Installing software then plugging in USB devices

[JohnH]

Some devices (particularly an HP printer) ask you to run an
installation disk before plugging a device into a USB port. Other
devices seem to manage to be plugged in first,, then the new hardware
wizard asks where the driver is.

Why are different devices like this ? What is the danger of plugging
in a USB device before installing the software ? Is there a
recommended way of recovering if you get it wrong ?

John

 

[Don Burn]

John,

Some companies want to put in more than just a driver and have all of
this present at once. Microsoft calls this "software first install" versus
"hardware first install". The good installs will handle both, and
Microsoft has had a number of presentations on how to do this at the WinHEC
conferences the last few years. It is not that hard, but it is more work,
and more testing, so many firms just ignore the need for both.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Usually the best advice is to read the instructions which come with the
device BEFORE trying to install.

Most (but not all) USB devices do require software to be installed BEFORE
connecting the device. If in doubt, do it that way rather than the other.