problem with PNP[?] and "ROOT\PRINTER\0000"

[albert]

I upgraded my laptop from XP Home to XP Pro. Everything worked perfectly
before, and works perfectly now, with one exception. All Windows XP Pro
patches are up to date as of today.

Now, at every boot, a "New Hardware Found" dialogue pops up, and states that
Windows has found "printer" [just the word "printer", no brand or model] --
when there is none attached to the machine [USB, or wireless]. If I tell it
to install printer, it cannot do so. If I direct it to look in my Windows
folder [every relevant subfolder I can think of] on C:, or on the CD, it
reports it can find no driver. When I cancel the install attempt, and check
the checkbox for Windows to not try to install this device in the future, at
the each boot up it tries again.

The laptop system prints just fine on my [ancient] HP printer, which is
attached to my desktop, communicating to it through the network, wirelessly
or hardwired to my router. So there is no problem with printing or
installed drivers in the real world.

Below is all the information I could imagine might be relevant as I searched
the system to try to figure out what is screwy.

Using msinfo32.exe, under "Problem Devices", here is the listing:

Device: "Not Available"
PNP Device ID: "ROOT\PRINTER\0000"
Error Code: "Reinstall the drivers for this device"

Checking the file "setupapi.log" I found the following lines:

#I125 Installing NULL driver for "ROOT\PRINTER\0000".
#I121 Device install of "ROOT\PRINTER\0000" finished successfully.
[2006/04/26 13:52:49 1200.1736 Driver Install]

(I don't know enough about this stuff to determine if the third line in the
above refers to the Root Printer, so I am including it in case it is needed)

I have searched the registry, using regedit, but can find no reference to
"ROOT\PRINTER\0000".

All ports on the USB ports on the laptop are clean, and function perfectly
when I test them with other devices [USB mouse, USB flash drive, USB camera
hookup]. The laptop has no parallel port. I have also done a full
chkdsk/scandisk routine.

At one time the laptop was used in an office with a Lexmark printer.
Installing the Lexmark driver screwed up all my HP printer settings [that
was an annoying adventure] -- but I corrected the problem and removed [I
think] every reference to Lexmark from the laptop.

In the registry, under
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
there is one listing:
Name: Default
Type: REG_SZ
Data: (value not set)



Although this is a small problem, and obviously is not impeding my work, I
would much appreciate help in understanding what has gone wrong, what is
happening, and help in fixing it.

TIA
albert

 

[Guest]

Well that may be one of the problems xp has,now...However,as microsoft states,
"Thier is no upgrade from home to pro",one needs to do a clean installation
of
pro if switching from home.Boot to xp pro cd,select install xp,new
copy,delete
the partition,create one,then xp formats and installs auto..

I upgraded my laptop from XP Home to XP Pro. Everything worked perfectly
before, and works perfectly now, with one exception. All Windows XP Pro
patches are up to date as of today.

Now, at every boot, a "New Hardware Found" dialogue pops up, and states that
Windows has found "printer" [just the word "printer", no brand or model] --
when there is none attached to the machine [USB, or wireless]. If I tell it
to install printer, it cannot do so. If I direct it to look in my Windows
folder [every relevant subfolder I can think of] on C:, or on the CD, it
reports it can find no driver. When I cancel the install attempt, and check
the checkbox for Windows to not try to install this device in the future, at
the each boot up it tries again.

The laptop system prints just fine on my [ancient] HP printer, which is
attached to my desktop, communicating to it through the network, wirelessly
or hardwired to my router. So there is no problem with printing or
installed drivers in the real world.

Below is all the information I could imagine might be relevant as I searched
the system to try to figure out what is screwy.

Using msinfo32.exe, under "Problem Devices", here is the listing:

Device: "Not Available"
PNP Device ID: "ROOT\PRINTER\0000"
Error Code: "Reinstall the drivers for this device"

Checking the file "setupapi.log" I found the following lines:

#I125 Installing NULL driver for "ROOT\PRINTER\0000".
#I121 Device install of "ROOT\PRINTER\0000" finished successfully.
[2006/04/26 13:52:49 1200.1736 Driver Install]

(I don't know enough about this stuff to determine if the third line in the
above refers to the Root Printer, so I am including it in case it is needed)

I have searched the registry, using regedit, but can find no reference to
"ROOT\PRINTER\0000".

All ports on the USB ports on the laptop are clean, and function perfectly
when I test them with other devices [USB mouse, USB flash drive, USB camera
hookup]. The laptop has no parallel port. I have also done a full
chkdsk/scandisk routine.

At one time the laptop was used in an office with a Lexmark printer.
Installing the Lexmark driver screwed up all my HP printer settings [that
was an annoying adventure] -- but I corrected the problem and removed [I
think] every reference to Lexmark from the laptop.

