Unable to remove hidden device in device manager

I tried to install a Netgear wpn111 wireless USB adapter. The installation
failed. I ran the Netgear uninstallation routine and tried to re-install the
wpn111. XP will not detect the device. I called Netgear - no help. I
noticed that the adapter still appears in the device manager as a hidden
device. When I try to remove it using the device manager, I get the error
message: "Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot
up the computer." I removed the USB device from the boot list in the BIOS
but the device manager still won't let me delete the Netgear device. I tried
to remove it from the registry and got an error when I tried to delete the
key. I tried this on two machines with the same results.
Is there a way to remove the device so I can try to reinstall it?

mario wrote:
> I tried to install a Netgear wpn111 wireless USB adapter. The installation
> failed. I ran the Netgear uninstallation routine and tried to re-install the
> wpn111. XP will not detect the device. I called Netgear - no help. I
> noticed that the adapter still appears in the device manager as a hidden
> device. When I try to remove it using the device manager, I get the error
> message: "Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot
> up the computer." I removed the USB device from the boot list in the BIOS
> but the device manager still won't let me delete the Netgear device. I tried
> to remove it from the registry and got an error when I tried to delete the
> key. I tried this on two machines with the same results.
> Is there a way to remove the device so I can try to reinstall it?

You can try uninstalling in Safe Mode, or you can try going into your
BIOS and making sure that any "boot from network" option is disabled.

Neither of these suggestions worked for me when I had a similar problem.

You can also try the following KB article, although my notes say that it
"may be not entirely accurate for XP". If you do try this, be sure to
back up your registry first. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/147797/EN-US/

The only way I was able to deal with this issue was to do a System
Restore to a point before the problem arose.

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

mario wrote:
> I tried to install a Netgear wpn111 wireless USB adapter. The installation
> failed. I ran the Netgear uninstallation routine and tried to re-install the
> wpn111. XP will not detect the device. I called Netgear - no help. I
> noticed that the adapter still appears in the device manager as a hidden
> device. When I try to remove it using the device manager, I get the error
> message: "Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot
> up the computer." I removed the USB device from the boot list in the BIOS
> but the device manager still won't let me delete the Netgear device. I tried
> to remove it from the registry and got an error when I tried to delete the
> key. I tried this on two machines with the same results.
> Is there a way to remove the device so I can try to reinstall it?

Sorry, I didn't fully read your post. I see you have already tried to
deal with the boot list as well as removing the device from the
registry. Try removing it from the registry while in Safe Mode, and see
if that works. Otherwise, System Restore (or restore from a disk image)
may be your best options.

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device manager.
I get the same errors.

Mario

"Lem" wrote:

> mario wrote:
> > I tried to install a Netgear wpn111 wireless USB adapter. The installation
> > failed. I ran the Netgear uninstallation routine and tried to re-install the
> > wpn111. XP will not detect the device. I called Netgear - no help. I
> > noticed that the adapter still appears in the device manager as a hidden
> > device. When I try to remove it using the device manager, I get the error
> > message: "Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot
> > up the computer." I removed the USB device from the boot list in the BIOS
> > but the device manager still won't let me delete the Netgear device. I tried
> > to remove it from the registry and got an error when I tried to delete the
> > key. I tried this on two machines with the same results.
> > Is there a way to remove the device so I can try to reinstall it?
>
> Sorry, I didn't fully read your post. I see you have already tried to
> deal with the boot list as well as removing the device from the
> registry. Try removing it from the registry while in Safe Mode, and see
> if that works. Otherwise, System Restore (or restore from a disk image)
> may be your best options.
>
> --
> Lem MS MVP -- Networking
>
> To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
>

"mario" wrote:
> I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device manager.
> I get the same errors.

Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily deleted
in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )

Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
not prevent XP from detecting it.
IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
can't help.
Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or win2k?

Regards,
--PA

According to Netgear it was an XP driver. The OS did not detect it when it
was plugged back in. This same thing happened on two different computers.
The only thing that Netgear could offer was that the adapter was defective.
I returned it for a replacement which I haven't received yet.

Mario

"Pavel A." wrote:

> "mario" wrote:
> > I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device manager.
> > I get the same errors.
>
> Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
> It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
> But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
> on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily deleted
> in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )
>
> Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
> not prevent XP from detecting it.
> IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
> can't help.
> Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
> Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or win2k?
>
> Regards,
> --PA

Another post suggested opening up the permissions on the keys I wanted to
delete with regdt32. That solved the problem. I was then able to delete the
Netgear keys.

