Base System Submission Procedures
Last updated on November 11, 1999

Welcome to the Submission Procedures for Microsoft® Base Systems This document provides the information you need to assemble your Test Submission. Please make sure that you read and understand the WHQL Derivative System Program Rules before assembling your test submission. When your hardware passes Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) log review and testing, you will receive a Test Report which includes technical feedback on any problems found by the WHQL tests. When your hardware passes the WHQL tests you will receive the following:

WHQL will contact you when your Test Submission is received. Allow 30 days for Base System submissions to be processed. If you have technical questions about the Derivative System program, see our page on the WHQL Derivative System Program Rules, or send e-mail to whqlsys@microsoft.com. If you send a Test Submission to WHQL and DO NOT receive confirmation e-mail, please contact whqlinfo@microsoft.com with the keyword STATUS REQUEST in your Subject line. Include the type of equipment, date shipped, and how to contact you in the message. Customers can also check the Submission Status page at http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest for the most current Submission related information.

Microsoft Windows Logo License and WHQL Testing Agreements

Complete and sign the "Designed for Microsoft Windows" Logo License Agreement and WHQL Testing Agreement. If your company has already completed these agreements, only "Exhibit A" of the Testing Agreement needs to be completed and included with your Test Submission.

Note: The following WHQL legal agreements, previously available through the Microsoft FAX Service, can now be downloaded from the WHQL web site at http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/testkits/

All test procedures and test tools are included on the Microsoft Windows® Hardware Compatibility Tests version 9.5 CD-ROM. You can order this CD-ROM by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/hctcd/.

Be sure to include the name of the agreement(s), and your phone and FAX numbers.

Choose a category for your submission:

PC 99: Mini-Note, Mobile, Office, Consumer, Entertainment, or Workstation.
Server (SDG 2.0): Basic Server, SOHO Server, or Enterprise Server

Verify Components are Logo'd

For Base System Submissions, WHQL requires that the device / driver combinations used in the system are logo'd and designated correctly on the HCL. To ensure that your components are logo'd, see System Submission Procedures, Step 3: Verify system components are logo'd.

Provide BIOS/Firmware Version Tool

Design Houses must provide a tool that records system BIOS and firmware versions to WHQL and to OEMs that are submitting Derivative Systems based on that design House's Base System(s). This tool must write this version information to a log file, so that WHQL can use these logs to verify that no BIOS or firmware changes were made to the Derivative System. If WHQL does not have a BIOS/Firmware version tool for the Base System Submission already, include this tool on a clearly labeled floppy diskette or CD-ROM.

Test the System

Test the Base System in your lab and create log wrap-ups for each operating systems, as described in System Submission Procedures, Step 4: Test the System.

Create electronic submission file (Systemsub.dat)

For instructions, see System Submission Procedures, Step 6: Create electronic submission file (Systemsub.dat).

Assemble the System Submission


The following items must be included for ALL Base System submissions:


  1. Submission Disks. Provide complete sets of test logs for all required operating systems using the Microsoft Windows® Hardware Compatibility Tests version 9.5 CD-ROM. If there are multiple submission disks, make sure that each disk is clearly marked.
  2. Systemsub.dat file. Include with one set of the HCT logs or on a separate and clearly labeled disk.
  3. Legal Agreements. Completed and signed: WHQL Testing Agreement, Logo License Agreement and Exhibit A.
  4. Four (4) Computer systems: Send systems from your assembly line that you tested. These systems will not be returned and must remain at Microsoft for use in auditing Derivative Systems.
  5. Configuration Logs. The following logs should be included on a floppy diskette or CD-ROM clearly labeled "Configuration":
  6. Shipping device driver files: (Unless available in the operating system setup media.)
  7. Before you submit your system to WHQL for testing, be sure that your drivers comply with the following submission requirements:
    1. All drivers should be ready to install. No self-extracting archives, no ZIP files, and no ARJ files. The only exception to this rule is if a self-extracting archive also performs driver installation.
    2. If the operating system requires a driver in order to be able to complete installation, then that driver (usually a SCSI controller) should be placed on a floppy diskette.
    3. Driver directories should be kept to eight character maximum and no more than four directories deep.
    4. If drivers are stored in subdirectories on the CD, then the directories should be organized in either a DRIVER/os/type/manufacturer format or a DRIVER/type/manufacturer/os format.
  8. Fees:

    There are no fees for this program.

    Ship the Submission

    Send submission packages to the following authorized Microsoft test location:

    WHQL USA