Microsoft KB Archive/182723

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Problems Adding New Hardware in Windows 95

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Q182723

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, version 2.0
 * Microsoft Windows 95

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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:

 Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart in MS-DOS Mode, and then click OK.  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 ":" 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"  At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command: '''c:

cd windows\inf

ren *.inf *.old'''  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

 Insert your original Windows 95 CD-ROM in to your CD-ROM drive.  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''' where <CD-ROM drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive. </li></ol>

Windows 95 Installed from Floppy Disks

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<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Insert disk 1 of your original Windows disks in to your floppy disk drive.</li>  At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command '''extract /a <floppy Drive>\win95\precopy1.cab *.inf

extract /a <floppy Drive>\win95\win95_02.cab *.inf''' where <floppy Drive> is the drive letter assigned to your floppy drive. </li></ol> </li> Restart your computer normally.</li></ol>

Keywords : kberrmsg osr2 win95

Issue type : kbprb

Technology : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbWin95