C++--How to configure Visual Studio for compiling drivers

1. Setup Visual Studio 2008

2. Setup DDK (WDK)

3. Add to VS pathes to DDK include files, libs and bins.

4. Create new empty "Win32 project" and add source file (i.e. HelloWorld.c).

5. Configure project properties (All Configurations)
5.1. C\C++ - General - Debug Information Format = Program Database (/Zi)
5.2. C\C++ - Preprocessor - Preprocessor Definitions = _X86_ [add also DBG for Debug config]
5.3. C\C++ - Code Generation - Enable C++ Exceptions = No
5.4. C\C++ - Code Generation - Basic Runtime Checks = Default
5.5. C\C++ - Code Generation - Buffer Security Check = No (/GS-)
5.6. C\C++ - Advanced - Calling Convention = __stdcall (/Gz)
5.7. C\C++ - Advanced - Compile As = Compile as C Code (/TC) [if you are going to use plain C]
5.8. Linker - General - Output File = $(OutDir)\$(ProjectName).sys
5.9. Linker - General - Enable Incremental Linking = Default
5.10. Linker - Input - Additional Dependencies = ntoskrnl.lib hal.lib $(NOINHERIT) [add here needed libs here e.g. ntoskrnl.lib hal.lib]
5.11. Linker - Input - Ignore All Default Libraries = Yes (/NODEFAULTLIB)
5.12. Linker - Manifest File - Generate Manifest = No
5.13. Linker - System - SubSystem = Native (/SUBSYSTEM:NATIVE)
5.14. Linker - System - Driver = Driver (/DRIVER)
5.15. Linker - Advanced - Entry Point = DriverEntry
5.16. Linker - Advanced - Base Address = 0x10000
5.17. Linker - Advanced - Randomized Base Address = Disable (/DYNAMICBASE:NO)
5.18. Linker - Advanced - Data Execution Prevention(DEP) = Disable (/NXCOMPAT:NO)

6. OK. Have done. Now you can test it with simple code, e.g.:

#include "ntddk.h"

NTSTATUS
DriverEntry(PDRIVER_OBJECT DriverObject,PUNICODE_STRING RegistryPath)
{
return STATUS_UNSUCCESSFUL;


source url: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/winsdk/vs2008_and_drivers.aspx