cannot remove unknown ramdisk

[bakereliz]

We were given a Dell Inspiron 6000 running XP Home to clean up and pass along to someone who needs it. On boot, an error message pops up that says Window cannot load the installer for the ramdisk. The ramdisk is listed in Device Manager as unknown and will not let us uninstall it. We deleted all files with "ramdisk" or "ram disk" in the name (including hidden and system) and then ran CCleaner to clean up the registry. There must be some step we are missing because we're still getting the error message. Below is what I've been able to find out running a search on ramdisk for files names and content. We would appreciate any and all help. Thanks.

--elizabeth

There is an oem32.inf file to install the ramdisk driver.

The following entries:

ramdisk.inf = 100,,1894,,,,,20,0,0

ramdisk.sys=100,,20736,,,,5_,4,1,,,1,4

are in:

C:\i386\layout.inf

C:\Windows\inf\layout.inf

C:\windows\$ntservicepackuninstall$\layout.inf

C:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386

C:\windows\servicepackfiles\servicepackcache\i386\loyout.inf

C:\windows\softwaredistribution\download\9866fb57abdc0ea2f5d4e132d055ba4e\ic

C:\Windows\softwaredistribution\download\9866fb57abdc0ea2f5d4e132d055ba4e\update has the following listings:

ramdisk.inf [servicePackFilesAlways.files]

ramdisk.inf [CopyAlways.Inf.files]

ramdisk.inf [CopyAlways.Cache.files]

ramdisk.inf [servicePackFiles.Files]

ramdisk.sys [servicePackFiles.Files]

ramdisk.sys=1 [sourcedisksFiles]

randisk.inf=1 [sourcedisksFiles]

The following entries:

Loaded driver ramdisk.sys

Did not load driver Ramdisk driver

are in:

C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt

setupapi.log has the following entries:

#E360: unsigned or incorrectly signed file "C:\windows\system32\ramdisk.dll" for driver "RAM disk" will be installed. ..Error 2: system cannot find file specified.

#E144: loading module "C:\windows\system32\ramdisk.dll" failed. Error 126: specified module could not be found. Windows could not load installer for Ramdisk. Contact hardware vendor for assistance. Error 126: the specified module could not be found.

E358: unsigned or incorrectly sisgned file "C:\windows\system32\ramdisk.dll" for driver "RAM disk" blocked (server install). ....

I ran MSINFO32 and got the following:

Software Environment:

System Drivers: name, ramdisk driver; description, ramdisk driver; file, c:\windows\system32

\drivers\ramdisk.sys; type, kernel driver; started, yes; start mode, boot; started, yes.

Signed Drivers: device name, ramdisk driver; signed, no; device class, sample; driver version,

5.0.2183.1; driver date, 11/14/1999; manufacturer, Microsoft; INF name, 0EM32.inf;

driver name, not available; device ID, root\unknown\0000

Components:

Problem Devices: device, not available; PNP device ID, Root\unknown\0001;

error code, reinstall driver

[allen2]

The ramdisk installed is most likely Qsoft ramdisk, so you should have this reg entry HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\services\ramdisk. Backup the key using regedit export function, then remove it. Reboot, go to c:\windows\system32\drivers and there should a file ramdisk.sys, you should remove it.

Edited December 22, 2011 by allen2

[jaclaz]

The ramdisk installed is most likely Qsoft ramdisk,

Hmm.

5.0.2183.1; driver date, 11/14/1999; manufacturer, Microsoft; INF name, 0EM32.inf;

I presume that, no matter which ramdisk it is, you should rather than Device Manager, use a tool like this (both Services and Devices):

http://p-nand-q.com/download/pserv_cpl.html

http://p-nand-q.com/gtools/pserv3.html

disable the thingy, then delete it.

jaclaz

Edited December 22, 2011 by jaclaz

[RJARRRPCGP]

The file version indicates it's for Windows 2000.