Microsoft KB Archive/317091

= How to Remove Original Equipment Manufacturer Drivers in Windows 2000, in Windows XP, and in Windows 2003 =

Article ID: 317091

Article Last Modified on 11/20/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2

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This article was previously published under Q317091



SUMMARY
This article describes how to remove Original Equipment Manufacturer drivers in Windows 2000.



MORE INFORMATION
When installing an OEM driver, Windows Installer copies the OEM Setup files to the system folder called &quot;%Systemroot%\Inf.&quot; Windows Installer then renames the Setup file from Oemsetup.inf file to Oem#.inf. The # is an incremental number for each OEM driver that is installed.
 * 1) Locate the file for the OEM device to remove. Use Microsoft Notepad to open the .inf file. The manufacturer name of the driver should appear in the section called Manufacturer.

Note: If multiple device driver versions have been installed, there may be more than one .inf file for a manufacturer. Find the Oem#.inf file with the most current driver version.
 * 1) If you need to use the driver again, move the Oem#.inf and Oem#.pnf files to a different location, or rename the files with a different file extension.
 * 2) In Device Manager, right-click the device and then select Uninstall.
 * 3) Restart the computer.
 * 4) When Windows starts, a New Hardware Found dialog box will appear listing the device. Click Next to start the Found New Hardware Wizard.
 * 5) Click &quot;search for suitable driver&quot; and then click Next.

If available, installing a newer driver may also resolve the problem.

To use the OEM drivers again, use the following instructions:
 * 1) Copy or move the Oem#.inf and Oem#.pnf files back into the %Systemroot%\Inf folder.
 * 2) Use Device Manager to remove the device.
 * 3) Restart the computer.

Windows Plug and Play should locate the device and reinstall the OEM drivers automatically without any user input.

Keywords: kbinfo KB317091

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