How to disable...

[KnightLightnin]

Greetings all!

I need to disable Windows XP sp2 from automatically installing the drivers for a usb dongle.

Once the dongle has been inserted, windows will automatically load the drivers.

Is there anyway to disable this feature?

Much thanks!

-Knight

[macko72]

Benefits and Purposes of Plug and Play


Windows Plug and Play provides ease of support for installing devices on computers in your network. You can simply plug in a Plug and Play device and the operating system does the rest by installing any necessary drivers, updating the system, and allocating resources. After you install a Plug and Play device, the driver is configured and loaded dynamically, typically without requiring user input.

Plug and Play in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family provides the following services:

• Detects a Plug and Play device and determines its hardware resource requirements and device identification number (Plug and Play ID).

• Locates an appropriate device driver for newly installed devices.

• Allocates hardware resources.

• Dynamically loads, initializes, and unloads drivers.

• Notifies other drivers and applications when a new device is available.

• In conjunction with power management, handles stop and start processes for devices during hibernation, standby, and startup and shutdown operations.

• Supports a wide range of device types.

Ability to disable: Plug and Play cannot be disabled as system instability would result.

[KnightLightnin]

Thanks for the reply Macko!

The fact is I don't want windows to use the .inf drivers that are stored in the cab folders. This is a prototype dongle which is under test at the moment.

So I must rephrase my question...

IS there a way to disable windows from automatically installing the drivers for a usb device? Unfortunately the solution cannot consist of uninstalling the drivers after windows auto-completes the installation process OR updating the drivers.

I don't mind manually deleting the .inf files, that would only be a temporary fix though.

Sorry for any confusion with my original question.

Here is some info on how to disable PnP

To completely disable the potentially dangerous UPnP service from Windows XP, there are two services present that should be disabled. You can access the Services panel through Administrative Tools (Control Panel>>Performance and Maintenance). The two services you need to disable are:

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

AND

SSDP Discovery Service

Most users don't realize it, but the SSDP service is the actual server that's open to the internet (unless you're firewalled), and the service that turns on the UPnP Device Host. Disable the UPnP Device Host first by double-clicking on the service and selecting "Disabled" in the drop-down menu, instead of the default "Manual." Next, go on to the SSDP Discovery Service, double-click and select to stop the service, then disable it in the same manner.

I don't want to completely disable PnP. A backdoor to load the found new hardware wizard which would allow me to manually point to the driver instead of allowing windows to auto-install would be great.

Thanks again,
-Knight

[macko72]

I think you can disable both services thru Administrative tools => Services in Control Panel !!!
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1131/
http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm

[KnightLightnin]

Wooohooo!! Thanks Macko, I knew it was there, I just couldn't remember.

-Knight