Problems Adding New Hardware in Windows 95

• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release version 2
• Microsoft Windows 95

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 <device>.

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:

1. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart in MS-DOS Mode, and then click OK.

2. 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

         <CD-ROM drive letter>:
   

   where <CD-ROM drive letter> 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:

         ARTICLE-ID: Q135174
         TITLE: Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command Prompt
   

3. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

         c:
         cd windows\inf
         ren *.inf *.old
   

4. 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 --------------------------------

   a. Insert your original Windows 95 CD-ROM in to your CD-ROM drive.

   b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER

         after each command
   

            extract /a <CD-ROM drive>\win95\precopy.cab *.inf
            extract /a <CD-ROM drive>\win95\win95_02.cab *.inf
   
         where <CD-ROM drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM
         drive.
   
      Windows 95 Installed from Floppy Disks
      --------------------------------------
   
      a. Insert disk 1 of your original Windows disks in to your floppy disk
         drive.
   
      b. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER
         after each command
   
            extract /a <floppy Drive>\win95\precopy.cab *.inf
            extract /a <floppy Drive>\win95\win95_02.cab *.inf
   
         where <floppy Drive> is the drive letter assigned to your floppy
         drive.
   
   

5. Restart your computer normally.