issue with drivers

[sobriquet]

Hi.

On a Windows Vista system, I have the following problem. Whenever
I connect something via USB, it asks me for drivers (it only does
this two times whenever I connect something).

http://i.imgur.com/JHRUb.jpg

It offers 3 options (in Dutch):
1) find and install drivers (recommended)
2) ask again later
3) don't display this message for this device

When it's something I've connected before, I can close these
screens and the device will still work. But new hardware
can't be installed and devices that work on one usb
port refuse to work on other usb ports. Also devices that used
to work without installing a driver manually (like a usb mouse) can no
longer be used because it reports a missing driver..

I've caused this problem myself by deleting various folders in de
windows folder, in the hope that they could safely be deleted
(based on online information I found online about possible
things to delete to free up space).
But I think I've deleted a folder somewhere in the windows folder that
contained
driver information.

I do have an Acronis backup image, but I'm not sure which folder to
restore exactly
(I'd prefer not to restore the entire backup if I can avoid that).
Since I've removed various folders based on recommendations found on
various
websites discussing the topic of folders that are probably safe to
delete.

Does anyone have any idea which specific folder I might have deleted
from
the system (either in /windows/ or in /windows/system32/ or something)
that
is causing this particular issue?

thx in advance and kind regards, Niek

 

[Parko]

Does anyone have any idea which specific folder I might have deleted
from the system (either in /windows/ or in /windows/system32/ or
something) that is causing this particular issue?

Absolutely, totally, completely not.
Do this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
Cross your fingers and hope it works.
*Next time DON'T*

 

[John Holmes]

sobriquet "contributed" in 24hoursupport.helpdesk:

But I think I've deleted a folder somewhere in the windows folder that
contained driver information.

Is the folder %windir%\system32\drivers present and intact?

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hi.

On a Windows Vista system, I have the following problem. Whenever
I connect something via USB, it asks me for drivers (it only does
this two times whenever I connect something).

http://i.imgur.com/JHRUb.jpg

It offers 3 options (in Dutch):
1) find and install drivers (recommended)
2) ask again later
3) don't display this message for this device

When it's something I've connected before, I can close these
screens and the device will still work. But new hardware
can't be installed and devices that work on one usb
port refuse to work on other usb ports. Also devices that used
to work without installing a driver manually (like a usb mouse) can no
longer be used because it reports a missing driver..

I've caused this problem myself by deleting various folders in de
windows folder, in the hope that they could safely be deleted
(based on online information I found online about possible
things to delete to free up space).
But I think I've deleted a folder somewhere in the windows folder that
contained
driver information.

I do have an Acronis backup image, but I'm not sure which folder to
restore exactly
(I'd prefer not to restore the entire backup if I can avoid that).
Since I've removed various folders based on recommendations found on
various
websites discussing the topic of folders that are probably safe to
delete.

Does anyone have any idea which specific folder I might have deleted
from
the system (either in /windows/ or in /windows/system32/ or something)
that
is causing this particular issue?

thx in advance and kind regards, Niek

If it still works, try System Restore to a date before your adventure.

And you have learned a valuable lesson about trusting advice - even
mine - and clean-up software and methods.

Windows is complicated. Don't mess with it.