3. When the system has rebooted install the drives using the usual (32-bit) instructions, or use OmniFlop as normal.

Thanks go to Aleksandrs Ribalka for testing this method.

Temporary Installation - Windows 10 and Windows 11

Use the Startup Settings menu of Windows 10 to 'Disable Driver Signature Enforcement'.

1. Make sure you are ready to reboot! Save all documents and close all windows.
2. Press the Windows key to launch the Start Menu.

3. Click on the Power icon, hold down the SHIFT key, and choose 'Restart'.

4. The system will shut down, and present you with a menu:

5. Select 'Troubleshoot'.
6. Select 'Advanced options'.
7. Select 'Startup settings'.

8. Select 'Restart'.
9. The system will reboot again to a menu 'Startup settings'.

10. Press 7 or F7 to select 'Disable driver signature enforcement'.
11. The system will boot.
12. Install drivers by following the instructions, or use previously installed OmniFlop drivers (they do not need to be re-installed every time).

Permanent Installation

This involves the download of a Windows configuration utility and the signing of the OmniFlop drivers by your own system.

1. Download DSEO from https://www.ngohq.com/driver-signature-enforcement-overrider.html
2. Run DSEO.
3. Enable test mode.
4. Restart PC.
5. Install OmniFlop drivers using the normal instructions. After installation, you will be prompted to reboot. Do not reboot yet.
6. Run DSEO again.
7. Select "sign a system file" and enter the two strings:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\OmniFlop.sys

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\OmniFDC.sys

8. Now restart your PC.
9. Use OmniFlop.

Thanks go to Aleksandrs Ribalka for this method.

Help!

For help or suggestions, use the 'Support' contact for OmniFlop in the 'About' box from the Wizard.

Explanation

From the 64-bit version of Vista onwards Microsoft changed its policy on drivers and their installation on Windows (see here). Under 'Global Issues for Driver Loading' it states:

Digital signatures are required for 64-bit kernel-mode drivers. Signed catalog (.cat) files are required for all kernel-mode packages that are to be installed on the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista. This applies to any software module that loads in kernel mode, including device drivers, filter drivers, and kernel services. The operating system does not load unsigned kernel modules that lack a signed catalog file.

There are two ways to obtain an appropriately signed catalog file:

(1) Obtain a Windows Vista logo. Drivers that pass Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) testing receive a catalog file that is signed with the WHQL certificate.

(2) Obtain a publisher identity certificate (PIC) and use the PIC to sign the package's catalog file. To obtain a PIC, a publisher must first obtain a VeriSign Class 3 Commercial Software Publisher Certificate and then use that certificate to obtain a PIC from Microsoft that can be used to sign kernel-mode modules intended for 64-bit Windows Vista.

32-bit Windows is able to use 'free' un-certified drivers, but not 64-bit versions.

To digitally sign these drivers will require payment to Microsoft. The proceeds from donations to OmniFlop over the past 6 years do not cover the cost of submitting OmniFlop to Microsoft's WHQL for certification nor obtaining a PIC.

For 64-bit users of OmniFlop this means you must explicitly allow Windows to use the OmniFlop64 driver. The sections above tell you how. You can either temporarily enable the OmniFlop driver - for use of OmniFlop as and when you need it - or permanently sign the OmniFlop driver specifically for use on your system and allow it to run all the time.

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