New Hardware Found Wizard appears on every boot to install an unnecessary Printer driver
Just came back from a friends house. They called me over to try and sort out a problem with their computer not booting. Well I did all my diagnostics and traced it to a faulty RAM module which I discovered by using memtest on the Knoppix DVD. As they had two modules installed, both 256Mb, It was possible to boot the computer with just one of the modules installed. That process took just an hour or so, and the computer was now booting fine.
Next problem to sort out with the computer is a strange error where Window XP insists on trying to install a new Printer Driver when the only printer connected is fully working with all drivers installed. I tried giving it the drivers for the printer, that didn't work. I tried giving it drivers for basic hardware like LaserJet 4, that didn't work. I spent a long time trying to find solutions on the net. Microsofts Knowledge base let me down again, it's only suggestions were to find a new driver from the printer manufacturer or remove a key referencing the LPT port from the registry. Neither of which worked.
In the end I found the solution, and I am so happy I decided to record it here for anyone else stuck in this situation to find.
My Solution:
Open Device Manager,
Click View->Show hidden devices.
Then look for the ghost/non-existing/unnecessary driver (Since mine was a printer I found Unknown Device under Printers)
Right-Click on the device and select Disable.
Reboot.
Although the issue that caused this problem hasn't been solved, the irritating problem of the New Hardware Found Wizard at every boot has gone!
Now I hope this is helpful to somebody else.
Technorati Tags: Computer Problems, Windows XP, Hardware, Printer, Knoppix, memory
posted by Aaron Rowe @ 10:35 PM
4 Comments:
Hi Aaron,
just found ur site hence the very late reply. good that u found a solution to the problem. i've been working in IT for a while now, from a computer technician to being a network engineer. i've never actually ever consulted microsoft domcumentation for any solutions, they never quite seem to provide functional solutions.
anyway, what i would like to lay my hands on is the Knoppix CD u used. now that would come in handy. also what other tools r on it? might not be back 2 ur site, so pls mail me ur responce at idasumah@gmail.com. thanks
idasumah
Knoppix can be downloaded from the official website, through BitTorrent or various mirrors.
There's a DVD and CD version.
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
There's also a very useful book I like to look into when working on various problems. Knoppix Hacks by Kyle Rankin.
ISBN: 0596007876
I had just the same problem, starting from the time when XP thought that a correctly installed USB phone must be a printer. At the time there wasn't a printer plugged in. I tried letting XP install what it wanted to, but it gave up when it couldn't find the port the non-existent printer was connected to. I tried to shut it up by installing the driver for a LaserJet 4, but it couldn't install that. I checked the "Don't bother me with this again" box, which it ignored. When I looked at "Hidden devices" in Device Manager, there was the "Unknown Printer", and I deleted it. Problem solved, thank you.
sometimes it is caused because the inf folder is missing from the registry
HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion
in the "devicepath" key
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