right-click .inf files to install drivers

[Nathan]

I realize there are several different ways to install
device drivers, specifically in windows XP. Right-
clicking the .inf file appears to be one of those ways,
although it does not seem to work for me. I tend to get
an hour-glass for about 1 second, then it's done, and the
driver is not installed (e.g. toshiba laptop SD card
driver). I'm not looking for a workaround or another way
to install a driver (e.g automatically through wizard, or
have disk etc.), I need help on this particular method of
install for feature support. Is this a feature that only
certain drivers support (signed)? How does windows
associate this driver with the device I want to install
it for via this install method? If it does not work
would it be an XP or driver problem?

Thanks much in advance,
Nathan

 

[Pavel A.]

I realize there are several different ways to install
device drivers, specifically in windows XP. Right-
clicking the .inf file appears to be one of those ways,

Maybe it appears so... but it isn't.
Please see the readme file or other reference that come with your device, and
follow setup instructions.

The best thing Microsoft could do is to discontinue placing Install command
in context menu of INF files. There are several types of INF files, only few can be installed this way.
Some people just get confused by this irrelevant menu item.

 

[Eugene Lin [MSFT]]

Pavel is correct. Device drivers (drivers that are associated with hardware)
cannot be installed by right-clicking and choosing "Install." To install one
of those manually, go to Device Manager and choose "Update Driver..." for
the device you're interested in.

-Euge

 

[andreid]

You said that only drivers that are associated with hardware can't b
installed this way , but I wrote some very simple driver that isn'
controlling any hardware (Hello World is you like), got an .inf out o
build , and it still doesn't install with the "right click option"

Any ideas ??

Andrei Dumitrache
Student Consultant

*Pavel is correct. Device drivers (drivers that are associated wit
hardware)
cannot be installed by right-clicking and choosing "Install." T
install one
of those manually, go to Device Manager and choose "Update Driver...
for
the device you're interested in.

-Euge

--
Eugene Lin
Program Manager
Windows Device Management and Installation
Microsoft Corp.

-
andrei