Windows XP home question

[pstokely]

how do you stop windows XP home from automatically detecting USB hardware? I'm having trouble installing a printer because of the add hardware wizard.

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. You should be able to cancel the auto-detect process...

if you can't, just wait, and when it says "Windows has detected a new hardware and is ready to begin installing software for this device", click "Have disk", make sure the CD with drivers is in your optical drive and point the installer to it.

[Greyhound]

2. or you could just use a real operating system

instead of the world's most prolific virus.:argh:

[Uroboros]

3. What exactly are you trying to do....

..and what problem are you having?

Are you installing this printer for the first time? Is WinXP detecting the printer?? A USB printer??

If it's the case that you are installing a USB printer. The normal procedure (least from USB printers I've had); is to install the drivers first and then hook up the printer when you are told to by the driver install program.

If the Windows XP "Found New Hardware" comes up; cancel it.

[SKKY]

4. When a computer starts up, you have to enter a sequence of keys...

...usually ALT + F10 (It may be different depending on the manufacturer of the computer/Bios version) that will let you enter into the Bios. From there, you can disable Plug and play.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Actually, it's usually just the Delete key at boot to enter the BIOS.

F10 brings up the Windows boot options screen.

[SKKY]

6. I thought F8 brought up the Advanced Boot Options (Safe Mode, etc)...

...now I'm going to have to go home and play with it. It's my wife's so I really don't use it much. Mine is Dell Laptop running Suse. I stay out of Bill's world as much as I can, and as much as work will allow.