Mario

"mario" wrote:

> According to Netgear it was an XP driver. The OS did not detect it when it
> was plugged back in. This same thing happened on two different computers.
> The only thing that Netgear could offer was that the adapter was defective.
> I returned it for a replacement which I haven't received yet.
>
> Mario
>
> "Pavel A." wrote:
>
> > "mario" wrote:
> > > I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device manager.
> > > I get the same errors.
> >
> > Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
> > It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
> > But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
> > on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily deleted
> > in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )
> >
> > Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
> > not prevent XP from detecting it.
> > IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
> > can't help.
> > Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
> > Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or win2k?
> >
> > Regards,
> > --PA

Hi
Another trick is to rename the Hidden Devices, then they are easly removed
from the Registry and the system.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"mario" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsC13C92E-CDD0-499A-9EB0-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Another post suggested opening up the permissions on the keys I wanted to
> delete with regdt32. That solved the problem. I was then able to delete
> the
> Netgear keys.
>
> Mario
>
> "mario" wrote:
>
>> According to Netgear it was an XP driver. The OS did not detect it when
>> it
>> was plugged back in. This same thing happened on two different
>> computers.
>> The only thing that Netgear could offer was that the adapter was
>> defective.
>> I returned it for a replacement which I haven't received yet.
>>
>> Mario
>>
>> "Pavel A." wrote:
>>
>> > "mario" wrote:
>> > > I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device
>> > > manager.
>> > > I get the same errors.
>> >
>> > Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
>> > It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
>> > But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
>> > on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily
>> > deleted
>> > in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )
>> >
>> > Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
>> > not prevent XP from detecting it.
>> > IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
>> > can't help.
>> > Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
>> > Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or
>> > win2k?
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > --PA

"mario" wrote:
Another post suggested opening up the permissions on the keys I wanted to
> delete with regdt32. That solved the problem. I was then able to delete the
> Netgear keys.

Yes, the install failure can happen because of defective hardware.
Of course you can change permission on the enum registry branch and
delete the keys, but these keys are not what causes the problem,
and they are specially protected by purpose. Be very sure you know
what you do there.

Regards,
--PA

> "mario" wrote:
> > According to Netgear it was an XP driver. The OS did not detect it when it
> > was plugged back in. This same thing happened on two different computers.
> > The only thing that Netgear could offer was that the adapter was defective.
> > I returned it for a replacement which I haven't received yet.
> >
> > Mario
> >
> > "Pavel A." wrote:
> >
> > > "mario" wrote:
> > > > I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device manager.
> > > > I get the same errors.
> > >
> > > Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
> > > It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
> > > But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
> > > on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily deleted
> > > in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )
> > >
> > > Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
> > > not prevent XP from detecting it.
> > > IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
> > > can't help.
> > > Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
> > > Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or win2k?
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > --PA

Thanks for the hint. I hope I never have to use it though.

Mario

"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> Another trick is to rename the Hidden Devices, then they are easly removed
> from the Registry and the system.
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "mario" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> newsC13C92E-CDD0-499A-9EB0-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Another post suggested opening up the permissions on the keys I wanted to
> > delete with regdt32. That solved the problem. I was then able to delete
> > the
> > Netgear keys.
> >
> > Mario
> >
> > "mario" wrote:
> >
> >> According to Netgear it was an XP driver. The OS did not detect it when
> >> it
> >> was plugged back in. This same thing happened on two different
> >> computers.
> >> The only thing that Netgear could offer was that the adapter was
> >> defective.
> >> I returned it for a replacement which I haven't received yet.
> >>
> >> Mario
> >>
> >> "Pavel A." wrote:
> >>
> >> > "mario" wrote:
> >> > > I tried to remove it in safe mode using both regedit and the device
> >> > > manager.
> >> > > I get the same errors.
> >> >
> >> > Yes, failed driver installation can leave an unremovable "phantom".
> >> > It isn't in any way related to bios settings, network boot and so on.
> >> > But it is strange that this happens to you on WinXP - this was usual
> >> > on win2k, but in XP they fixed this so that phantoms can be easily
> >> > deleted
> >> > in dev. manager (you can't do this with regedit... sorry )
> >> >
> >> > Anyway, if the device is plugged again, a phantom usually does
> >> > not prevent XP from detecting it.
> >> > IMHO your case is pretty unusual, no wonder that Netgear support
> >> > can't help.
> >> > Have you tried system restore as Lem advised?
> >> > Are you sure that this driver is really for XP and not for win98 or
> >> > win2k?
> >> >
> >> > Regards,
> >> > --PA
>
>
>