"Found New Hardware" problem

Hello

Problem: "Found New Hardware" message is always displayed on startup, but no new hardware is connected. (System Tray window says the new hardware found is a printer)

System: Windows XP Professional; Lexmark X73 printer/scanner. All updates applied except SP2. System scanned weekly for viruses, spyware, etc.

Steps taken: Removed all Lexmark software; removed old print server drivers shown in the Printer Control panel. Restart computer without any USB cables attached. The "Found New Hardware" message still appears. Note: Lexmark X73 printer works fine when connected.

Possible causes:

a) The original Samsung CD drive stopped working. A new CD-R drive was installed (that works fine.) The old CD drive is still in the computer. Could this old CD drive be giving the computer a signal that makes the computer think a new printer is connected?

b) Computer was once connected to a small household network, but I'm not sure what software was used.

c) A Lexmark 1020 Color printer was previously connected to the computer. Could any software from this old printer that I missed during my search be giving the computer a hardware connection signal?

Question: Is there a file or a registry setting that would cause this "New Hardware Found" message, and if so, how can I remove it. Also, can the Hardware Installation Wizard settings be edited to stop the problem?

Note: I ran Registry First Aid and did not see anything related to this problem that I was familiar with.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Macpez

 

Try installing SP2 and see what happens. Also check in device manager and see what there is.

 

New Information on problem

Hello,

I rechecked Device Manager and everything was OK.

Since the computer is working fine with the exception of "found new printer" at startup, and all my computer maintenance is up to date, I have ruled out a SP2 fix.

I came across the following Tech Note (at bottom) at the Microsoft site and tried it. While it did not fix the problem, I thought this information would be beneficial to others.

NOTE: After a re-ran "Registry First Aid" and cleaned up the remaining obselete and incorrect files, the "found new printer" window appeared at a different time during the start up sequence. (At the beginning and not at the end of the sequence.)

As previously mentioned, even with all the hardware and printer software removed I still get the "found new printer" message at startup.

In summary, the problem appears to be caused by a corrupt registry file. If anyone has an idea how to find it, please let me know. Thanks.

macpez

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE MICROSOFT ARTICLE:

Title: "The New Hardware Wizard May Detect the Printer Device After Every Restart of the Computer." #298370

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298370

CAUSE:

This problem may occur if one of the following conditions is true:
• The printer driver does not use Plug and Play for its installation.
• The following registry key has become damaged:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM


To use Registry Editor to remove the damaged registry key, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
4. Right-click the registry key, and then click Delete.
5. Under Confirm Key Delete, click Yes.
6. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.
When Windows XP restarts, it will detect the printer and install support for it. After the printer is installed, it will no longer be detected each time you start Windows XP.

STATUS:
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

 

Removed all printer software

Pete, thanks for the reply.

I previously removed all printer software, which includes the Lexmark printer. I also checked the ports in printer properties (control panel) and removed all printer port entries.

So far, nothing has worked. As I mentioned, it appears that there is a corrupt registry entry that is initiating the New Hardware Wizard on Startup.

Question:

1) Can I find what application is causing the problem using a utility like "Startup List" or "Startup Control" to see what programs are active and turn off the offending file?

2) If the "New Hardware Wizard" application is corrupt, can its registry entry be "fixed" or can the application be replaced from the original Windows XP software CD?

Since the "found new printer" message also appears in Safe Mode, I assume the problem is in one of the operating system files?

Thanks again for the help and any additional ideas you have.

Macpez