Windows – Why does Windows not recognize the INF file for the device

driversinfwindows xp

I am trying to install drivers on my computer for a USB device. It shows up in the device manager as Unknown Device underneath Universal Serial Bus controllers. When I try to update the driver with my manufacturer INF, it says

The specified location does not contain information about your hardware

I found a tutorial online for manually installing plug-and-play drivers and found the following information:

  • The Device Instance Id is USB\VID_0000&PID_0000\6&38DAB3F9&0&4 . In the INF file, it shows USB\VID_04DA&PID_1682
  • The Class GUID is {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000} in the INF file, in the registry it's the same but with a \0018 at the end
  • The Service value is not present
  • Computer is running XP SP 3

What can I do to install this driver?

Best Answer

Windows seems to recognize the INF file correctly, and rather seems to have trouble with the device itself. 0000 is an invalid vendor number ("VID"), which suggests that the USB device did not initialize correctly with the system. This could be because of a short in the USB plug, the cable, damage to the device itself, or possibly damage to the USB hub that the device is plugged into.

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