J
Jon
Just posting this in the hopes of helping people who may have a
similar problem. If it doesn't apply to you, just ignore it.
A few times now, I've somehow managed to break my NVIDIA driver
installation. After trying to update the drivers, Windows will end up
using the default VGASAVE driver. This is the failsafe driver that
Windows falls back on in case OEM drivers don't run. This is great,
cause otherwise you would have no choice but to format in order to get
your computer working again.
However, it's also somewhat of a problem. If I look in my Device
Manager at this point, I find that the section called Display Adapters
doesn't even show up! Now I have no way to update and perhaps fix my
drivers.
Whenever I boot into Windows, the "Found New Hardware" wizard runs,
correctly identifies the hardware as a NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 with
AGP8X. (Note that this isn't the only card this problem can occur
with.)
A box will pop up saying pretty much:
"There was a problem installing
NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 with AGP8X
A required section was not found in the INF."
This problem is so frustrating. Here's my solution:
Disclaimer: Some knowledge of using regedit is needed. I take no
responsibility for you breaking your computer. Solution may not work
in all cases.
Before you begin fixing this, make sure the following symptoms are
true:
a) You are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
b) After trying to automatically install your hardware, and when you
try to install drivers for your hardware, you get the "A required
section was not found in the INF" error.
c) When you look in your Device Manager, there is no entry for your
video card. No "Display Adapters" appears.
Ok, here's how I fixed this. Besides wrecklessly going through the
registry and deleting random entries, I noticed one problem.
In the registry area:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
there is no entry for Display Adapters.
So I copied the needed registry entry from my laptop. I don't believe
it matters whether the driver information in the key is accurate, so
you can probably just copy and paste the key I used into a fix.reg
text file.
So open Notepad or Wordpad and paste the following registry
information into the editor. Save the file to your desktop. Rename
it so it has a .reg extension. Right click on the file you just
created and select merge.
Then, restart your computer. When it reboots, ignore the automatic
Hardware Wizard. Cancel out of it if the wizard opens any windows
asking for drivers. Right click on My Computer and select Properties.
Click on the Hardware tab. Select Device Manager.
Hopefully, you should now see a Display Adapters entry. You should
also see a Video Adapter with an exclamation point ! next to it.
Right click on it and select properties.
You should now be able to click on the Driver tab and Update Driver.
Use your OEM/Manufacturer drivers to install your driver. Reboot your
computer, and if all goes well, it should install sucessfully!
Alternately, you could probably use your Nvidia or other Installation
setup program to get your new drivers.
If you have any questions about this specific problem, I'll try to
answer them as best as I can. Email is:
j3faust (at) wmich (dot) edu
_____________________________ (Registry file follows - Do not include
this line)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}]
"Class"="Display"
@="Display adapters"
"Installer32"="Desk.Cpl,DisplayClassInstaller"
"TroubleShooter-0"="hcp://help/tshoot/tsdisp.htm"
"Icon"="-1"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000]
"InfPath"="oem53.inf"
"InfSection"="i830M"
"ProviderName"="Intel Corporation"
"DriverDateData"=hex:00,40,d5,1d,2f,8d,c3,01
"DriverDate"="10-8-2003"
"DriverVersion"="6.14.10.3691"
"MatchingDeviceId"="pci\\ven_8086&dev_3577"
"DriverDesc"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
"DeskCheckForDuplicates"=dword:00000001
"CoInstallers32"=hex(7):69,00,41,00,6c,00,6d,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,5f,00,\
76,00,33,00,36,00,39,00,31,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,69,00,41,00,6c,\
00,6d,00,4d,00,46,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,73,00,74,00,61,00,6c,00,6c,00,\
65,00,72,00,00,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\DEFAULT]
"CUIDriver"="{9CEE304E-DC6C-11D2-B561-00A0C92E6848}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\igfxcui]
@="{3AB1675A-CCFF-11D2-8B20-00A0C93CB1F4}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings]
"InstalledDisplayDrivers"=hex(7):69,00,61,00,6c,00,6d,00,72,00,6e,00,74,00,35,\
00,00,00,00,00
"VgaCompatible"=dword:00000000
"MultifunctionSupported"=dword:00000001
"Device Description"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001]
"InfPath"="oem28.inf"
"InfSection"="i830M"
"ProviderName"="Intel Corporation"
"DriverDateData"=hex:00,40,21,f5,e1,02,c3,01
"DriverDate"="4-15-2003"
"DriverVersion"="6.13.10.3510"
"MatchingDeviceId"="pci\\ven_8086&dev_3577"
"DriverDesc"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
"CoInstallers32"=hex(7):69,00,41,00,6c,00,6d,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,5f,00,\
76,00,31,00,33,00,5f,00,31,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,69,00,41,00,6c,\
00,6d,00,4d,00,46,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,73,00,74,00,61,00,6c,00,6c,00,\
65,00,72,00,00,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\DEFAULT]
"CUIDriver"="{9CEE304E-DC6C-11D2-B561-00A0C92E6848}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\igfxcui]
@="{3AB1675A-CCFF-11D2-8B20-00A0C93CB1F4}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Settings]
"InstalledDisplayDrivers"=hex(7):69,00,61,00,6c,00,6d,00,72,00,6e,00,74,00,35,\
00,00,00,00,00
"VgaCompatible"=dword:00000000
"MultifunctionSupported"=dword:00000001
"Device Description"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
########################## End of Registry file. (don't include this
line)
similar problem. If it doesn't apply to you, just ignore it.
