Add Hardware Wizard doesn't work!

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

XP does not recognize any hardware either automatically
or when I use the wizard. Clicking on the wizard results
in the following message: "Cannot run two device
installations. You can only install one device at a time.
Another device installation is underway. When it is
finished, you can try this wizard again."

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

In message <bd9901c479c6$f56ca4c0$a401280a@phx.gbl>, Larry Lief
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> writes
>XP does not recognize any hardware either automatically
>or when I use the wizard. Clicking on the wizard results
>in the following message: "Cannot run two device
>installations. You can only install one device at a time.
>Another device installation is underway. When it is
>finished, you can try this wizard again."
>
>Thanks in advance for any help.

Seems to be a FAQ here. The Add Hardware dullard thinks some previously
failed installation is still "in progress" think back carefully you
might figure out what. In my case it was a USB HP 5300C scanner. Plug
and pray has been going down hill all the way since Win 98SE (when it
was briefly almost reliable).

There has not been any answer to my request for a solution in recent
threads. I have found a sort of fix by serendipity, but it is not
terribly elegant. I would prefer to know what files or registry settings
to tweak.

I found that I could reset whatever has screwed up inside the Add
Hardware Wizard by deliberately provoking the system to find an existing
old non-p&p printer as new hardware and then kicking it in the teeth.

Now I would like a reliable way of resetting the thing for any future
faults. I can't go looking for antique devices to install each time the
wizard screws itself.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown