invalid filter driver

[martin.dangelmeyr]

hi,
i've been having this "an installed filter driver is invalid" problem
with my new XP system like many others here in this or other groups but
couldn't find a solution. this happened every time i attached a USB
mass storage device to an usb port (maybe this has to do with the FAT32
file system). most of the times, i could use the device anyway but the
error message was annoying anyway.

finally i found a solution (by the help of some other articles about
the same topic):

the problem was a LowerFilters-Entry from Veritas Software driver,
common for all disk drives, seems the XP system doesn't like this
filter driver very much.

to remove it, please follow these steps:

warning: modifying the registry may disable your system to boot!

1. create a copy of your current configuration - in german "einen
wiederherstellungspunkt erstellen". sorry, don't know the exact english
term but i think you know what i mean.

2. open the registry editor "regedit.exe" and look for the folder
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

3. if there's an key "LowerFilters" with the entry "drvmcdb", then
rename the key e.g. as "_LowerFilters" (this enables you to restore it
if necessary).

4. close regedit and reboot your system (don't know if this it's really
necessary but can't do any harm).

after reconnecting your device, the error message shouldn't appear
again and your device should work as expected.


final question:
what is the VERITAS filter driver "drvmcdb.sys" good for if it runs
well even without it? does anyone has any information or would
recommend not to remove it?

kind regards,
martin

 

[R. McCarty]

Filter drivers work as "Hooks" into System calls. For example if you use
Roxio Easy CD your CD/DVD recorder will have two filter drivers added.
It allows these Filter drivers to intercept calls and handle them instead of
the normal system calls. If you remove Upper/Lower filters it's likely to
"Break" the application that depends on them. One thing that users forget
about changes like this is a "REBOOT". You may make the changes and
all seems well, but on the next boot those drivers/services won't load and
you may quickly find your Application doesn't work or post messages.

 

[martin.dangelmeyr]

Thanks, know now what application installed this hook and what may not
work anymore (some special kind of cd HP burning software which i don't
use anymore).

thanks for the reply and have a nice day,
martin