That was just an example which obviously will not work for every inf file. In my first reply, i mentioned 'Command-line toolS', meaning, there are different tools to deal with different situations. In other words, there is no universal cmd tool to successfully install any driver. Try: pnputil /add-driver X:\inf-file-name.inf or legacy command : pnputil -i -a X:\inf-file-name.inf
Just confirming: Did you check the driver is compatible with the version of Windows you are using e.g. Windows 7 64-bit or 32-bit? Example: For Windows 10 x64:
Running the first command gives me this Code: C:\temp>pnputil /add-driver netrtwlane.inf Microsoft PnP Utility Usage: ------ pnputil.exe [-f | -i] [ -? | -a | -d | -e ] <INF name> Examples: pnputil.exe -a a:\usbcam\USBCAM.INF -> Add package specified by USBCAM.INF pnputil.exe -a c:\drivers\*.inf -> Add all packages in c:\drivers\ pnputil.exe -i -a a:\usbcam\USBCAM.INF -> Add and install driver package pnputil.exe -e -> Enumerate all 3rd party packages pnputil.exe -d oem0.inf -> Delete package oem0.inf pnputil.exe -f -d oem0.inf -> Force delete package oem0.inf pnputil.exe -? -> This usage screen Running the second command gives me this : Code: C:\temp>pnputil -i -a netrtwlane.inf Microsoft PnP Utility Processing inf : netrtwlane.inf Failed to install the driver on any of the devices on the system : No more data is available. Total attempted: 1 Number successfully imported: 0
I assure you it's fully compatible, I just successfully installed it through device manager. Though before trying the command line I didn't uninstalled it, shouldn't it overwrite and install it again over the one installed ?
I tried this command pnputil -a netrtwlane.inf Code: C:\temp>pnputil -a netrtwlane.inf Microsoft PnP Utility Processing inf : netrtwlane.inf Driver package added successfully. Published name : oem19.inf Total attempted: 1 Number successfully imported: 1 Now my question is what is the difference between importing and installing as defined in the pnputil ? This command seems to successfully imported the driver, is it also installed ? if it's so what -i switch is for ?
Ah! So to get the job done I'm gonna have to employ both -i and -a switches. Thank you for the explanation and the help HHo.
I have found two programs, Driver Talent and DriverFix which in most cases provides the .exe's better to stick with these than those who just provides extracted files. These two programs are worth the money they are asking for. Driver Talent has some major bugs, I've contacted their support and yet to hear from them.