JSI Tip 8207. When you attempt to install a PCI device, or PCI device driver, on Windows XP, you receive an error?

When you attempt to install a new PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) device, or PCI device driver, you receive one of the following:

Cannot install this hardware. There was a problem installing this hardware.

An error occurred during the installation of the device. The data is invalid.

This problem can occur if the default permissions on the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetENUMPCI key have been changed, or if the installer for your driver requires additional permissions.

NOTE: The default permissions on the PCI sub-key are:

Everyone: Read
System: Full Control

To resolve this issue:

01. Log on with administrative credentials.

02. Use Regedit.exe to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetENUMPCI.

03. Right-click the sub-key for the device you are installing and press Permissions. If you don't know, right-click the PCI sub-key and press Permissions.

04. Press Advanced.

05. Verify that at least the default permissions are set.

06. Check the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects box.

07. Press Apply.

08. Press Yes to confirm.

09. Press OK and OK.

10. Exit the Registry Editor.

If this does NOT resolve the issue, repeat the above procedure, but grant Full Control to the Everyone group.

If you wish to do some advanced troubleshooting, temporarily turn on verbose logging for the Setupapi.log file:

1. Use Regedit.exe to naviage to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSetup.

2. Right-click the Setup sub-key and press New and Dword Value.

3. Set the Value Name to LogLevel and press Enter.

4. Right-click the LogLevel Value Name and press Modify.

5. Set the data value to hexadecimal 0xFFFF and press OK.

6. Rename the existing Setupapi.log file to Setupapi.old.

NOTE: When you are done troubleshooting, delete the LogLevel Value Name.