Device Driver Woes

If you are deploying an IM driver or some other device driver via the dpinst.exe, here are some problems and solution :

1. dpinst says updated, but nothing happens, the old drivers are still used.
Set the DriverVer to some bumped up values and date.

2. dpinst fails to update one of the driver.
Look at \windows\dpinst.log. The error codes are listed there, if the error is service name then you will need to remove that name from the registry under system/services. A reboot is required else you will get an error like 0x6xx.

3. try doing the dpinst /U xxxx.inf , on the previos version to force remove the old version
before you install the new one

4. Do a SnetCfg -l command on the service name (eg ms_passhtru) to replace the drivers.

Reading the entire section on *.INF format in MS doc is a necessity if you intend to do serious driver programming.