New Hardware Found dialogue box appears unexpectedly

[jayro]

When I boot my computer I am given the Windows Dialogue box regarding having found New Hardware (I've not installed any). The Update Device Driver Wizard then pops up. The first time this happened I followed the recommended process and clicked "next" as suggested. The Wizard proceeded to search my vacant floppy drive and asked if I wanted to search else where. I repeated my response as mentioned above and this happened a total of three times in a row. At this point the boot up proceeded and I booted to the desktop and all seems normal, by this point. I checked the Device Manager and there were no "Other Devices" and no items showing the yellow splotch with the requesite exclamation point thereon. I proceeded to reboot again and the same process is completely repeatable. I don't know why this is happening nor how to prevent it from happening each time I reboot. It happens each time I reboot.

Any thoughts?

[smurfy]

Hmmm. Next time it does it, point it to C:\Windows\Inf folder first then C:\Windows\System and see if it can figure out what it's forgotten about :)

[jayro]

Hey Smurf-meister :-)

Ya know what???

I don't know where that problem came from, nor do I know where it went. All I do know is that it's not happening anymore. Go figure huh? 'PUTERS!!!! (they'll be the bain and/or the death of us all)

You know what IS happening now though? I went back into the DEVICE MANAGER to check for any devices that were showing any warnings. There were none. As usual, after expanding all the different device categories in DEVICE MANAGER, I clicked "REFRESH" to close all categories again and my MOUSE froze solid, my display quality dropped to an odd look...... sorta like when you click START/SHUTDOWN and select RESTART and your display changes. Not quite that severe mind you, but you get the idea, right? Any ways, only way outta that was to use the keyboard to go to START/SHUTDOWN/RESTART.

All was fine again after rebooting but the problem happened again. I went back into DEVICE MANAGER to see if it was anecdotal or serial. Happened again.

What the heck's up with that? Any ideas?

[smurfy]

This is the same machine with the "My documents" issue right?

Ever heard the expression FUBAR?

:)

Got another DOS command for ya - Format C:

:D

Honestly I think you've got some weird problems.

I guess first step is a thorough virus scan (I don't know of a virus that causes these symptoms but I'm no expert on that).

Next time, do a Ctrl+ALT+Del when it freezes and see what it says is running and if anything is "not responding".

Is this Win 95 95a 95b or 95c?

[jtdoom]

actually, format C: /U might be even better.

kidding aside...
it may come to that format C: /U

but...
what about hardware ghosts.
you find them when you boot into safe mode.
suspect all double entries of hardware
(when there's two mentions of same device (pertaining to cards), it has a reason . The reason was a re-install or a conflict.)

when you have a lot of ghosts, you can do the following.
copy the windows\inf folder and subfolders to somewhere else.

ZIP and convert it into a SFX zip.
save it

you migth wanna try something like
win driver ghost
(google for it, and I can tell you it was discussed in the fora here too)
use it, it works
save that stuff...
(with a bit of savvy, you use the proggy to collect, and don't actually need the proggy to restore)

then, make sure you hav all device drivers you need available.

delete inf folder,
remove all entries of hardware you KNOW you don't have.

reboot

[smurfy]

Yeah Jaak, my next step (before format) was a driver refresh (remove inf & registry entries) and reboot and get Windows to reload all drivers but that can be a long process.

Jayro, what version of Internet Explorer is running on that machine? If it's 4.0 or later, I think a Repair may go a long way towards fixing some of your Windows problems.

[jayro]

Ok.....I "fomat c:\" 'd....... just ended up taking everything....and I mean everything off my system. Had to go to my buddy's 'cross town to email to tell you that.....

Ok, now that I've got your attention..... ha ha....

Anyway.....it's 95b with every update you can think of....and probably a few most people couldn't think of.

The IE version is 5.5. When it comes to drivers and safe mode and that stuff....with out some very detailed and specific instructs....I am pretty much useless. I've screwed things up more than I've ever helped them when it comes to drivers. I try to stay away from that sorta thing completely. I can have a disc with the driver files right on it and tell Windows to search the a: drive for the driver and it still won't find it. I just don't mess with 'em anymore. Truly, I wouldn't know if I had all the drivers for everything or not.....if life itself depended on it. I have discs for everything I believe but they haven't worked yet....:-s

I've looked for proggies to do everything for me with keeping track of my drivers and even have a program that has the identical GUI as WinDriver Ghost. Ran it a few times and haven't seemed to figure out what the hell it's doing....or what to do with it after it's finished doing what it does. Yeah....that's pretty pathetic, I agree....but I freeze when it comes to drivers. Things have got too f***ed up before, messin' with 'em/.

Anyways, I will try removing and reinstalling my Intellimouse Trackball software (seeing as it was the mouse that froze) and do the IE repair. Let you know how it goes, after that....Ok?

P.S.- That driver proggie with the identical GUI is WinDriver Expert 1.10 by Jacques Zhang..... Freeware. Do you know it? Is it the same thing? Anyways...will post back later.

[jtdoom]

Jaques Zang, yes.

it is used to collect all drivers in a perfect working system, so as to be able to put them back when things get messed up.
But, it cannot collect what is not there.

win 95 (and 98) do not look for all the files on a disk, as it does not scan all folders on that disk.
iow, you may have to show it (have disk, browse) it what folder a driver is to be found in.

[jayro]

Smurph....JTDoom

Well, been busy with IE repair, removing and reinstalling my MS TrackBall mouse software and even ventured into updating drivers in DEVICE MANAGER...wherever possible. That seems to have done something. Mouse no longer freezes in DEVICE MANAGER after clicking Refresh. Things are looking better. I understand working with DRIVERS a whole bunch better now too!

If this isn't getting too ridiculous and drawn out, when I START->SHUTDOWN->RESTART or if I have to restart after changing my system and I'm prompted to "DO YOU WANT TO RESTART NOW -> NOW......or .......LATER", my "Please Wait While ........Down" screen is completey corrupt and the displayed logow.sys file is scambled beyond recognition. Everything proceeds and seems to work fine....it just seem to be the displaying of that screen that is affected. When I choose SHUTDOWN from the SHUT DOWN WINDOWS dialogue box this doesn't happen and PLEASE WAIT........SHUTS DOWN screen displays fine. Why the difference in the two differents uses of the same logow.sys file? Any ideas?

Thanks again folks!

jayro