Welcome to the Windows Hardware Quality Labs System Testing Announcements. The most recent announcements are marked as NEW!.
NEW!WHQL Derivative System Program Released: Starting with the release of the HCT 9.5 Test Kit, WHQL will accept submissions of Base Systems and Derivative Systems, which will allow many systems to be logo'd with a minimum of testing. For more information, see the Derivative System Program Rules.
HCT 9.5 Preview Released (10/4/99): The HCT 9.5 Preview Pack is available from the WHQL Test Kits page. The purpose of this update is to preview changes in the upcoming HCT 9.5 Test Kit, which will be used to test Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 (RC3). This update cannot be used to make a submission, it is provided as a preview of changes in the next Test Kit release only. For more information on the HCT 9.5 Preview, see the HCT 9.5 Preview Documentation.
New System Submission Assistant (10/14/99): A new version of the System Submission Assistant is now available from the WHQL Test Kits page.
PC 98 Expired (9/28/1999): Effective September 1, 1999, initial (non-refresh) PC 98 system submissions are no longer accepted. PC 98 systems may still be refreshed using current test kits. For details, see System Refresh Guidelines.
Web Updates for Windows 2000 RC 2 (9/22/1999): The HCT 9.2 Beta 2 Web Update and the HCT 9.3 Beta 2 Web Update have been released! For more information on these web updates, see Document Updates to HCTs 9.0 & 9.1. To download these web updates, go to the WHQL Test Kits page. You should download and install Windows 2000 RC2 on your test system before installing the HCT 9.2 Beta 2 Web Update.
Windows NT 4.0 testing optional after the next release (9/3/1999): Starting with the next release of the WHQL Test Kits, Windows NT 4.0 testing will no longer be required for system submissions, unless the system ships with Windows NT 4.0 pre-installed.
PC 97 Refreshes Extended through January 1, 2000 (8/30/1999): Refreshes for PC 97 systems have been extended through January 1, 2000. PC 97 Servers may still be refreshed through the SDG 2.0 timeframe.
Self-test processors: Intel® Mobile Celeron™ (Dixon) processors up to 500MHz (including models with integrated cache) are now eligible for self-test.
Self-test processors: The following processors are now eligible for self-test:
Intel® Pentium® III (including Xeon™) processors up to 600MHz
Intel® Mobile Celeron™ (Dixon™) processors up to 466MHz (including models with integrated cache)
A new version of the HCT 9.3 Beta 1 Web Update is now available from the Test Kits page. This web update fixes issues with Windows NT 4.0 cluster testing.
The HCT 9.2 Beta 1 Web Update and HCT 9.3 Beta 1 Web Update are now available from the Test Kits page. For a list of changes included in these Web Updates, see Document Updates to HCTs 9.0 & 9.1.
Self-test processors: The following processors are now eligible for self-test:
AMD Athlon™ up to 550MHz (single processor systems only)
Cyrix MII™ up to 433
Payment information: Do not send payments with test submissions that are sent to WHQL USA. Instead, follow the directions in the USA Payment Form.doc when making your payment. The USA Payment Form can be downloaded from the Test Kits page. Note: payment is sent to a different address than the test submission.
How to Logo AC97 Audio and Modem Components: All
AC97 components are motherboard components, even those on riser cards, for
example, Modem
Riser (MR), Audio/Modem Riser (AMR), etc. These AC97 components shall be
tested in conjunction with a motherboard core logic chipset and the supporting BIOS
revision. For more information, please see the AC 97 Testing proposal.
Windows 98: OEMs that have already logo'd their PC 99 systems with Windows 98 gold do not need to retest with Windows 98 Second Edition to maintain their existing logo.
PCI adapter test card: A new PCI adapter test card will be required for all PC 99 and SDG 2.0 system submissions that include a PCI bus. Laptops (Mobile systems) are exempt from this requirement. The June, 1999 WHQL HCT 9.0 and 9.1 and DCT Test Kits will require you to test using the FOXFIRE™ II Adapter card announced by the System Test Implementers Forum. The PCI Card FAQ page provides technical and ordering information about the card.