This state of affairs can be a source of frustration. Without the original installation media or an active internet connection to fetch the driver, the device is functionally useless. Furthermore, the lifespan of FF devices is tied to the longevity of the manufacturer’s driver support. While a standard USB keyboard will likely work on operating systems fifty years from now due to standardized protocols, a vendor-specific industrial scanner using Class_FF will cease to function the moment its driver becomes incompatible with modern OS updates.
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) assigns "Class Codes" to help operating systems identify how to communicate with a device without needing a custom driver for every single model. usb\class_ff&subclass_ff&prot_ff
First, standard USB classes are often restrictive. The Human Interface Device (HID) class, for example, is excellent for keyboards and mice but lacks the bandwidth or command structure required for high-performance gaming mice with complex macro keys or high-frequency polling rates. Similarly, the Audio class may not support the specific latency requirements of professional studio equipment. To bypass these bottlenecks, manufacturers utilize the Vendor-Specific class to implement custom protocols that are faster and more feature-rich than the standard allows. This state of affairs can be a source of frustration
: Examples include Class 01 (Audio), Class 03 (HID/Keyboards), and Class 08 (Mass Storage). While a standard USB keyboard will likely work