Microsoft KB Archive/883356

= You receive a &quot;Windows was unable to install the modem&quot; error message when you try to install a modem on your Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer =

Article ID: 883356

Article Last Modified on 11/10/2004

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

-



Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SYMPTOMS
When you try to install a serial modem or a universal serial bus (USB) modem on your Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer, you may receive the following error message:

Windows was unable to install the modem.



CAUSE
This problem occurs if there are no entries under the following Windows registry subkey:

This problem may occur after you remove third-party modem software from your computer.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, repopulate the subkey with the correct entries and values, as follows.

Subkey:

Entry Name: ErrorControl

Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 0

Entry Name: Group

Type: REG_SZ

Value: Extended base

Entry Name: Start

Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 3

Entry Name: Tag

Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 4

Entry Name: Type

Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To add these entries to the subkey, follow these steps:  Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

 

 On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type ErrorControl, and then press ENTER. On the Edit menu, click Modify. Type 0, and then click OK.</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.</li> Type Group, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> Type Extended base, and then click OK.</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type Start, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> Type 3, and then click OK.</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type Tag, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> Type 4, and then click OK.</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type Type, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> Type 1, and then click OK.</li> <li>Quit Registy Editor.</li></ol>

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

Additional query words: Winxp winxpSP1 winxpsp2 xpsp2

Keywords: kbtshoot kbbug kbfix kbmodem kbconsumer kbupgrade kbhardware kbprb kb3rdparty kbconfig kbdriver kbsettings KB883356

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.