"The hardware was not installed because the wizard could not find the necessary software" error message when you connect a Microsoft Sidewinder USB game controller (830552)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SideWinder Joystick 1.0 (USB)
  • Microsoft SideWinder Plug and Play game pad USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2

SYMPTOMS

When you connect a Microsoft Sidewinder game controller to a Microsoft Windows XP-based or to a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
The hardware was not installed because the wizard could not find the necessary software.

CAUSE

This behavior can be caused by a corrupted setup information (.INF) file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps to re-extract associated INF files:
  1. Unplug the game controller.
  2. Look in the C:\Windows\INF folder for the following files and if any are missing, re-extract them.
    • DIMAPS.INF
    • INPUT.INF
    • MCHGR.INF
    • SDWNDR2K.INF
    • SWNT.INF
  3. Delete the C:\Windows\INF\INFCache.1 file.
  4. Plug in the game controller.

MORE INFORMATION

To extract a file in Windows XP by using the MSCONFIG utility, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. Click Expand File.
  4. In the File to restore box, type the name of the file that you want to restore.
  5. In the Restore from box, type the path of the Windows XP .cab file where you want to restore the file, or click Browse From to locate the Windows XP .cab file.

    Note The Windows XP .cab files are stored in the I386 folder on the Windows XP CD.
  6. In the Save file in box, type the path of where you want the new file extracted, or click Browse To to locate the folder that you want.
  7. Click Expand.
  8. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click OK.

    If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.
To extract a file in Windows 2000 by using the EXPAND utility, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. Type CMD, and then click OK.
  3. At the command prompt, type EXPAND Win2kCD:\i386\xxxxxx.xx_ C:\Windows\Inf\xxxxxxx.xxx where Win2kCD is the drive with the Windows 2000 CD, xxxxxx.xx_ is the name of the compressed file, and xxxxxxx.xxx is the name of the file.

    For example, to expand input.in_ into input.inf, you type the following command:

    EXPAND D:\i386\input.in_ c:\Windows\Inf\input.inf

  4. If you are prompted to replace the existing file, type Y, and then press ENTER.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary for any additional files.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB830552 kbAudEndUser
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