A few times now, I've somehow managed to break my NVIDIA driver
installation. After trying to update the drivers, Windows will end up
using the default VGASAVE driver. This is the failsafe driver that
Windows falls back on in case OEM drivers don't run. This is great,
cause otherwise you would have no choice but to format in order to get
your computer working again.
However, it's also somewhat of a problem. If I look in my Device
Manager at this point, I find that the section called Display Adapters
doesn't even show up! Now I have no way to update and perhaps fix my
drivers.
Whenever I boot into Windows, the "Found New Hardware" wizard runs,
correctly identifies the hardware as a NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 with
AGP8X. (Note that this isn't the only card this problem can occur
with.)
A box will pop up saying pretty much:
"There was a problem installing
NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4200 with AGP8X
A required section was not found in the INF."
This problem is so frustrating. Here's my solution:
Disclaimer: Some knowledge of using regedit is needed. I take no
responsibility for you breaking your computer. Solution may not work
in all cases.
Before you begin fixing this, make sure the following symptoms are
true:
a) You are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
b) After trying to automatically install your hardware, and when you
try to install drivers for your hardware, you get the "A required
section was not found in the INF" error.
c) When you look in your Device Manager, there is no entry for your
video card. No "Display Adapters" appears.
Ok, here's how I fixed this. Besides wrecklessly going through the
registry and deleting random entries, I noticed one problem.
In the registry area:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
there is no entry for Display Adapters.
So I copied the needed registry entry from my laptop. I don't believe
it matters whether the driver information in the key is accurate, so
you can probably just copy and paste the key I used into a fix.reg
text file.
So open Notepad or Wordpad and paste the following registry
information into the editor. Save the file to your desktop. Rename
it so it has a .reg extension. Right click on the file you just
created and select merge.
Then, restart your computer. When it reboots, ignore the automatic
Hardware Wizard. Cancel out of it if the wizard opens any windows
asking for drivers. Right click on My Computer and select Properties.
Click on the Hardware tab. Select Device Manager.
Hopefully, you should now see a Display Adapters entry. You should
also see a Video Adapter with an exclamation point ! next to it.
Right click on it and select properties.
You should now be able to click on the Driver tab and Update Driver.
Use your OEM/Manufacturer drivers to install your driver. Reboot your
computer, and if all goes well, it should install sucessfully!
Alternately, you could probably use your Nvidia or other Installation
setup program to get your new drivers.
If you have any questions about this specific problem, I'll try to
answer them as best as I can. Email is:
j3faust (at) wmich (dot) edu
_____________________________ (Registry file follows - Do not include
this line)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}]
"Class"="Display"
@="Display adapters"
"Installer32"="Desk.Cpl,DisplayClassInstaller"
"TroubleShooter-0"="hcp://help/tshoot/tsdisp.htm"
"Icon"="-1"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000]
"InfPath"="oem53.inf"
"InfSection"="i830M"
"ProviderName"="Intel Corporation"
"DriverDateData"=hex:00,40,d5,1d,2f,8d,c3,01
"DriverDate"="10-8-2003"
"DriverVersion"="6.14.10.3691"
"MatchingDeviceId"="pci\\ven_8086&dev_3577"
"DriverDesc"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
"DeskCheckForDuplicates"=dword:00000001
"CoInstallers32"=hex(7):69,00,41,00,6c,00,6d,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,5f,00,\
76,00,33,00,36,00,39,00,31,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,69,00,41,00,6c,\
00,6d,00,4d,00,46,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,73,00,74,00,61,00,6c,00,6c,00,\
65,00,72,00,00,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\DEFAULT]
"CUIDriver"="{9CEE304E-DC6C-11D2-B561-00A0C92E6848}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\igfxcui]
@="{3AB1675A-CCFF-11D2-8B20-00A0C93CB1F4}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings]
"InstalledDisplayDrivers"=hex(7):69,00,61,00,6c,00,6d,00,72,00,6e,00,74,00,35,\
00,00,00,00,00
"VgaCompatible"=dword:00000000
"MultifunctionSupported"=dword:00000001
"Device Description"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001]
"InfPath"="oem28.inf"
"InfSection"="i830M"
"ProviderName"="Intel Corporation"
"DriverDateData"=hex:00,40,21,f5,e1,02,c3,01
"DriverDate"="4-15-2003"
"DriverVersion"="6.13.10.3510"
"MatchingDeviceId"="pci\\ven_8086&dev_3577"
"DriverDesc"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
"CoInstallers32"=hex(7):69,00,41,00,6c,00,6d,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,5f,00,\
76,00,31,00,33,00,5f,00,31,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,69,00,41,00,6c,\
00,6d,00,4d,00,46,00,43,00,6f,00,49,00,6e,00,73,00,74,00,61,00,6c,00,6c,00,\
65,00,72,00,00,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\DEFAULT]
"CUIDriver"="{9CEE304E-DC6C-11D2-B561-00A0C92E6848}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Display\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\igfxcui]
@="{3AB1675A-CCFF-11D2-8B20-00A0C93CB1F4}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001\Settings]
"InstalledDisplayDrivers"=hex(7):69,00,61,00,6c,00,6d,00,72,00,6e,00,74,00,35,\
00,00,00,00,00
"VgaCompatible"=dword:00000000
"MultifunctionSupported"=dword:00000001
"Device Description"="Intel(R) 82830M Graphics Controller"
########################## End of Registry file. (don't include this
line)