I recently scavenged a new USB-to-LAN adapter manufactured by Apple Inc. The model of the adapter is A1277. After I plugged it into my Windows PC, the device was recognized correctly in the device mgr but Windows is not able to automatically install the driver for it.
Analysis
The A1277 has the hardware ID VID_05AC/PID_1402 which indicates it is one of the Apple devices however Apple didn’t provide a Windows driver for it. The A1277 uses the AX88772A IC manufactured by ASIX. This IC provides the cross-platform driver. Its driver should work fine as well.
Solution
Disable Digital Signature Enforcement
All driver has a digital signature which ensures the integrity of the driver file. Once any driver file is modified the digital signature will break and the Windows will refuse to install it.
To disable digital signature verification you can choose one of the method below.
Method[0] Reboot to Advanced Settings
Open settings and choose Update & Security
Click Restart now under Recovery > Advanced startup
Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings and then after reboot choose Disable digital signature enforcement
Method[1] Enable Test Mode
Run cmd or Power shell with administrator privilege.
Type bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING ON and press enter.
Reboot and you should see test mode info on the right down corner of your desktop.
Note this change will not automatically restore, so remember to disable the test mode with bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING OFF after driver installation for security.
Download Driver for the IC
The driver can be found at ASIX website. The link for AX88772A is here
Modify the Driver File
Extract the zip and open NETAX88772.inf with the text editor. Comment out the original vendor id and device id and replace them with the Apple one as the following picture shows.
Install and Test
In the device manager, right click the Apple adapter with examination sign and select Update Driver.
Choose Browse my computer for driver software
Fill in the directory where you store your modified driver.
Ignore the warning and choose Install this driver software anyway.
You will see an install complete notification.
Check the device in Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter settings
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