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Certified for Windows Vista
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Applications which meet the Certified for Windows Vista criteria provide a better user experience, and are more competitive in the marketplace. Since 1995, VeriTest has helped thousands of ISVs have over 10,000 products pass the certification tests for Microsoft platforms. We provide a complete range of pre-test, test, and consultative services, from regional test centers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Our goal is to streamline the process of certifying your products for you.
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Technical Requirements and Program Eligibility
The Certified for Windows Vista Software Logo Technical Requirements and Test Cases are available for download from Microsoft’s Innovate on Windows Vista website.
The Logo Requirements document describes the technical requirements for software to be certified for Windows Vista.
The Test Cases document describes the test methodologies to verify applications’ compliance with the requirements. VeriTest tests applications as described in this document.
An Application Eligibility and Testing Applicability Overview document is also available from Microsoft’s Innovate on Windows Vista website. This document helps you determine whether your application type matches the criteria for this certification program.
ISV Applications – Release Candidates
We can accept feature complete release candidates of applications for certification testing. Code changes that don’t change the features or functionality of products (e.g. bug fixes) will not require any re-testing. However, Microsoft reserves the right to audit any certified application to ensure that updates have not violated any requirements of certification.
ISV Applications – User Interface Languages
Testing of products that feature a user interface in a language other than English is no problem for us. We can test products in all languages supported by Windows Vista. We do request that you supply us with instructions in English to install, configure, and exercise your product for the test, otherwise we do charge a premium to test non-English applications.
Products that support multiple user interface languages only require certification testing of one language version.
ISV Applications – Standalone and Networked Products
We can test stand-alone applications, and applications that require network connectivity to back-end systems. We can also test applications that require other products to be installed in the test bed. We can usually supply any Microsoft products required for your product to operate, but in most cases you will have to supply us with software and licenses for any third party (other than Microsoft) products required by your product.
Pre-Certification Services
VeriTest’s Pre-Certification Services help you prepare your product for the Certified Windows Vista logo test, allowing you to release your product on schedule, and with the Certified for Windows Vista logo.
Please Note: VeriTest will waive any Re-Test fees for products for which it completed pre-certification, if VeriTest missed the fail issue during pre-certification. This excludes issues that were identified by VeriTest in the pre-certification report, but not corrected in the build submitted for the full test, as well as new issues introduced in the new build.
Learn more about VeriTest Pre-Certification Test Services
Resources
Microsoft’s Innovate On Windows Vista Initiative
Microsoft Resources for Windows Vista
Microsoft Partner Program
FAQ for Microsoft Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual)
Instructions
- Ensure your application meets Microsoft's requirements
- Complete the Software Submission for your product with Microsoft
- Register for testing at VeriTest
- Submit your testing package
- Receive your test results
- Accept the Logo License Agreement
- Ensure your application meets Microsoft's requirements
The following tools and resources will greatly enhance your chances of passing certification testing the first time around:
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- Complete the Software Submission for your product with Microsoft
Microsoft manages the Certified for Windows Vista logo program process on its Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual) website. In order to receive permission to use the logo artwork for this program, a Software Submission must be completed for products on http://winqual.microsoft.com. Upon completion of the software submission, you will receive a Submission ID and a "Testing Authority XML File" from Microsoft. The Submission ID is required when registering your product for testing at VeriTest, and you will need to upload the "Testing Authority XML File" to VeriTest for the test.
Waiver requests for possible logo compliance issues displayed by your product by design or by third-party products required for your product to function (including Microsoft products) need to be submitted to, and approved by Microsoft prior to the start of the full logo test pass for products.
Questions about the software submission process and waiver requests can be submitted to: swlogo@microsoft.com.
Note: A VeriSign Code-Signing ID is required for this process.
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- Register for testing at VeriTest
Accurately completing VeriTest's Online Vendor Questionnaire ensures that we'll test your product as quickly as possible. You will specify the test category (Standalone vs. Networked) during this process. Please review these detailed instructions for the online registration process. Note that in most cases a credit card is required to register products for testing; see our pricing page for details.
Important Note about the Tracking Number: Upon submitting the online questionnaire, you will receive a tracking number. Write this tracking number on your product media (CD-ROM or DVD) when you send it in for testing and refer to it in all correspondence.
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- Submit your testing package
Required Items
A feature complete release candidate of your software product with all necessary hardware, passwords, registration numbers and any available documentation. Please note that any code changes that result in changes to the features and functionality of your product may require recertification of your product.
During the online registration process, you will be prompted to specify how you wish to deliver your software to us. You can deliver your software to VeriTest on media, or by uploading it to our FTP server. Alternatively, you may provide a URL for us to download your software. If you ship your software on media, please include the Tracking Number you received during registration on all materials you submit.
- The "Testing Authority XML File" you received from Microsoft upon completion of the software submission for your product on winqual.microsoft.com.
- Any waivers approved by Microsoft for otherwise possible logo compliance issues displayed by your product by design or by third-party products required for your product to function (including Microsoft products).
In addition, based on your application's requirements, you may need to include:
- Any third-party software products required to exercise your product's functionality.
- Any unusual or proprietary hardware required for your product which is unlikely to be in VeriTest's standard library, e.g. a specialized 3D video card, a specialized telephony device, a VR headset, etc. These items will be returned to you (at your expense) after a final test result is obtained.
- Any sample data required to exercise your product's functionality. If, for example, you are submitting a development tool, please include a sample program in your (uncompiled) language which we can compile during testing. Please clearly label the sample data.
- If you bundle hardware drivers with your software, they must be tested by WHQL to qualify your application for the Certified for Windows Vista Logo. See http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/default.mspx.
- If your product features a user interface in a language other than English, we need you to provide instructions, in English, to install, configure, and exercise your product for the test. Please note that a surcharge applies for products that do not include instructions in English.
You will receive an email with delivery instructions after you complete your online registration for the test.
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- Receive your test results
We will test your application as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. If we encounter issues setting up and configuring your application in our lab or we determine that your product may not be eligible to be tested for this program, your application will be placed on hold and you will be contacted right away.
Once testing is complete, you will receive results from VeriTest. Because of the testing technique, interim results are not available.
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- Accept the Logo License Agreement for your product
Once your product has successfully completed testing, you need to log into your Winqual account on winqual.microsoft.com, and accept the Logo License Agreement (LLA) for the program. Following your acceptance of the LLA, you will receive instructions from Microsoft to obtain the logo artwork.
Questions about the LLA acceptance process can be directed to: swlogo@microsoft.com.
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Contact VeriTest
Email cfw-vista@veritest.com
+1 425.468.1108 (Americas)
+353 96 73702 ext 575 (Europe)
+86 (0)10 8518 8181 x6130 (Asia Pacific)
Receive responses in Japanese by emailing nihongo@veritest.com