Why does XP assign a number when updating device hardware?

[David O.]

I updated my Wi-Fi adapter driver and client utility in Windows XP. After
uninstalling the old driver and client utility and rebooting my system, I
then installed the updated driver and client utility. I had to do this
twice because my system hung on bootup. The update works great and I don't
have any problems, so my question is related only to the XP operating
system.

Windows XP assigned a number after the hardware adapter, for example, before
I performed the hardware driver update, my Wi-Fi adapter was listed in the
device manager as "Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter" but after the
update it is listed as "Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter #3"

This is not the only case where XP has done this. It also listed my webcam
adapter with a "#2" at the end of the device name. It seems that any time I
reinstall or update a driver, XP assigns the device hardware a sequential
number.

Thanks for your windows expertise for this question.

 

[WTC]

You probably plug your adapter in 3 different USB port for example. Windows
does this naturally.

 

[namniar]

A while ago someone posted a method as to how to remove the "#2,#3, etc" in
this newsgroup. Maybe they could repost this and/or David you can search
back in previous posts. Also try Google. Remember that the #2, #3, etc. is
purely cosmetic and does not cause any problems.

r.

 

[David O.]

Thank you namniar. I searched google but could not find any information on
this subject. Maybe the person who posted how to remove the number #2, #3,
etc. will re-post. Thanks again!

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 21:47:39 -0800, "David O."

I updated my Wi-Fi adapter driver and client utility in Windows XP. After
uninstalling the old driver and client utility and rebooting my system, I
then installed the updated driver and client utility. I had to do this
twice because my system hung on bootup.

Windows XP assigned a number after the hardware adapter, for example, before
I performed the hardware driver update, my Wi-Fi adapter was listed in the
device manager as "Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter" but after the
update it is listed as "Atheros AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter #3"

If the update changes a baseline bus, devices attached to that bus may
be detected as "new".

If the update changes firmware of a device, then Windows may detect
the device as "new".

The significance can go beyond duplicate entries, shuffled hardware
resources, breakage of items that still point to the old device
identity, and loss of any device-level settings you may have applied.

It can also cause WPA to lose lives, bringing you closer to a sudden
DoS attack be the OS itself, when it "thinks' it's running on a
"different" PC. Needless to say, MS gives you NO tools to see how
close to the edge you are; Licenturion has a free tool that does this,
but whether it works on SP2 is another matter.

This is not the only case where XP has done this. It also listed my webcam
adapter with a "#2" at the end of the device name. It seems that any time I
reinstall or update a driver, XP assigns the device hardware a sequential
number.

What drivers are you updating? VIA's 4-in-1 beta of the week?

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