How to change default hardware type in Windows XP?

Hi,

Just recently I received a PCMCIA cardbus adapter for my laptop. However, Windows XP did not find the drivers on the enclosed driver CD (I have contacted the manufacturer about it - this is not why I am writing this post).

So I decided to try installing them manually through the hardware wizard. The problem is, I happened to choose the wrong hardware type (SSCI/RAID instead of PCMCIA - I am going to install an external harddrive so I managed to mix things up).

After installing the drivers on the CD manually, I realized the mistake and deleted the hardware installation in the device manager. I also deleted the installed driver files. Then I tried to start all over again after restarting the computer.

But when I try to install the drivers again manually through the wizard, Windows XP connects the detected hardware to the wrongly chosen hardware type (SSCI/RAID instead of PCMCIA). And I don't find a way to undo this wrong connection between found hardware and hardware type.

Anyone who knows how I can undo this? Do I have to go into the registry to delete the association between the hardware and the defined hardware type, or is there a simpler way through the device manager?

Geeks out there, I would highly appreciate your help on this.

Best,
Anders
Vienna

 

Did you disconnect the hardware? If not, try that.
Here's what I would do.... Delete the hardware
then shut down. Disconnect the hardware. Reboot.
Shut down. Reconnect the hardware and try the install.

 

I don't think Ccleaner will make Windows forget that there is
hardware connected to the computer. Disconnecting a plug
is as simple as it gets.

 

To tell you the truth though, I don't think the wrong driver is
installed here. I don't believe it's possible for Windows to install
a driver that is designed for another type of hardware alltogether.
Anyway, removing the hardware is way simpler than installing
a new program and learning how to use it.
And Ccleaner can remove settings
for other programs that the person may not want to do.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I have tried deleting the hardware, then shut down, disconnect the hardware and then start windows, then shut down again, connect hardware, and start again. Still the same.

The thing is this: I am trying to install an Addonics eSATA cardbus and I discovered afterwards that the printed user guide says that the card should be detected as a PCMCIA controller, while the readme file on the driver CD says the it should be detected as a SSCI/RAID controller. A little confusing. and the driver is not automatically found on the CD (never happened to me before). So, something is not working right here.

So ComputerGate is probably right in this. However, although the driver installed as a SSCI/RAID controller seems to be installed correctly, XP still cannot detect the connected external SATA harddrive.

I have contacted the Addonics support and will see what they have to say. Thanks.

Best,
Anders

 

Two different documents say two different things? Yikes!
I've seen this before on other hardware, and I can only say
to wait for the return email from the company.
Hopefully, they'll know what's going on.

 

Just to finish this thread. It works fine now. It was actually I who forgot that I had to use Western Digital's own software to format the Raptor and make it accessible to Windows XP. Now let's see how fast it is through the cardbus.

So, sorry to have bothered you with this when it was actually no problem. Anyway, I thank you who replied to my post so fast.

Best wishes,
Anders