DOCUMENT:Q182723 13-JUN-2001 [win95x] TITLE :Problems Adding New Hardware in Windows 95 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER:WINDOWS:95 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kberrmsg osr2 win95 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, version 2.0 - Microsoft Windows 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you try to install new hardware, you may experience the following behavior: Windows 95 (Retail Release) --------------------------- You may receive the following error message Windows was unable to add this . where is the type of hardware that you are trying to install. Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) --------------------------------------- Windows detects the hardware, but lists it as an unknown device, and then requests the disk supplied by the hardware manufacturer. CAUSE ===== This behavior can occur if the file or files in the Windows\Inf folder that contain the information about your hardware are missing or damaged. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this issue, extract new copies of the default Windows 95 .inf files. To do so, use the following steps: 1. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart in MS-DOS Mode, and then click OK. 2. If you installed Windows 95 from CD-ROM, verify that you have access to your CD-ROM drive in MS-DOS mode by typing the following line and then pressing ENTER " : " (without the quotation marks) where is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM. NOTE: If you are unable to access your CD-ROM drive from MS-DOS mode, please refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q135174 Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command Prompt 3. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command: " c: cd windows\inf ren *.inf *.old " (without the quotation marks) 4. Extract new copies of the default Windows 95 .inf files to the Windows\Inf folder. To do so, use the appropriate method: Windows 95 Installed from CD-ROM -------------------------------- a. Insert your original Windows 95 CD-ROM in to your CD-ROM drive. b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command " extract /a \win95\precopy1.cab *.inf extract /a \win95\win95_02.cab *.inf " (without the quotation marks) where is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive. Windows 95 Installed from Floppy Disks -------------------------------------- a. Insert disk 1 of your original Windows disks in to your floppy disk drive. b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command " extract /a \win95\precopy1.cab *.inf extract /a \win95\win95_02.cab *.inf " (without the quotation marks) where is the drive letter assigned to your floppy drive. 5. Restart your computer normally. ====================================================================== Keywords : kberrmsg osr2 win95 Technology : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbWin95 Version : WINDOWS:95 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.