An Inf Error Occurs During Installation of a Network Adapter on a Windows 2000-Based Computer (306983)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q306983 IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you
modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore
the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the
registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
SYMPTOMS
During the installation of a network adapter on a Windows 2000-based computer, you may receive the following error message:
An error occurred during the installation of the device. The inf or the device information set or element does not match the specified install class.
This behavior has been noted during installation of the following network interface cards:
- 3Com 3CCFE575BT
- 3Com USB 3C19250
- 3Com 3CSOHO100-TX
- 3Com 3CXFEM656C
- 3Com 3C905C 10/100
- D-Link DFE530 TX Plus
- Intel 82557 Onboard
- Intel Dual Port (PCI)
- LinkSys LNE100TX v2
- LinkSys LNE
- LinkSys PCMCIA
- NetGear FA311TX
RESOLUTIONWARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve
problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own
risk.
To resolve this behavior, follow the appropriate set of steps.
On a Portable Computer- Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
- Locate the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Mf\PCMCIA - Delete all of the folders that are in the PCMCIA folder. If an error message states that you do not have permission to delete, for each folder that you need to delete, click the folder, and then, on the Security menu, click Permissions. Give Everyone full control.
- Locate the following key in the registry, and then delete all folders that are under the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCMCIA - Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
- Right-click My Computer, click Manage, and then click Device Manager.
- Expand the Network Adapters folder, right-click the network adapter that is causing the error, and then click Properties.
- Click the Driver tab, click Update Driver, and then reinstall the driver for the network adapter.
On a Desktop Computer- Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
- Locate the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI - Under the PCI folder, there are several keys that begin with VEN. For each VEN key, click the key, click its subkey, and then observe the device description on the right side of the Registry Editor. Delete each subkey whose device description pertains to a network interface card. Do not delete the VEN key itself. Here is an example of a device description that pertains to a network adapter:
DeviceDesc:REG_SZ:3Com EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI TX NIC (3C905B-TX)
Note that you may need to give the Everyone group Full Control permissions on these VENxx registry keys to delete them using Registry Editor. To do this, click Security, click Permissions, click Advanced, click to select the Reset permissions on all child objects check box, and then click OK. Give the Everyone group Full Control permission on this registry key, and then click OK.
- Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
- Right-click My Computer, click Manage, and then click Device Manager.
- Expand the Network Adapters folder, right-click the network adapter that is causing the error, and then click Properties.
- Click the Driver tab, click Update Driver, and then reinstall the driver for the network adapter.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 11/5/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbprb KB306983 |
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