Cannot install New USB devices
A client asked me to take a look at their new Dell Dimension 3100 computer which was refusing to allow them to transfer their photographs from their camera.
The first thing I tried to do was plug in my generic USB flash drive which contains all of our software toolkit.
However, the PC asked me for a driver which I thought was pretty odd since XP should install flash keys automatically. After a few minutes it was obvious that any new USB device plugged in would not install correctly - it was not related to the device getting plugged in.
When a new USB device was plugged in, the ADD NEW HARDWARE wizard would appear asking if I wanted to search the internet for a driver. If you said yes, then it would go off for a moment and then fail.
After searching on the net, I found other people with the same issue.
The problem was that all the 'solutions' looked at the actual device getting plugged in and not the USB subsystem which I suspected was causing the problem. The issue was not helped with the fact that the PC was USB only - no PS/2 ports. When I tried to reinstall the USB device drivers, it disabled the mouse and keyboard. Not good!
After rolling back that schoolboy error via VNC and System Restore, I continued the search for a solution. So far, the only way I was able to get things installed was to say no to an Internet search and then ask to install the drivers manually from a location of my choosing - the c:\windows\inf folder. This would slowly install the drivers but add a second yellow unknown bang in device manager.
Not a perfect solution but one that got the clients devices working for now until I find a more elegent fix that does not involve reinstalling Windows. The device drivers might already need to be in the INF folder (in this case the Camera software had already been installed) but if you have this problem, it might be worth looking there.
If anybody finds a solution then I would be very interested in seeing it.
Comments
Same problem
I too have the same issue .
It gets worse...
Dude you saved me from going
You're welcome. Just don't
Chris my boy i real glad my
Chris my boy i real glad my flash drive start to work after i selected the inf folder. I was gettin real annoyed with this thing. U real help me out there. I apprecite that.
Justin, Trinidad and Tobago
Chris, I had a similar
Chris,
I had a similar problem with a USB flash drive, but your solution has worked perfectly for me. I guess the hardware wizard was looking in the wrong place for the drivers for some reason. Thanks.
Jack
I have had the same problem
I have had the same problem and a system restore was the only way to get things back to normal at least for a period of time. Must be something with a conflict within the USB hub controllers and drivers.
Your C:\inf fix worked and
Your C:\inf fix worked and saved a lot of frustation - thanks
I too had the same problem
I too had the same problem with installing a Flash Drive and following the suggestions of selecting the windows/inf folder for driver resolution had limited success as the Flash device then appeared in Windows Explorer but was shown with a yellow error flag in Device manager and needed to re-installed everytime it was attached/plugged in.
After searching the internet for a resolution found the Microsoft KB892050 which looked a likely Hotfix. Applied hotfix and restarted Pc and still the same issue.
Then decided to re-apply SP2 ontop of what was an up to date XP Home system and 'Voila' problem solved albeit after having to initially let windows find the correct drivers and files automatically.
Hope this helps somebody with a similar problem.
navigate to
Likewise...c:\WINDOWS\inf
Chris if I could kiss you I
Steady now. Glad it worked
Hey, I found your blog the
Such a simple fix. Thank you
Hello Everyone, I have been
Hello, I am having a similar
Hello Chris, I am having
The c:\windows\inf folder is
The c:\windows\inf folder is hidden.
Therefore, to un-hide it you need to click on Tools in Windows Explorer then select Folder Options. On the View tab, locate the Hidden Files and Folders option and ensure Show Hidden Files and Folders radio button is active.
Then try to install the device again.
Chris, Thank you, thank you.
I had the same problem. I
You are a lifesaver I spent
Let me add one more to the
I've battled with this issue
Thanks Matt, every post
Hi, Got a similar problem
Matty i am in the same
Yes, fortunately we often
Yes, fortunately we often install VNC on machines for remote support purposes so he was able to connect in from another machine. You could try installing VNC version on a remote PC or if the machine is XP Professional you may be able to Remotely Enable Remote Desktop.
You Guys ROCK!!!! Enough
Hi guys. I am now having
Bloodyyyyyyyyyy Fantastic.
i had this problem, I had it
Had to use Matty's copying
You're Officially my Hero
You could wish for a big
%systemroot%\inf has been
Hi I have an issue with a
Whenever I went to plug in a
Whenever I went to plug in a new memory stick or camera my computer wouldn't install it. I sorted it by going to this site http://www.infdump.com/inf-files/U_1.html and downloading the USBSTOR.inf. I copied this into my inf folder and all my devices now work.
I also had the same problem
Hello, I've been trying all
Ok, here I am again. If you
Ok, here I am again.
If you got a Microsoft transceiver v3.0 for bluetooth you'll get a lot of headaches.
