.INF file missing???

[Joe Bolt]

OS is Windows 98se. Going into Control Panel and running the 'Add New Hardwear' wizard I get a pop-up caption which says: -

"Could not open .INF file. The file may be missing."

Any suggestions on how to fix this problem are welcome.

[kevindelaney]

Hi Joe
I guess the first place you could start looking in is the Windows 98 Support Center..

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;w98

What new hardware are you trying to install? It may be worth your while to disconnect the new piece of hardware and restart the machine.. See if everything is ok.. (ie no errors appears during boot up and login).. Try to run the "Add new hardware" wizard again (without the hardware attached) and see if the same error regarding the missing inf file appears.. If it does then it sounds like your windows 98 might have gone a bit screwy and has nothing to do with the new hardware that you are trying to install..

Also you could try to visit the manufacturer's website and see if there is any mention of the same probelem in an FAQ. If that should fail then drop their support a mail detailing your problem and hopefully they should come back with something..

Hope this helps..
Kevin

kevindelaney.com

[Nightrider]

The INF file contains information for Windows on how to install a hardware device. It tells where to place which driver and what entry to place where in the registry etc...
A missing INF file is often a problem with hardware of manufacturers who supply an installation programme together with their product.
Read the manual and it may say that you should not follow the Windows intiated installation routine...
On the other hand, it can happen that the INF file is not in the location your wizard is looking for it. While running the wizard you may be able to locate it yourself browsing the individual directories of the CD or whatever data media you received with the product.
Good luck...it is what is called "plug 'n pray"....

[Joe Bolt]

Thanks for the replies.

I'd already succeeded in getting the printer software installed by other means as Nightrider suggested. I was just curious as to why I was (I am still) getting this .INF file caption. I wondered if it could be related to a problem I've had for a long time now, in that the power switch on my CPU doesn't turn on the computer. I have to switch the supply off at the mains, wait a few seconds, and then switch it on again to get the computer up and running

[tony draper]

Yeh I remember when plug an play was going to solve all the installing hardware probs, big laugh, you generally have to point the install hardware at the specific item on the driver CD using browse, or it will never find it.
Win 2k can be a pain in the arse instead of letting you point at the item on the driver disk, it searches the whole bloody CD, then still can't find it.
If the problem is with the win 98 itself missing a file, why not just reinstall windows over the top?.

[Joe Bolt]

I've tried re-installing Windows 98 and the motherboard drivers, but the problem is still there.

[tony draper]

Still not sure I understand your problem, inf file is generaly something Install New Hardware, looks for on the driver disc of whatever piece of hardware you are installing.
I have build quite a few computers now, and I know motherboards come with a driver disc but to date I have never installed any drivers from the motherboard disc.
What hardware are you trying to install?

[Joe Bolt]

To be honest Drapes, I'm not sure that this .INF file caption is much of a problem. I've now done what I was trying to do when the caption first appeared (load printer software). I was mainly curious as to what it mean't and wondered if it could be related to the power switch problem that I have. My confuser is a few years old now, so it might be time to bury it at he bottom of the garden, and go out shopping for a new one.

For the benefit of any environmentalists reading this, I'd better point out that I would never really bury my computer. I know that there are charities that gladly accept donations of computers and computer equipment, and that is probably what I'd do.

[tony draper]

Don't think your power switch will cause any probs, my present puter is just a caseless motherboard with H/D power supply and cables lying on the floor, it works just fine, I start it up by shorting the pwr on pins with a screwdriver blade. :rolleyes:

Heres a picky of same.

http://groups.msn.com/LatinFlyersAirportBar/pprunegallery.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=306

[Joe Bolt]

But I don't have an out-of-date Newcastle upon Tyne yellow pages to put mine on! Do you think an in-date Cardiff directory would do?