Can't add new hardware - "System cannot find the file specified"

Hi,

I can't add any new hardware to my XP SP1 installation!

The drivers are there and when I try to install them the add new device wizard fails, saying "System cannot find the file specified".

This applies to several USB devices I've tried to add (My logitech MX900 Bluetooth Hub and my Netgear DM602 USB ADSL modem).

I've googled this and have found that many people face this problem (getting a file not found error even though the device is here) for various different devices but have found no solution!

Thanks.

 

When it comes to USB, in most cases you need to install software (drivers) before actually inserting the plug. See it like this:

Windows has it's own database with generic drivers. Basic software which will run with most cards/units. The wizard always tries to find drivers from this database whenever there's a new hardware installed. Problem is when there is no driver in database for this specific hardware. Then you get these messages like 'driver not found' or similar. So what you need to do is:

Right-click 'My computer' and hit 'properties'. Go 'hardware' and 'device manager'. Delete the hardware that doesn't want to install properly. Just click on it and hit 'del' on your keyboard. Be sure only to delete the hardware that's causing this, nothing else! If the hardware's not there then just continue downwards.

Then shut down your computer, pull out the plug/card or whatever hardware it is, start up your computer, then install drivers from the cd/floppy/file that came with the hardware. When that's done, shut down your computer again, insert card/plug and boot up, now the hardware should work properly.

Except in some cases when the wizard still comes up and asks for drivers... (happens sometimes) then you need to go through the wizard 'manually' (choose 'specific location [Advanced]' then 'I will choose...' then 'have disk') and point out the drivers from manufacturers cd/floppy/file so that the wizard installs the drivers itself.

Good luck