file fp40ext.inf not functioning when adding Win components

[Guest]

I am using Windows XP Professional with SP2.
When trying to add a new Windows component (faxing) through both the Control
Panel and the installation disk, Windows tells me it can't find the file
fp40ext.inf. I have searched and found fp40ext.inf in the winnt\service pack
files\i386 folder. It's at this same place on all 3 of my computers running
Windows XP. The error message I get is "error code 0x2 at line 2088999411"
(0x2 is it can't find something). Short of wiping the disk and starting over
is there a fix?

Thanks and Fair Winds

 

[Brigg Franklin]

Something interesting
I went into WINNT\inf and found a file fp40ext.PNF.
I then noticed that every other .PNF file had a .inf file of the same name
with it,
except the fp40ext.PNF file.
So I copied the fp40ext.inf file from the WINNT\servicepackfiles\i386 folder
to the inf folder and *** presto the add new Windows system works***.
So what is this WINNT\info folder and why wasn't the fp40ext.inf file in it?

Capt. Brigg

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Brigg,

The .INF should be placed in the %Windir%\Inf folder. The Add/Remove Windows
Components uses the sysoc.inf file, which is the master file containing the
links to the other INFs. One such line is the following:

- - -
fp_extensions=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Extensions,fp40ext.inf,,7
- - -

If fp40ext.inf is not found in any of the folders (%Windir%\Inf,
%Windir%\System32), the error occurs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Something interesting
I went into WINNT\inf and found a file fp40ext.PNF.
I then noticed that every other .PNF file had a .inf file of the same name
with it,
except the fp40ext.PNF file.
So I copied the fp40ext.inf file from the WINNT\servicepackfiles\i386 folder
to the inf folder and *** presto the add new Windows system works***.
So what is this WINNT\info folder and why wasn't the fp40ext.inf file in it?

Capt. Brigg

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ramesh,
While I know no one can specifically answer how my fp40ext.inf file went
missing, I am curious how it MIGHT have been removed. I am pretty sure I have
never used the add Windows components routine before yesterday, so is it
possible the laptop manufacturer, Gateway, removed it to keep me out of the
system? Or, more likely, some patch or software I loaded removed it? Both
seem very unlikely, but so do any other causes.