This appears at startup and I just can't get rid of it. If I go into my device manager my fingerprint reader is the one with the "?" so I am assuming that is my problem. I have tried to disable it and uninstall it but it just pops back up.

Any help with this?

COmputer is an HP EliteBook 8730W running windows XP Pro SP3.

I do not use the reader so I am not sure why this problem showed up now.

Thanks

Dani AI

Generated

This is a classic XP Plug-and-Play/ACPI symptom: Windows keeps launching the "Found New Hardware" wizard because it is seeing an integrated device that isn’t properly matched to the OEM driver. As suggested, installing the correct vendor chipset/ACPI driver so the OS can correctly enumerate onboard devices is the usual fix — which is exactly what resolved the problem for .

Practical checklist to follow if you hit the same problem:

  • Open Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Hardware) and enable View > Show hidden devices.
  • To expose non-present devices from a command prompt use:
    set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
    then run devmgmt.msc from that same prompt.
  • Find the Unknown/Problem device, right‑click > Properties > Details and note the Hardware IDs. Use those IDs on the vendor site (or the laptop model support page) to identify the correct driver.
  • Uninstall the unknown device, reboot, then install the OEM chipset/ACPI driver first, followed by any biometric/webcam drivers. Chipset drivers should be installed before device-specific drivers so Windows enumerates hardware correctly.

Extra tips and cautions:

  • If the wizard keeps returning even though Device Manager looks clean, check Event Viewer for Plug and Play or driver install errors to see what component is failing.
  • You can disable unused built-in devices (fingerprint, camera) in BIOS as a last resort.
  • Only use drivers from the machine manufacturer or chipset vendor; make a restore point before changing drivers or flashing BIOS.

Summary: the persistent wizard is usually a driver-enumeration issue. Installing the correct OEM chipset/ACPI driver (as recommended) is the safest, most reliable fix and is what fixed ’s EliteBook.

Recommended Answers

All 20 Replies

Have you checked the HP website for a driver for your fingerprint scanner?

Yep. I installed it last night and I still can't get rid of the wizard. Now when I go into the Device Manager there is nothing without a "?" so I am not sure what is triggering it.

This is annoying.

I posted too fast. I found a new item with a "!". Under "System Devices" I have an "Unknown Device" that has a "!". What the heck is this now?

Has it been reinstalled or recovered recently? Can you think of anything else that may coincide with this problem?

You need to try to identify what the device is. If you go into device manager and right click on it and go into properties and then details then post what you see in both Device Instance Id and hardware Ids and we may be able to figure out what it is.

The only thing I have done recently was to update my driver for my graphics card. Before you posted this, I clicked uninstall on the unknown item and now it is gone and I am not getting the same wizard popping up. I am goign to restart my computer right now and see what happens.

I appreciate you looking into this. GIve me 10 minutes for the restart.

Scott

OK, so I restarted and the wizard is back but there is nothing with a "?" or "!" in the Device Manager. I enter through the wizard and it is looking for the software for "Unknown Device". The odd part is when I go into the Manager, nothing looks like it is missing something so I am not sure why it is looking for software for this.

Unknown Device
Device Instance Id - ACPI\IFX0102\4&EF53BAE&0
Hardware Ids - ACPI\IFX0102
- *IFX0102

ACPI is usually advance power configuration.

I can't be %100 sure but I think this is the driver for it -

I will run through that driver. It just seems weird to me that there is nothing showing up wrong in the Device Manager.

It is a part of the chipset on your motherboard, that's why nothing is showing up in your device manager as wrong. There will be a microsoft own driver doing what the driver does only not so well!

Thanks Rik.

I am currently running a backup on this terminal so I cannot restart again until it is complete.

Ok, let me know how you get on when you can!

Not Good. I just restarted and I still get the wizard. There is nothing in the Device Manager that looks wrong. When I go through the wizard to get it to go away it is still looking for software for "Unknown Device". In the Manager, everything looks OK with "Unknown Device"

Any other ideas?

Just a thought, do you have a built in webcam? If so, is it working?

I do have a web cam built into the computer and I have never used it. I just clicked on it to open it up and it appears to be fine, I saw myself which can be scary sometimes.

After doing some research, I think this may be the driver you need -

I will give it a try. I will restart in an hour or so.

Thanks for you assistance.

I just hope that that sorts it!

Rik, you got it. The wizard is gone as well as the "Unknown Device" that was in the Device Manager.

Not sure what happend to cause an error with the driver but it is fixed now.

Thanks Again.

Good news indeed! :)

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