[SOLVED] The timestamp signature and/or certificate could not be verified or is malformed.

It may happen that CAT files that you got from Microsoft after passing HCK/WHQL will not be recognized as valid by operating system (You will see "Can't verify publisher" popup message during driver installation).

!    sig: 09:59:48.051                Verifying file against specific (valid) catalog failed! (0x80096005)
!    sig: 09:59:48.051                Error 0x80096005: The timestamp signature and/or certificate could not be verified or is malformed.

Don't waste your time trying to find correct Windows Update package to update root certificates.

This problem sometimes happens and this is problem on Microsoft side.

There are two possible solutions:

• Email support (sysdev@microsoft.com) to get new CAT file (the slowest way, but Microsoft will provide CAT free of charge)
• Resubmit HCK submission and get a new CAT file (the fastest way, cost additional money)

If you are experiencing problem above with something else (e.g. you have signed your executable and you are facing "Error 0x80096005: The timestamp signature and/or certificate could not be verified or is malformed"), then it means you have to change time stamping authority that you are passing to signtool.

Manual crash dumps on Windows

Microsoft KB http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244139 about generating a memory dump file by using the keyboard was not clear for me in terms of how to generate crash dump using custom key sequence instead of ctrl-scrollock. 

After some googling, I have created these reg-files to generate manual crash dump on Windows by pressing "Ctrl-D" twice:

For PS/2 (notebook keyboards works too):

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\i8042prt\crashdump]
"Dump1Keys"=dword:00000020
"Dump2Key"=dword:00000021

For USB keyboards:

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\kbdhid\crashdump]
"Dump1Keys"=dword:00000020
"Dump2Key"=dword:00000021

Just copy-paste one from above to file with crash.reg, run it, restart the system and you will be able to generate crash dump manually with custom key sequence by pressing Ctrl-D twice.

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How to convert RGB to CMYK?

My current solution for free RGB to CMYK conversion on Windows.

What you will need:

• GIMP - powerful free tool with photoshop capabilities. 
• Download page:  http://www.gimp.org/downloads/
• Separate+, plugin for GIMP: 
• Plugin page:  http://registry.gimp.org/node/471
• Download page: http://cue.yellowmagic.info/softwares/separate-plus/index.html
• Adobe ICC Profiles
• Download page for ICC profiles for Windows:  http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4075

Steps:

1. Download and install ICC profiles
1. Extract archive with Adobe ICC profiles. Dig into it and find files with "ICC" extension. Copy them to Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\Color
2. Download and install GIMP
1. Follow standard instructions, remember the installation folder. It will be referred as "GIMP-INST" below
3. Download and install Separate+ plugin
1. Extract archive with Separate+ plugin
2. Go to folder bin\win32 or bin\win32+lcms2
3. Copy all executables from that folder to  GIMP-INST\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins\
4. Close GIMP if it was started after installation
5. Start GIMP
6. Open image you want to convert to CMYK 
7. Follow steps from section "----- How to use" from Separate+ readme file

I was able to convert and save JPEG with embedded ICC profile without any problem.

Feel free to post questions if you have any.