"do not plug in device before installing CD" warnings on peripherals?

[peter]

Some USB devices (e.g. digital camera, USB wifi adapter, etc) warned not to
plug in the device until after the install CD is run.

Why is this warning present on some but not on all devices? What bad things
might happen if the device is plugged in before installing the CD?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Nothing 'bad' should happen. It may that you will not be able to install
the device properly - and will then have to read the manual properly.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[ras]

Nothing bad will happen. What will happen is it will try to look for
drivers and most likely won't find any and then ask you for the installation
disk. But if you just load drivers without installing the software it's
warning you it's probably not going to work properly.

 

[Chuck]

Connecting the device first will cause any included windows drivers to be
installed or various error messages to be generated, or call for the device
CD or drivers. The included drivers may conflict with the OEM device
drivers. Worst case seems to be that registry entries get screwed up to the
point that the device OEM drivers & apps will not install.

When USB is involved, read the directions and follow them! Remember Billy
G's silly look on national TV when he demonstrated plugging in a USB device
to a Laptop and it didn't work?