XPS720 Device Installation Error (w/external modem install)

Question

New XPS720 system running Windows Vista Home Premium. I ordered the system without a modem, intending to try use the external USB modem from my WinXP system. I plugged the modem's USB cable into the new computer expecting the OS to at least detect the modem, but there was no response at all, so I attempted to install the modem manually through Control Panel -> Add Hardware, but I got this error message: 'CANNOT RUN TWO DEVICE INSTALLATIONS. You can install only one device at a time. Another device installation is underway, when it is finished you can try this wizard again.' I had previously installed printer, scanner and external storage drive, all without a hitch. All of these devices are enabled and functioning correctly. I am not attempting to install another device concurrently with the modem. I've rebooted the machine several times with and without the modem's cable attached, but the OS still thinks I'm trying to install two devices at once. How can I end the 'phantom' installation process so that the modem can be installed? Thanks for all responses.

Dave9 · Answer

Did you reboot the computer after the other hardware and  before doing the modem install?  Give that a try as it sure can't hurt.

Davet50 · Answer

maybe the modem is not capatable with vista. have you checked the mfr's site to see if there are drivers or such..

deadbee · Answer

@bigdog wrote: Did you reboot the computer after the other hardware and before doing the modem install? Give that a try as it sure can't hurt. Yes, I rebooted the system between every install.

deadbee · Answer

@Davet50 wrote: maybe the modem is not capatable with vista. have you checked the mfr's site to see if there are drivers or such.. Yes, and there are no driver updates. The modem's original system reqs stated compatible with WinXP and newer. In any case, I would expect the OS to at least detect the modem. I suspect the problem isn't the modem, but the OS. I've just plugged in my USB MP3 stick, got no response from the system, tried to do a manual install as before with the modem and got the same error message.

Dave9 · Answer

Is the modem being plugged into the back of the computer and not the front.  The front usb ports are more for low power usb things as in memory sticks and joysticks.  I have a fingerprint reader that will only work in one of the back usb ports.  It won't even run in a powered usb hub though both of my printers will.  You just never know with usb and now I'm finding bluetooth.

deadbee · Answer

@bigdog wrote: Is the modem being plugged into the back of the computer and not the front. The front usb ports are more for low power usb things as in memory sticks and joysticks. I have a fingerprint reader that will only work in one of the back usb ports. It won't even run in a powered usb hub though both of my printers will. You just never know with usb and now I'm finding bluetooth. Yes, I plugged the modem into a USB port in back. I plugged a flash drive into a front USB port yesterday when I installed the other peripherals and the system accepted it just fine. I plugged a MP3 stick into a front port today after trying to install the modem, but got no response from the machine with that, either. The MP3 stick shows up in Device Manager (with a yellow !), for what that's worth, but the modem doesn't register at all.

Davet50 · Answer

how about the other devices you mentioned in your first post are they still working?

deadbee · Answer

@Davet50 wrote: how about the other devices you mentioned in your first post are they still working? Yes, printer, scanner, external storage drive and flash drive are all working.

deadbee · Answer

Problem solved! For the record, I tried to do a system restore and chose a restore point right before the other peripherals were installed. After some time, I got an error message saying that creating a shadow something or other had timed out, no settings were changed and that I could try again with another restore point. I closed System Restore, rebooted the computer then tried one more time to plug in the modem. This time, the modem was detected, the driver was installed and the modem was able to connect. MP3 stick is up and running, too. Running System Restore, even if unsuccessfully in Window's opinion, seems to have cleared out whatever gunk was blocking peripheral installs. Thanks for your help, bigdog and Davet50.

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XPS720 Device Installation Error (w/external modem install)

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