Any ideas ????

[The PIT]

Windoze XP prof on a Toshiba laptop.

When you try to install any hardware you get the following message.

System cannot find the file specified and the hardware wizard gives up.

Logged on as admin. Replaced the driver cache just in case. Tried removing SP2 and re-installing. Checked registry permissions. Done a repair.

Microsoft web site is as normal useless as theres no specific error message. Googling hasn't found anything either bar someone saying it's a registry permission problem.

No viri or spyware on the machine. Any other ideas bar using the tosh recovery CD.

[ayoub_ibrahim]

Are you pointing the Wizard to where the files located or using automatically search for the best drivers?

[The PIT]

Sorry forgot too mention that.

Doesn't matter if you use inbuilt drivers that come with XP or download the drivers. The same message applies.

[Dilitante1]

is the machine looking to the registry for the appropriate executable to monitor the install? i remember virus activities that caused this on a PC a while back

[The PIT]

It's doing whatever the default operation is so I presume the answer to your question is yes.
The permissions on the registry are correct I checked already.

[The PIT]

Anyone????


Told the user I'm going to have use the rescue disk but I rather not if anyone got a suggestion.

[Fluff]

Yep go to the toshiba website and download the O/S fixes think called hotfix. That might fix problem. I had same issue on a 98 tosh.

[ZokesPro]

I've fixed many a laptop over the years when I was working for Hell, er I mean Dell and I would start by clearing the static built up, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery and hold down the power for 15 secs. I've fixed dozens of problems of all sorts by doing this, and it doens't hurt every month or so, depending on usage.

Then try to 'reset config data' in the bios and reset bios defaults. If that doesn't do anything, try updating the bios.

If not then there might be a hotfix or known issue with your mahcine.

Is it a mini-pci card, a pcmcia card?

[The PIT]

Any hardware you install, video driver sound driver or anything, same message.

Anyway looked for hotfixes and there wasn't any for it. So I used the re-install CD and what a differance. Like having a 2 gig processor upgrade. Goes like grease lightening now. The onboard network card now works so he's now got a spare one.

[ZokesPro]

So it's when you install any drivers?

Wierd, sorry TP, I have no clue.

[The PIT]

Don't worry Zokes no one else did either. One of those cases where you're crying out for an error code number.

[ZokesPro]

Have you tried some stuff I suggested though? Could work you know, then again...

Could be caused by faulty hardware, what if you remove all possible devices including the battery then try to install some devices? That sometimes works with laptops.

[The PIT]

Nope like I said just blitzed it. The guys now got a happy and very fast laptop. It was probably some gunge he download during his peer to peer sessions.