"One of the Filter Drivers Installed for This Device Is Invalid" Error Message When You Restart the Computer (823774)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
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

When you restart your computer after you install a new hard disk, you may experience the following behaviors:
  • You receive the following error message:

    One of the filter drivers installed for this device is invalid.


    -and-

  • The Found New Hardware Wizard unexpectedly starts.
Additionally, you may find that a yellow exclamation mark appears next to the hard disk when you view the hard disk in Device Manager, or a drive letter that represents the hard disk does not appear in either Windows Explorer or in Disk Management.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if there are one or more filter driver entries in the Windows registry that prevent the hard disk from installing correctly.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

WARNING: 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.
  1. Delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters registry values (if they exist) in the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-0 8002BE10318}

    To do so:
    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
    3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-0 8002BE10318}

    4. In the right pane, right-click the UpperFilters registry value (if it exists), and then click Delete.
    5. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
    6. In the right pane, right-click the LowerFilters registry value (if it exists), and then click Delete.
    7. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
    8. Quit Registry Editor.
  2. Restart the computer.
  3. The Found New Hardware Wizard starts. Follow the instructions that appear on the pages of the Found New Hardware Wizard to install the hard disk on the computer.
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. Start Device Manager and verify that the hard disk is installed and is detected correctly by Windows. To do so:
    1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
    2. Expand System Tools, and then click Device Manager.
    3. In the right pane, expand Disk drives.

      Verify that the hard disk that you installed is listed under Disk drives.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to use Device Manager, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

283658 HOW TO: Manage Devices in Windows XP

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/30/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB823774 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.