Installing and Upgrading the Crescendo Minidriver

Installation

Note:

If Windows Update is not disabled, the Crescendo Minidriver will be installed automatically when a Crescendo card or key is inserted for the first time.

However, unlike a manual installation, the Windows Update installation does not create the log file directories or the registry key required for enabling logging. If logging is required, these need to be created manually. See Troubleshooting for more information.

  • Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit edition)

  • Microsoft Windows 11, starting from version 21H2 and up to version 24H2 (inclusive)

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2022

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2025

Note: To use the Minidriver with Crescendo smart cards a PC/SC-compatible smart card reader is required.

If the Crescendo Minidriver is not installed automatically via Windows Update, follow these steps to install it manually:

  1. Download the Crescendo Minidriver driver package from the HID Drivers & Downloads web site.

  2. Run the installer and click Next.

  3. Accept the terms of the License Agreement and click Next.

  4. Click Install.

  5. The User Account Control (UAC) window is displayed. Click Yes.

  6. Click Finish to complete the installation.

Actions Performed by the Installer

The installer performs the following actions:

  1. Copies the minidriver dynamic-link library (DLL) into the system folder and also into:

    • C:\Program Files\HID Global\Crescendo Minidriver.

  2. If they do not already exist, it creates two directories for storing logs from HID products:

    • C:\Program Files\Common Files\HID Global\Logs\x64

    • C:\Program Files\Common Files\HID Global\Logs\x86

  3. Creates the registry key required to enable or disable logging:

    • HKLM:\Software\HID Global\Logging\Products\ActivClient

  4. Registers the minidriver with Windows by creating the required keys in:

    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\Calais\SmartCards

Upgrade

To upgrade the Crescendo Minidriver, simply install the new version as described in the Installation section above.