I have a dilemma.

I purchased a US Robotics PCI 56k modem for my computer. I opened the computer and installed the modem. Upon rebooting, the "Add New Hardware Wizard" appeared and asked me to specify the location of the drivers. I selected the CD-ROM in the D: drive. The installation was successful. Modem worked fine.

The problem is, I reformatted my computer and re-installed Windows. The modem wasn't automatically detected during windows setup.... so I figured I'll just grab the CD-Rom with the drivers, then install them. Unfortunately the program that automatically runs when the CD-Rom is inserted doesn't have an option for installing the drivers. There's only some "accessories" software to install, which I don't need, and the user manual. But no option to "install" the modem drivers.

I clicked on my control panel and looked inside the "Add New Hardware" icon. Windows doesn't detect the modem, and I don't know about the "devices" or whatever.

So anyway, what I did was..... I reformated the hard drive again, removed the modem, then installed Windows again. After installing Windows, I turned the computer off and put the modem back in. I turned the computer back on, and Windows detected the "New Hardware" and I followed the directions, placed the US Robotics cd into the drive, then my modem worked again.

I'm just wondering.... for future reference, is there a way to get the drivers off the cd..... or evertime I want to re-install Windows I have to take the modem out beforehand?

Silly question I know.... I don't mind taking out the modem every time I want to re-install Windows. Just wondering if there's a less involved way.

Have you tried causing it to add hardware manually in Device Manager?

As you said the Drivers MUST be on the Root of the CD because initially you pointed to it.

Edited April 13, 201313 yr by submix8c

I have a dilemma.

I purchased a US Robotics PCI 56k modem for my computer. I opened the computer and installed the modem. Upon rebooting, the "Add New Hardware Wizard" appeared and asked me to specify the location of the drivers. I selected the CD-ROM in the D: drive. The installation was successful. Modem worked fine.

The problem is, I reformatted my computer and re-installed Windows. The modem wasn't automatically detected during windows setup.... so I figured I'll just grab the CD-Rom with the drivers, then install them. Unfortunately the program that automatically runs when the CD-Rom is inserted doesn't have an option for installing the drivers. There's only some "accessories" software to install, which I don't need, and the user manual. But no option to "install" the modem drivers.

I clicked on my control panel and looked inside the "Add New Hardware" icon. Windows doesn't detect the modem, and I don't know about the "devices" or whatever.

So anyway, what I did was..... I reformated the hard drive again, removed the modem, then installed Windows again. After installing Windows, I turned the computer off and put the modem back in. I turned the computer back on, and Windows detected the "New Hardware" and I followed the directions, placed the US Robotics cd into the drive, then my modem worked again.

I'm just wondering.... for future reference, is there a way to get the drivers off the cd..... or evertime I want to re-install Windows I have to take the modem out beforehand?

Silly question I know.... I don't mind taking out the modem every time I want to re-install Windows. Just wondering if there's a less involved way.

When any devices lacking drivers are detected during 9x installation, they are added to the Device Manager as "Unknown devices." You will not be prompted to install any drivers for them.

To force redetection and get a prompt for drivers, you will need to manually remove any "Unknown devices" from the Device Manager and reboot. You don't have to physically remove it each time for this.

Also you could verify which .INF file is being called when the drivers are detected on the CD, and then copy it along with any other files listed inside of it to the HDD or a Floppy or whatever you prefer. But, you will still need to take the steps I gave above.

Edited April 14, 201313 yr by LoneCrusader

Thanks you guys... I will try it when I re-install Windows ME again... which will be soon. :-)