Edit Registry to Eliminate Driver Installation for Multiple IdenticalUSB Devices

[kevincw01]

My understanding is that when I plug a new USB device into windows xp,
the device's serial number is polled and(if found), a series of
registry entries are created. Later when I install the driver for
this new device, the driver is associated with the serial number of
the device. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have over 100 USB devices with unique serial numbers. Each time I
connect a new one, I'm required to re-install the driver. My intent
is to gather the serial numbers from the manufacturer and replicate
the registry entries created by a single driver install, for all the
other USB devices. Can this be done? Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance,
-Kevin

 

[Doron Holan [MSFT]]

no, you cannot do this. if you are refering to the keys under
hklm\system\currentcontrolset\enum\... then the layout of these keys are
private and undocumented and are not portable from one machine to the next.

d

 

[kevincw01]

no, you cannot do this. if you are refering to the keys under
hklm\system\currentcontrolset\enum\... then the layout of these keys are
private and undocumented and are not portable from one machine to the next.

d

Even if the machines are identical and installed using a ghost image
of the same windows xp installation?

 

[Doron Holan [MSFT]]

yes, even for identical machines. you are not allowed to manipulate the
enum key outside of the OS in any way in any context

d

 

[Bill Davy]

Even if the machines are identical and installed using a ghost image
of the same windows xp installation?

FWIW, I think I spotted one funny thing. I has a serial number string of
"S/N:xxxx" but that was mutated somewhere into "S#N:xxxx" and device names
(which we are not permitted to read) of a uses "#" as a field separaor so I
was always being asked for the device driver. Fixed that and it was happy
with different serial numbered devices.

Just my 2c worth.

Bill