Adding new hardware stops responding when installing drivers
 

Friend is trying to install DSL, everything is fine until
her Compaq PC hangs when adding new hardware (installing
the Westell Modem) - it stops responding when installing
drivers for the USB version of the modem. It finds them
alright, but won't continue. We've tried to find them
manually, same hang up. The rest of the system continues
to run. Also, noticed the their MSN connection manager
starts without being prompted during New Hardware setup.

I did try the MS/Symantec fix of deleting old 0 files
from the inf folder; didn't hurt, but didn't help.

Any thoughts? Thanks, J

Adding new hardware stops responding when installing drivers
 

If your friend has Norton's System Doctor installed then this is probably what
is causing the problem. I suspect she has since you say you tried deleting
the 0 byte oem*.inf files from the windows\inf folder. Personally I'd dump
the System Witch Doctor, clear the inf folder again of any zero byte oem*.inf
files and then try again.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



JK wrote:

Friend is trying to install DSL, everything is fine until
her Compaq PC hangs when adding new hardware (installing
the Westell Modem) - it stops responding when installing
drivers for the USB version of the modem. It finds them
alright, but won't continue. We've tried to find them
manually, same hang up. The rest of the system continues
to run. Also, noticed the their MSN connection manager
starts without being prompted during New Hardware setup.

I did try the MS/Symantec fix of deleting old 0 files
from the inf folder; didn't hurt, but didn't help.

Any thoughts? Thanks, J

Adding new hardware stops responding when installing drivers
 

I know this problem, my father's PC developed this problem
tried fix in KBA275499, no good. Then PC died completely
(unrelated cause) on using Tiny's 'restore' CD problem
fixed. How ever now my Windows Me PC has developed same
fault, first appeared when installing Westell modem and BT
Openworld software? (My father's PC did not have ADSL).
Tried KBA275499 fix, no good. My personal theory is that
somewhere a registry entry for some hardware has wrong key
(s) and this data is interfering/corrupted some file deep
within Me ! Anybody at Redmond know the answer?

-----Original Message-----
Friend is trying to install DSL, everything is fine until
her Compaq PC hangs when adding new hardware (installing
the Westell Modem) - it stops responding when installing
drivers for the USB version of the modem. It finds them
alright, but won't continue. We've tried to find them
manually, same hang up. The rest of the system continues
to run. Also, noticed the their MSN connection manager
starts without being prompted during New Hardware setup.

I did try the MS/Symantec fix of deleting old 0 files
from the inf folder; didn't hurt, but didn't help.

Any thoughts? Thanks, J
.

Adding new hardware stops responding when installing drivers
 

Check your windows\inf folder (a hidden system folder and you will have to
enable the viewing of such files and folders in Explorer (Tools | Folder
Options | View and check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide
protected operating system files") and look for large numbers of oem*.inf
files that are all 0 bytes in size. If you've got thousands of such files
this is the cause of your problem as you're probably at the limit of the
number of entries that can be entered in a FAT folder and therefore cannot add
any inf file associated with the update. Delete these 0 byte oem*.inf files.

Why has this happened? If you have Norton's System Doctor installed did you
perhaps forget to disable System Doctor before updating your system from the
Windows Update site? If you don't delete these files some software and most
hardware and driver installs will take a very long time to complete if they
complete at all.

For more details see the Symantec site:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...15010309&src=n and
also MS KB 281967 - "Computer Stops Responding (Hangs) During Setup,
Installing Updates, or Adding New Hardware"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281967). I would strongly recommend that
you contact Microsoft and mention 281967 and also 301540 and ask for a copy of
the new ifsmgr.vxd v4.90.3003. You will then either be sent the file or told
how and where to download a copy. There should be no charge for this call
other than for the cost of the phone call. Alternatively do yourself and your
PC a favour and dump System Doctor.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Steve wrote:

I know this problem, my father's PC developed this problem
tried fix in KBA275499, no good. Then PC died completely
(unrelated cause) on using Tiny's 'restore' CD problem
fixed. How ever now my Windows Me PC has developed same
fault, first appeared when installing Westell modem and BT
Openworld software? (My father's PC did not have ADSL).
Tried KBA275499 fix, no good. My personal theory is that
somewhere a registry entry for some hardware has wrong key
(s) and this data is interfering/corrupted some file deep
within Me ! Anybody at Redmond know the answer?

-----Original Message-----
Friend is trying to install DSL, everything is fine until
her Compaq PC hangs when adding new hardware (installing
the Westell Modem) - it stops responding when installing
drivers for the USB version of the modem. It finds them
alright, but won't continue. We've tried to find them
manually, same hang up. The rest of the system continues
to run. Also, noticed the their MSN connection manager
starts without being prompted during New Hardware setup.

I did try the MS/Symantec fix of deleting old 0 files
from the inf folder; didn't hurt, but didn't help.

Any thoughts? Thanks, J
.