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Q132310: Cannot Detect New Hardware with Windows 3.1 Drivers Installed

Article: Q132310
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If you remove an unsupported sound card or other hardware device that uses
Windows 3.1 drivers in the SYSTEM.INI file, and then attempt to install a new
sound card or other device, the device may not be detected by the Add New
Hardware Wizard. This problem can occur even if Windows 95 has protected-mode
drivers for the device that you are attempting to install.

CAUSE
=====

This problem can occur if the drivers for the original unsupported device have
not been removed from the SYSTEM.INI file, causing Windows 95 to believe that
the device is still installed. Because the original device is unsupported,
Windows 95 does not recognize the Windows 3.1 drivers in the SYSTEM.INI file.
Therefore, the Windows 3.1 drivers are not replaced with Windows 95
protected-mode drivers, and Windows 95 does not continue to search for that type
of device.

RESOLUTION
==========

Remove the drivers for the original device from the SYSTEM.INI file and then run
the Add New Hardware Wizard again.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95. We are
researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

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Keywords          : win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : 95

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