Trouble Installing My Web Cam

[Krystal]

I'm having trouble installing my Creative Web Cam. I'm
not sure where the problem actually begins, but when I
plug it into the computer, The window that pops up
automatically (I think it has to do with Plug and Play) is
titled "Update hardware information database" and then it
shows the bar that says what percentage of the procedure
is actually done, but it freezes on 0%, before it even
does anything. Then, if I try to install the cam before
plugging it in, with the software disk it came with,
things start freezing as well. Not sure really what to
make of this. If anyone can help, please do =) Thanks a
lot!

[Krystal]

>-----Original Message-----
>I'm having trouble installing my Creative Web Cam. I'm
>not sure where the problem actually begins, but when I
>plug it into the computer, The window that pops up
>automatically (I think it has to do with Plug and Play)
is
>titled "Update hardware information database" and then it
>shows the bar that says what percentage of the procedure
>is actually done, but it freezes on 0%, before it even
>does anything. Then, if I try to install the cam before
>plugging it in, with the software disk it came with,
>things start freezing as well. Not sure really what to
>make of this. If anyone can help, please do =) Thanks a
>lot!
>.By the way, it is a Compaq Presario , Windows ME
>

[Richard G. Harper]

Do you run Norton System Doctor in the background, or have you had it
running while installing hardware, software or Windows Update packages? If
so you have almost surely been bitten by the NSD bug, which has left
hundreds or thousands of zero-byte OEM*.INF files on your system.

(NOTE - it is worth checking to see if you have thousands of these files
even if you don't have Norton Utilities since some other programs can
sometimes cause a similar problem.)

The immediate cure is as follows:

1. Quit running NSD in the background, or at least stop it before
installing any hardware, software or drivers.

2. Open your C:\Windows folder and click Tools, Folder Options. On the
View tab, make sure you have selected the options to show hidden files and
folders, then make sure there is no checkmark in the box to hide protected
operating system files.

3. Now, you should be able to see a folder named Inf in the Windows folder.
Open it, then click View, then Details.

4. Click the file size column header to sort files by size. If you see the
largest files on the top of the list, click the file size column header
again so that the smallest files are on the top of the list.

5. Now look to see if you have a series of files with names like
OEM00001.INF, OEM00002.INF and so on. If you do, see if they are all listed
as being zero bytes in size. If they are not, DO NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER.

6. Carefully highlight only the zero-byte files (remember that you can
highlight the first item in the file list, use the scrollbar to move down
the list, then hold down the Shift key and click the last file you want to
select in the list - if done correctly this should highlight all the files
between the first and last) and then hold down the Shift key and press the
Del key on your keyboard. If you are asked if you want to send the files to
the Recycle Bin, say NO and try again using the other Del key on your
keyboard. If you are asked if you are sure you want to delete these files,
say YES.

7. Reboot when this process is finished and try your installation again.

Once you're past this hurdle, contact Microsoft for the following fix to
prevent it from happening again:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301540


--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Krystal" > wrote in message
...
> I'm having trouble installing my Creative Web Cam. I'm
> not sure where the problem actually begins, but when I
> plug it into the computer, The window that pops up
> automatically (I think it has to do with Plug and Play) is
> titled "Update hardware information database" and then it
> shows the bar that says what percentage of the procedure
> is actually done, but it freezes on 0%, before it even
> does anything. Then, if I try to install the cam before
> plugging it in, with the software disk it came with,
> things start freezing as well. Not sure really what to
> make of this. If anyone can help, please do =) Thanks a
> lot!