Plug in your CAC reader NOW

NOTE:  Please check and make sure your CAC reader installed BEFORE you attempt to follow the driver installation instructions below.  Most of the time, the New hardware wizard will install the CAC reader automatically, negating the need for you to install the driver manually.

 To Verify whether your driver did or did not install, follow these instructions:

Plug your CAC reader into your computer before proceeding

Vista & 7:  Right click Computer, select Properties, Device Manager link (upper left corner of the screen), scroll down to Smart card readers, select the little triangle next to it to open it up.  If your smart card reader is already listed, you can go to the next step of installing the DoD certificates.  NOTE:  If you can't find it, you can also click Start, In the Start Search line type in:  devmgmt.msc. 

XP:  Right click My Computer, select Properties, Hardware tab, Device Manager button, scroll down to Smart card readers, select the + next to it to open it up.  If your smart card reader is already listed, you can go to the next step of installing the DoD certificates.

If it did not install correctly...  Try this first:  Go to Device Manager (Instructions are above), scroll down to Smart Card readers, right click the CAC reader that shows up below Smart Card Readers.  It could also be under unknown devices.  Select Uninstall.  It will give you a message.  Once it is uninstalled, unplug the reader from your computer.  Wait a few moments, then plug it back in.  It "should start to install itself.  If that doesn't work, keep reading for other ideas below.

IF you do not see Smart card readers when checking, THEN follow along with the steps below.

To install a driver onto your computer for a CAC reader, you will need to first download the correct driver for the hardware you purchased, I have some drivers for: USB Readers, Keyboard, laptop, & desktop card readers

PROCEED TO STEP 3 ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR VERIFICATION OR INSTALLATION

  Unzipping - the driver

Windows 7, Vista, or XP- Save the zip file to a location of your choosing.  Once you have the zip file downloaded, open the zip file (Windows built in zipping program).  Copy the folder inside to a new folder.  It will unzip the contents, (This is the folder you will need when you are doing the steps below).  You can also use the Extract All Files button (on the left under Folder Tasks, under File, Extract All).  It will then ask where you want to save the file too.  I recommend just putting a backslash ( \ ) at the end of the location already on the screen.  

WinZip- Use the Extract button.   It will ask you where you want to save the extracted files to, I recommend your desktop.  Click the desktop icon on the left.  Push the little yellow folder in the upper right corner of this active window.  It will prompt you for a name for the folder (type in CAC Driver).  Hit OK, then select Extract (lower right corner of this window).  You should now see your new folder on your desktop to open up.  Keep this for a later step. 

Updating the Driver -  Example is for an SCR-331

Windows 7 & Vista - Right Click on Computer, Select Properties.  Click the Device Manager link (on the left side of your screen).  Select the little triangle next to Smart Card Readers.  Right click the SCRx31 USB Reader, Update Driver software.  Browse my computer...  Select Browse and then desktop (or wherever you decided to make the folder).  Select the folder (if using the firmware update driver below, stop at the driver folder, do not 'dig' down to AND or Intel folders) and then OK.  Next, Your driver will be installed.

Windows XP - Right Click on My Computer, Select Properties, Go to the Hardware tab, Select Device Manager, Select the + next to Smart card readers.  Right click on SCR33x USB Smart Card Reader.  Select Update Driver, then No, not at this time, Next, Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), Next, Unselect Search removable..., Select Include this location in the search:, now hit Browse, find the folder we made a few moments ago.  All you have to do is select the folder and hit OK, Next, It should do the rest on its own.  Select Finish when complete.

FIRMWARE UPDATE for SCR-331 Reader

(Requires a physical Windows computer, Mac using Bootcamp, or LPS (see next sentence below).  It will NOT work in a virtual Windows (like VMware, Parallels, or Virtual box)). 

Video Instructions

Intel based Macs can update the firmware using LPS (instructions on PDF page 37) Video instructions

The firmware update "should" fix the following problems:

A. Card reader is not recognized

B. Shows up as "STCII Smart Card Reader"

C. Shows up as "USB Smart Card Reader" (not necessarily a problem)

D. Does not read your "Gemalto TOP DL GX4 144", "Oberthur ID One 128 v5.5 Dual", or "Oberthur ID One V5.2a Dual" CAC.

E. Does not read your CAC when using your Mac

F. Trying to use the Windows 7 built in Smart Card service instead of ActivClient.

NOTE:  We are seeing more and more Mac users having problems with this old SCR-331 reader.  A recommendation is to get  a Mac compatible reader.

Installation Instructions:

CHECK SERVICES to make sure Smart Card is running

If your CAC reader is still not seen by ActivClient, make sure that the Smart Card service is running.

Here's how:  Go to: Start, Run (in XP), Start Search (in Vista), or Search programs and files (in Windows 7), type: Services.msc   Scroll down to Smart card, double click it and set it to automatic and click Start

If you are unable to start it; It doesn't show up; ActivClient still says no reader attached; or it acknowledges you have a CAC in the reader (but you can't access it) you will need to mirror your registry settings to the links below for your version of Windows. 

Windows 7 - 64 bit

Windows 7 - 32 bit

Windows Vista - 32 bit

Windows Vista - 64 bit

NOTE:  Follow guidance on this website to automate the manual method above, (Vista and Windows 7 computers only)

Windows XP

Manual registry update method

Registry file to automate the manual method listed above

Alternate cure for XP (Requires your original XP installation CD)

Anytime you make changes to the Registry it is a recommended you back it up first

If ActivClient still does not see the CAC reader, try these last ditch efforts (if they don't work, your only other option is reloading Windows onto your computer).