problem installing nvidia driver for xp

GeForce 4 MX series
ForceWare Release 90
Version: 93.71 WHQL

i want to upgrade but this new version wont continue installation. this is the error message:

The NVIDIA Setup program has detected that one or more Microsoft hardware installation wizards are active....

i dont have any installation wizards running. what could they be? i disabled all running programs (including anti virus and security software), rebooted with all startup items disabled, and even ran it in safe mode with and without networking but still no luck. whats wrong? could it be one of the services runnng in the background disrupting install? if so which one?

here is some system info via dxdiag:
-
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)
System Manufacturer: Compaq
System Model: Compaq PC
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1800, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.5GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 421MB used, 2041MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode
DxDiag Previously: Crashed in DirectSound (stage 1) & DirectMusic (stage 2)
-
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce2 MX/MX 400
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0110&SUBSYS_88261462&REV_B2
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 800 x 600 (32 bit) (72Hz)
Monitor: COMPAQ FP745A Analog Flat Panel Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4523 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/28/2003 14:19:00, 3902603 bytes

USB Devices
-
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1106, 0x3038
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 4/13/2008 11:45:37, 59520 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 8/18/2001 05:00:00, 4736 bytes
|
+-+ Generic USB Hub
| | Vendor/Product ID: 0x0451, 0x2036
| | Location: General Purpose USB Hub
| | Matching Device ID: usb\class_09
| | Service: usbhub
| | Driver: usbhub.sys, 4/13/2008 11:45:37, 59520 bytes

Drive: C:
Free Space: 68.2 GB
Total Space: 91.4 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD1000BB-60CCB0

System Devices
--------------
PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
AMD-761 Processor to AGP Controller

I googled:
Microsoft hardware installation wizards are active

Seem to be a common problem. One solution:

Quote:

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Okay, I've found the problem. It's really very simple. The Nvidia installation program gives you the error when Windows' hardware management is busy. Check your device manager to see if it was "hiccuping" like mine (appears to refresh over and over). This *can* be caused by any faulty or damaged hardware, but it is *most likely* (and was in my case) caused by one of the USB devices. Unplug your USB devices one by one and watch the device manager for a few seconds to see if it stops hiccuping. (For me it was an auxiliary USB data cable for my new monitor.) When you plug it back in, if there is nothing wrong with the hardware, Windows should recognize and install the USB device. (Lesson learned: don't power off the monitor while the computer is on.) You should also see your processor activity go back down and your Battlefield game should run like it's supposed to (great game!)What I still don't understand is why the problem doesn't get recognized/fixed upon reboot! I guess that's USB for you.

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i am a typical computer nerd so please bear with me. what the heck is a usb driver? :confused: lol

i dont even know what it looks like. but i do see a connection that says usb in the back of a skinny white box with a flashing orange activity light and the words cable modem printed on it. however there is nothing attached to it, nothing to unplug.

what do i look for in the device manager? universal serial bus controllers? do i uninstall them?

pls give me step-by-step instructions so i dont wreck my pc. :eek:

thanks :)

Not driver, but drive. Anything that plugs into your computer via a USB port needs to be unplugged from the port it's plugged into, from the outside of your computer.

the device manager doesnt show any signs of refreshing,damage or any suspicious activity or strange behavior. there arent any driver wizards active either. if there are i cant figure out what which ones? :confused:

i need more help :(

Fire up Regedit, then in

HK_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

Create new String Key "DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES", then give the key a value of 1. Reboot the PC.

After that, go into Device Manager and in the View menu, select "Show hidden devices", and you will be able to see all old and rogue entries. Uninstall any that you find for the USB system and then reboot the PC again.

just said other devices/unknown device. there was nothing to uninstall, no usb or otherwise.

Try this:

Quote:

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I googled:
Microsoft hardware installation wizards are active

---

:confused: what am i looking for?

do u have any direct links?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&f...earch&aq=f&oq=

Go through the links one by one and sooner or later you should find what works.
Please post what does work for you.

im about ready to give up. i just cant find a solution. nothing is working! :eek:

now what? :confused:

Is the pc working fairly well?

GeForce 4 MX series is a very old card. Updating the drivers might not help or do anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dpkkk

just said other devices/unknown device. there was nothing to uninstall, no usb or otherwise.

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Is it just me, or is it fairly difficult following this thread? Maybe it's lack of sleep? :D

From your quote, it seems that there is an unknown device in Device Manager, correct? Does it have a yellow exclamation or question mark next to it? Can you right click it and press uninstall? After that, can you try to install the video driver again?

my pc is running just fine. i keep going back to thedevice manager and showed hidden devices but there isnt a yellow ? next to anything.

the unknown device that was there the first time i added the regedit string (which is still there) was uninstalled so that is gone too. still keep getting the error message, still cant install the upgrade.

would it help to contact nvidia? does anyone know their support email?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

GeForce 4 MX series is a very old card. Updating the drivers might not help or do anything.

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Why are you wanting to update the drivers?

some really nice screensavers cant run on the old driver. i wanted to to see if they would work with an upgrade. mine doesnt support some of the requirements needed like something called a shader for instance (whatever that is). it would say "shaders are not supported" or my pc would have errors or crash when i try to run one.

any other ideas?

Shader support is a hardware thing, not software. So if your card doesn't support shader, it still won't support it after updating the driver.