In the registry, under
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
there is one listing:
Name: Default
Type: REG_SZ
Data: (value not set)



Although this is a small problem, and obviously is not impeding my work, I
would much appreciate help in understanding what has gone wrong, what is
happening, and help in fixing it.

TIA
albert

 

[Sharon F]

I upgraded my laptop from XP Home to XP Pro. Everything worked perfectly
before, and works perfectly now, with one exception. All Windows XP Pro
patches are up to date as of today.

Now, at every boot, a "New Hardware Found" dialogue pops up, and states that
Windows has found "printer" [just the word "printer", no brand or model] --
when there is none attached to the machine [USB, or wireless]. If I tell it
to install printer, it cannot do so. If I direct it to look in my Windows
folder [every relevant subfolder I can think of] on C:, or on the CD, it
reports it can find no driver. When I cancel the install attempt, and check
the checkbox for Windows to not try to install this device in the future, at
the each boot up it tries again.

The laptop system prints just fine on my [ancient] HP printer, which is
attached to my desktop, communicating to it through the network, wirelessly
or hardwired to my router. So there is no problem with printing or
installed drivers in the real world.

Below is all the information I could imagine might be relevant as I searched
the system to try to figure out what is screwy.

Using msinfo32.exe, under "Problem Devices", here is the listing:

Device: "Not Available"
PNP Device ID: "ROOT\PRINTER\0000"
Error Code: "Reinstall the drivers for this device"

Checking the file "setupapi.log" I found the following lines:

#I125 Installing NULL driver for "ROOT\PRINTER\0000".
#I121 Device install of "ROOT\PRINTER\0000" finished successfully.
[2006/04/26 13:52:49 1200.1736 Driver Install]

(I don't know enough about this stuff to determine if the third line in the
above refers to the Root Printer, so I am including it in case it is needed)

I have searched the registry, using regedit, but can find no reference to
"ROOT\PRINTER\0000".

All ports on the USB ports on the laptop are clean, and function perfectly
when I test them with other devices [USB mouse, USB flash drive, USB camera
hookup]. The laptop has no parallel port. I have also done a full
chkdsk/scandisk routine.

At one time the laptop was used in an office with a Lexmark printer.
Installing the Lexmark driver screwed up all my HP printer settings [that
was an annoying adventure] -- but I corrected the problem and removed [I
think] every reference to Lexmark from the laptop.

In the registry, under
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
there is one listing:
Name: Default
Type: REG_SZ
Data: (value not set)



Although this is a small problem, and obviously is not impeding my work, I
would much appreciate help in understanding what has gone wrong, what is
happening, and help in fixing it.

TIA
albert

This is not an uncommon problem when installing some brands of printers
into XP that hasn't been repaired. I suspect that the upgrade to Pro reset
the printer info and you're stuck in the same "new hardware found" loop.

To correct: Printer powered down. Uninstall any printer drivers and
software that appears in Add/Remove programs. Remove printer from Device
Manager. If asked if you want to uninstall drivers again, say yes. Shutdown
computer. Disconnect printer.

Power up computer and reinstall printer using manufacturer's directions.
Important if printer is USB: Connect printer at the specific point of
installation that manufacturer recommends. For USB printers, this is
usually after the manufacturer's drivers have been installed.

 

[albert]

I upgraded my laptop from XP Home to XP Pro. Everything worked perfectly
before, and works perfectly now, with one exception. All Windows XP Pro
patches are up to date as of today.

Now, at every boot, a "New Hardware Found" dialogue pops up, and states
that
Windows has found "printer" [just the word "printer", no brand or
model] --
when there is none attached to the machine [USB, or wireless]. If I tell
it
to install printer, it cannot do so. If I direct it to look in my
Windows
folder [every relevant subfolder I can think of] on C:, or on the CD, it
reports it can find no driver. When I cancel the install attempt, and
check
the checkbox for Windows to not try to install this device in the future,
at
the each boot up it tries again.

The laptop system prints just fine on my [ancient] HP printer, which is
attached to my desktop, communicating to it through the network,
wirelessly
or hardwired to my router. So there is no problem with printing or
installed drivers in the real world.

Below is all the information I could imagine might be relevant as I
searched
the system to try to figure out what is screwy.

Using msinfo32.exe, under "Problem Devices", here is the listing:

Device: "Not Available"
PNP Device ID: "ROOT\PRINTER\0000"
Error Code: "Reinstall the drivers for this device"

Checking the file "setupapi.log" I found the following lines:

#I125 Installing NULL driver for "ROOT\PRINTER\0000".
#I121 Device install of "ROOT\PRINTER\0000" finished successfully.
[2006/04/26 13:52:49 1200.1736 Driver Install]

(I don't know enough about this stuff to determine if the third line in
the
above refers to the Root Printer, so I am including it in case it is
needed)

I have searched the registry, using regedit, but can find no reference to
"ROOT\PRINTER\0000".

