The option to search Microsoft Windows Update is not available in the Update Device Driver Wizard (253791)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q253791
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 use the Update Device Driver Wizard to search for new drivers, the option to search Microsoft Windows Update is not available.

CAUSE

If you are on a Local Area Network (LAN), this option may have been disabled in the registry by your System Administrator. Contact your System Administrator before making changes to the registry. This may also occur if you have not run the Internet Connection Wizard.

RESOLUTION

Step 1: Turn on the Windows Update option in the registry

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.

For information about how to edit the registry, see the "Changing Keys and Values" help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" help topics in Regedit32.exe.

Back up the registry before you edit it. Contact your Network Administrator before you make any changes to the registry. For information about how to restore the registry, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

Restoring the Microsoft Windows Update Option

Change the value data of the NoDevMgrUpdate value to 0 in the following registry key, and then restart your computer: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Note If there is no NoDevMgrUpdate value in this key, this is not the cause. Go to step 2.

Step 2: Run the Internet Connection Wizard

Although you may have run the Internet Connection Wizard before, running it again may restore the Windows Update functionality in the Update Device Driver Wizard. For information about the Internet Connection Wizard, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

159686 Manual Setup for Internet Explorer 3.x and 4.x for Windows 95/98

MORE INFORMATION

The Update Device Driver Wizard helps you locate drivers by displaying a list in a specific location or by searching for new drivers in locations that you choose. These locations may include the hard disk, floppy disk drive, CD or DVD drive, or Windows Update. To access the Update Device Driver Wizard:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the System icon.
  2. Expand the type of hardware that you want to update, and then double-click the hardware device that you want to update.
  3. Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
Note Some devices do not have a Driver tab.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/29/2005
Keywords:kbprb kbwindowsupdate KB253791
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