XP keeps finding new device "Printer" every reboot

G

Guest

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

Hi. Here's my problem:

Every time I reboot I get a pop-up notice that "new hardware has been
detected (Printer)", and then the "Found New Hardware wizard" pops up.

When I allow the printer installer wizard to run its course, it returns the
messages "Cannot install this hardware" and "The hardware was not installed
because the wizard cannot find the necessary software". Even if I check the
box indicating "Don't prompt me again to install this software", it still
does the same thing _every_ time I reboot.

There is nothing odd in my Device Manager, and the only printers currently
installed have been working fine. This problem started happening about a
week ago.

I have tried all of the following actions without success:

A) uninstalling & reinstalling all printer drivers and server drivers
B) uninstalling & reinstalling all USB devices
C) uninstalling & reinstalling all serial and printer ports
D) doing all of the above with _all_ peripheral devices disconnected from my
PC (except keyboard and mouse) [yes, even with _everything_ disconnected, it
still tells me "new hardware found..."]
E) canceling out of the hardware installer wizard
F) telling the hardware installer wizard to "Install from a specific list or
location" and then telling it _not_ to search but to allow me to choose the
driver to install (which results in it simply giving me an alphabetized list
of every printer/driver in the OS); if I then select the driver for a
printer, it comes back with "Cannot Install this Hardware" "There was a
problem installing this hardware..." "An error occurred during the
installation of the device" "The specified port is unknown."
G) getting all of the latest drivers for every part of my system
H) installing everything recommended by MS Windows Update online

Any insight will be MUCH appreciated...!
 

Dev

Distinguished
Sep 18, 2001
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18,980
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

/bmuse21/ said:
> Hi. Here's my problem:
>
> Every time I reboot I get a pop-up notice that "new hardware has been
> detected (Printer)", and then the "Found New Hardware wizard" pops up.
>
> When I allow the printer installer wizard to run its course, it returns the
> messages "Cannot install this hardware" and "The hardware was not installed
> because the wizard cannot find the necessary software". Even if I check the
> box indicating "Don't prompt me again to install this software", it still
> does the same thing _every_ time I reboot.
>
> There is nothing odd in my Device Manager, and the only printers currently
> installed have been working fine. This problem started happening about a
> week ago.
>
> I have tried all of the following actions without success:
>
> A) uninstalling & reinstalling all printer drivers and server drivers
> B) uninstalling & reinstalling all USB devices
> C) uninstalling & reinstalling all serial and printer ports
> D) doing all of the above with _all_ peripheral devices disconnected from my
> PC (except keyboard and mouse) [yes, even with _everything_ disconnected, it
> still tells me "new hardware found..."]
> E) canceling out of the hardware installer wizard
> F) telling the hardware installer wizard to "Install from a specific list or
> location" and then telling it _not_ to search but to allow me to choose the
> driver to install (which results in it simply giving me an alphabetized list
> of every printer/driver in the OS); if I then select the driver for a
> printer, it comes back with "Cannot Install this Hardware" "There was a
> problem installing this hardware..." "An error occurred during the
> installation of the device" "The specified port is unknown."
> G) getting all of the latest drivers for every part of my system
> H) installing everything recommended by MS Windows Update online

Kelly's link, below. Click on "P" and scroll down to...
"Printer - Always Found after Reboot"

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