All ports on the USB ports on the laptop are clean, and function
perfectly
when I test them with other devices [USB mouse, USB flash drive, USB
camera
hookup]. The laptop has no parallel port. I have also done a full
chkdsk/scandisk routine.

At one time the laptop was used in an office with a Lexmark printer.
Installing the Lexmark driver screwed up all my HP printer settings
[that
was an annoying adventure] -- but I corrected the problem and removed [I
think] every reference to Lexmark from the laptop.

In the registry, under
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
there is one listing:
Name: Default
Type: REG_SZ
Data: (value not set)



Although this is a small problem, and obviously is not impeding my work,
I
would much appreciate help in understanding what has gone wrong, what is
happening, and help in fixing it.

TIA
albert

This is not an uncommon problem when installing some brands of printers
into XP that hasn't been repaired. I suspect that the upgrade to Pro reset
the printer info and you're stuck in the same "new hardware found" loop.

To correct: Printer powered down. Uninstall any printer drivers and
software that appears in Add/Remove programs. Remove printer from Device
Manager. If asked if you want to uninstall drivers again, say yes.
Shutdown
computer. Disconnect printer.

Power up computer and reinstall printer using manufacturer's directions.
Important if printer is USB: Connect printer at the specific point of
installation that manufacturer recommends. For USB printers, this is
usually after the manufacturer's drivers have been installed.

Sharon,

Thank you for the advice. I will try it out and post back with the
results.

albert

 

[albert]

On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:44:29 -0400, albert wrote:

This is not an uncommon problem when installing some brands of printers
into XP that hasn't been repaired. I suspect that the upgrade to Pro reset
the printer info and you're stuck in the same "new hardware found" loop.

To correct: Printer powered down. Uninstall any printer drivers and
software that appears in Add/Remove programs. Remove printer from Device
Manager. If asked if you want to uninstall drivers again, say yes.
Shutdown
computer. Disconnect printer.

Power up computer and reinstall printer using manufacturer's directions.
Important if printer is USB: Connect printer at the specific point of
installation that manufacturer recommends. For USB printers, this is
usually after the manufacturer's drivers have been installed.

I tried your suggestion, unfortunately it did not solve the problem.

I knocked out every printer listed under "printers and faxes" -- but at
bootup, the install new printer dialogue still appears. There is no
printer connected to the laptop, and this happens even with the laptop's
wireless card turned off.. This "found new device" dialogue pops up even
though nothing is connected to the laptop PC -- no mouse, no network cable,
no card of any kind, etc.

Although I am willing to completely reformat and do a fresh install of XP
Pro to solve this problem on the laptop --- I'd still rather figure out
where this small annoying problem originates from.


My current hypothesis suggests that there must be something, somewhere -- a
file fragment perhaps -- that Windows XP Pro is reading at bootup, and
contains, in part, a reference to "printer" ---- more specifically, the
"ROOT\PRINTER\0000" [PNP Device ID reference] that I see listed under
"Problem Devices" in System Information [msinfo32].

So what, exactly, would "ROOT\PRINTER\0000" refer to, in Windows XP Pro?

Where would one find such a reference - in what file would it normally be?

Where would Windows XP Pro expect to find the driver [or whatever dll's or ?
it would want]?

And, of course, how do I alter it so it behaves?

TIA,
albert

 

[Sharon F]

I knocked out every printer listed under "printers and faxes" -- but at
bootup, the install new printer dialogue still appears. There is no
printer connected to the laptop, and this happens even with the laptop's
wireless card turned off.. This "found new device" dialogue pops up even
though nothing is connected to the laptop PC -- no mouse, no network cable,
no card of any kind, etc.

Very strange. No printer connected and the system tries to install one? Is
the laptop on a network and is there a shared printer on the network that
it's picking up on?

 

[Sharon F]

My current hypothesis suggests that there must be something, somewhere -- a
file fragment perhaps -- that Windows XP Pro is reading at bootup, and
contains, in part, a reference to "printer"

MVP Bruce Sanderson has an in depth how-to for cleaning up printer drivers:
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

 

[albert]

MVP Bruce Sanderson has an in depth how-to for cleaning up printer
drivers:
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

Thank you, once again, Sharon. I appreciate your help and advice on my
behalf. More reading, more homework. I love it [really, no kidding]. I
will get to your lead to me, and report back. It'll probably take me a
couple or three days, as I am pretty busy right now, but I look forward to
the detective work.

[ps, about the environment of the laptop, right now, it mostly lives at
home -- and with the wireless internal card turned off. So the ghost
printer it is seeing is its own internal ghost -- there is no signal or
random electromagnetic tweak nudging it -- only its own demons]

Thanks again. I'll report back.

albert