Article: Q182723
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:95
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kberrmsg osr2 win95
Last Modified: 13-JUN-2001
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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 <device>.
where <device> 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:
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>: " (without the quotation marks)
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:
Q135174 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 " (without the quotation marks)
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\precopy1.cab *.inf
extract /a <CD-ROM drive>\win95\win95_02.cab *.inf " (without the
quotation marks)
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\precopy1.cab *.inf
extract /a <floppy Drive>\win95\win95_02.cab *.inf " (without the
quotation marks)
where <floppy Drive> is the drive letter assigned to your floppy
drive.
5. Restart your computer normally.
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Keywords : kberrmsg osr2 win95
Technology : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbWin95
Version : WINDOWS:95
Issue type : kbprb
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