I've been trying for two days to sort out my problem with my transceiver.
In the end I got to try all these steps which didn't work:
- installing the driver
- reinstalling it
- I found out that a mondll.dll is causing the problem and I looked in the system for it. Never found it. Not on the Internet as well.
It seemed to be a file from the driver which you couldn't get from nowhere, although mondll.dll doesn't exist in any system file from any computer (C:/WINDOWS/system32). But, this wasn't the problem anyway.
- I tried your way by replace the inf. file in order to get the installation of the device from there. Didn't work for me.
- I looked in Driver Cache when installed. Nothing happened.
The error message was always the same. code1.
And then, he said:
Try this as well.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810509
Download that tool.
Unzip it.
Click Start > Run > then type in CMD and hit OK.
When the black box pops open it should say
C:\Documents and settings\yourusername\
If it does then you need to type "cd local settings"
Then it will say
C:\Documents and settings\yourusername\local settings
Then type "cd temp"
Then it will say
C:\Documents and settings\yourusername\local settings\temp
Then type in pnpreg -l
(that "l" is an L).
It should run that downloaded file and set some of the permission correctly.
With this, all your USB problems will be solved forever.
Thank you Aitrusskyy, wherever you are.
PS: you can find him on: http://forums.techguy.org
Helppppppppp Read all the
+1 On the INF. Trying to
I really need help...I've
Not on this. But if you just
Not on this. But if you just need a mouse to help you move your files to reinstall. Check out Mousekeys, you can then have a rudimentry mouse using the keyboard. Follow the "Keyboard actions" which will take you through enabling it when you don't have a mouse.
Keyboard shortcuts that are useful when you don't have a mouse.
CTRL+ESC - Bring up the start menu. (then use the arrow keys and enter)
TAB - To cycle through the options in dialog boxes and windows.
SHIFT + TAB - The same as TAB but cycle backwards.
ENTER/SPACE - Select
CTRL + A - Select all
CTRL + C - Copy
CTRL + V - Paste
CTRL + X - Cut
ALT + SPACE - Bring up Window options (maximise, minimise, close etc)
ALT+F4 - Close window
Good luck!
Thanks, though I have been
Thank you Chris - I was
I run into the same problem
Hi, Original post in 2006,
my printer stopped working
This fix worked for me when
This fix worked for me when all of the previous ones did not -> [going to this site http://www.infdump.com/inf-files/U_1.html and downloading the USBSTOR.inf. I copied this into my inf folder]
The file did not exist in my windows/inf folder (XP SP2). I made a new text file and copied the info into it and then my USB devices installed automatically when they would not before.
Thank you so much! I've had
I was able to resolve the
Lifesaver! I recently bought
Hi Dear, Copy the old driver
Thanks C:\windows\inf info
*bow down* thank you SOOO
I resolved this problem too.
Hundreds of thank you since
After spending half day
Is it just me that cant find
Chris I cannot thank you
You're welcome and good luck
My usbprint.inf file was
Its a hidden folder, go to
thank you so much Chris!
Did you everf do a line by
Thank you! I've been trying
Thanks Matt, this one saved
Hi ! Thanks for your post
OMG, just PERFECT! Not sure
OMG, just PERFECT! Not sure what happened, but my XP SP3 Dell laptop would not recognize / install a generic USB (flexible) keyboard and after doing MUCH searching online, I came here and found that there was NO usb.inf file in my Windows\inf directory.
Upon reading a preceding post and going here;
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-nt-2000-xp/693696-installing-usb-inf.html
" There is a copy of USB.inf in this attachment link, just download and unzip it and copy it to the INF folder if you need it.
http://forums.techguy.org/attachment...772536/usb.zip "
Downloaded, unzipped usb.inf file and copied it to my Windows\INF directory, Voila~! Keyboard installed right away using the Found New Hardware Wizard. Still not sure where usb.inf went to, but now all is well. Thanks everyone~! :-)
i too have had this problem
Hey, I just dad to do a
thank you thank you thank
hey just a thought read
Somehow the USB.INF file had
Hello, I had the same issue
Here is still one more "many
PLZ guys a little help from
Hi guys, don't know how old
perfect this worked for me
Matt! That is it! Looked in
Thanks guys, My mum had this
Thanks guys,
My mum had this problem on her NEC laptop after installing software provided with a Samsung mobile phone.
After following everything in this tread this is the one that worked (as submitted 7 July 08)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810509
Thanks to all of those who submitted solutions, certainly saves a lot of headaches.
W
Thank you, thank you, thank
THANKS GUYS! :-) Problem:
On my XP (SP3) i started
If there are no missing file