Microsoft KB Archive/810882

Knowledge Base

Error Message: Cannot Install Hardware. An Error Occurred During the Installation of the Device

Article ID: 810882

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2003

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition

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SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade your computer to Windows XP, and you try to install a device (such as a printer), you may receive the following error message:

Cannot install hardware.
An error occurred during the installation of the device.
The Data is invalid.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the driver that is included with the device is incompatible with Windows XP.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer in Safe Mode.
2. Rename the Driver.cab file that is in the following folder:

   C:\Windows\Driver cache\i386

   For example, rename the Driver.cab file as Driver.old.
3. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
4. When the Welcome screen appears, click Perform additional tasks.
5. Click Browse this CD, and then double-click the I386 folder.
6. Click the Driver.cab file, and then on the Edit menu, click Copy.
7. In Windows Explorer, open the following folder:

   C:\Windows\Driver cache\I386

8. On the Edit menu, click Paste to paste the Driver.cab file in the C:\Windows\Driver cache\I386 folder.
9. Remove the device that you tried to install.
   
   For example, if you received the error when you tried to install a printer, follow these steps to remove the printer:
   1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Other Hardware.
   2. Click Printers and Faxes (or the icon representing the type of device that you want to remove).
   3. Right-click the printer that you want to remove, click Delete, and then click Yes to confirm deletion of that printer.

   -or-
   
   Use Device Manager to remove the device. For example, if you received the error when you tried to install a modem, follow these steps to remove the modem:

   1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, click Manage, and then click Device Manager.
   2. Expand Modems, select your modem, and then press DELETE. Click Yes to confirm.
10. Restart the computer. Your new device should be detected and automatically installed.

You may also want to contact the device manufacturer to obtain the most recent drivers for your device. For information about how to contact the device manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Additional query words: inbox driver in-box driver

Keywords: kbfix kbprb KB810882

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