Device loaders for this device cannot load the device driver

I run Win98. I recently installed an HP printer with a USB connection. Afterwards I realized I didn't have any sound. I am assuming the two things are related. I checked wires and connections first but eventually found a yellow ! next to NVIDIA nForce Audio in my Device Manager. I tried removing it and rebooting to install but ended up with the ! back again. When I click properties it says: "NTKERN.VXD, MMDEVLDR.VXD device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver (Code 2). To fix this, click update device driver." When I do that it tells me that the best driver Windows found is already installed (OEM4.inf) It also tells me if I want to reinstall the driver to click next. Then it tells me it's looking for nvmcp.cat, but when I try this it doesn't seem to fix anything. I still have the !. Can anyone help me?

 

Conflict?

Hi TacoBelle,

You likely have an Interupt Request conflict; in device manager, in properties for each item of concern, note the IRQ number, and see if they're the same. If so, you will need to change one of them, not always easy or even possible. Let us know what you find in device manager and whether you need additional help.

EDIT: BTW, does the printer work alright?

 

I looked, but can't see where the IRQ is listed in Device Manager. Is there somewhere else to look? In the Bios at boot up? Or is that too dangerous?

The printer works fine.

 

There should be a "resources" tab in the properties window, and IRQ munber is usually listed there if it applies.

 

Go to system tools, system information,hardware resources and take a look see at both hardware conflicts and IRQ's. This may help identify your problem if its an IRQ conflict.

Also, NVidia just released new a NForce driver update (aprx 25MB). You may want to try that - Version 2.45

 

Win98

In win98, as I recall, the path is: ctrl panel > system > device mgr > clk plus in front of sounds > rt-clk name of card > clk properties and then resources tab.

 

That gets you to the individual device so you can check one by one. Can also right click on Computer in device mgr and get em' all, but I just sent him to a different summary that will give him a printable list. Check it out - believe all versions since 98 are similar in this regard re: navigation to this info. He still needs to be in device mgr to change anything unless he/she can manually set in BIOS (usually only slots - not OB sound).

 

Different strokes?

Thank you R.

 

I have looked in the properties of the NVIDIA nForce Audio (in device manager) and the tabs (unlike some of the other things on the list) are only General and Drivers, no Resources. The NVIDIA nForce Audio Codec Inteface has a Resources tab and it says IRQ 11. I looked through all the other things on the list and none say 11 but I don't know that these two things relate. Since there is no resource tab in the NVIDIA nForce Audio, now what?

 

Use your NVidia driver disc at this prompt and navigate to Drivers 9x or something similar. Or, just download & install the 2.45 driver pack referenced earlier.

Did you find any conflicts/sharing of IRQ #11 ? Sounds like a pretty high interrupt for audio - the problem audio cards in 98 used to grab both #5 and #9 and wanted DOS emulation exclusive.

edit: shame on me, I see you referenced the codecs, disregard second
paragraph.

 

How's it going?

TacoBelle,

Please post your results so far, both for our benefit and for others who might have the same problem, and because there are more steps to troubleshooting if your problem persists.

Troubleshooting logic so far suggests that printer installation pre-empted something used by sound system, and IRQ is only one possibility. Overwriting (replacing) a dll (=library) file is another, and that’s a reason for reinstalling sound drivers. This is all post hoc reasoning, and it's possible that something totally unrelated to the printer is causing the trouble coincidentally.

 

I can't find a resource tab on the audio so I don't truly know if it is an IRQ conflict, though it's probable. Meanwhile, I have downloaded the drivers but am not in a rush to install them because what if, as you say, it's something unrelated. I don't want to complicate things. Since it seems to be like 4 mb that I downloaded, having them on hand when the time comes will be very helpful. I am going to call the company that built my computer on Tuesday and try to get someone there to talk to me. I haven't had any luck on that count as of yet. I would like to have my sounds back, but don't want to take a chance on making the problem worse. I will write again when I make some progress. Meanwhile, tomorrow is Mem. Day and Tuesday will be the first chance I get to work on it again. Sorry.

 

OK - I'm outta here. Good Luck.

 

Never be sorry! It's only like a game. As a last resort you can always start at sqaure one and reinstall the OS and then the peripherals etc., but we'd like to be able to save you all that hassle and learn something in the process. So you can't lose! Please keep us informed periodically until you solve rhe problem.

 

I'm back! I called the place that built my computer today. The fellow walked me through installing the new drivers and it didn't work. He said it's an IRQ conflict and I would have to bring it in. But of course he's backed up at least two weeks. I'm not interested in being without my computer for two weeks or more. So now I plan to head another direction. I back up my HD by cloning a second hard drive, which I keep in a box on a shelf. The latest back up was March, unfortunately, but that's not as important as having my sound back. I can always copy files. But here's the question. If I put this back up HD in as my main HD and then go about setting up the printer again. How can I keep from ending up with the same IRQ conflict? Is there some way to instruct it so the conflict won't just happen again during this setup? It seems sort of weird that it would try to use an IRQ that's already being used.

 

One more thought. What if I uninstall the printer on this HD and reinstall the drivers for the sound and reinstall the printer?

 

Can't hurt to try.

Yes, but I think you should try reversing the order of installation. Uninstall both first. Then install printer and last sound. You may avoid reinstalling windows. Let us know how it comes out.

Also turn off any printer programs that start at boot. You can start them from the program menu which is preferable.

 

I would look in a different direction.

My biggest question is...

Do you have any other USB devices working on this computer?

As you are using Win 98 I have to let you know that the USB support is TERRIBLE.

Win 98SE is a bit better.

It may be time for you to backup all your personal data and then upgrade to at least Windows ME. It's USB support is fine.

Even though it says that the USB Root Hub is there and working proper....Does not mean it actually IS working in Win 98.

Dale

 

Another thing you might try is to go into your bios setup and look for a setting that says "Plug and Play OS" or something similar. If it's set to yes change it to no. If you do this the bios will handle IRQ assignments instead of the OS doing it. Sometimes it does the trick. If it's already set to no, you might try setting it to yes.

 

Zander,

Excellent suggestion.