notice: inf file does not exist, program must close

Fathom · 10 Mar 2014

I get this message on startup since loading SM player to play dodgy DVDs Windows Media Player can't ride over. It autoplays music files and video files but won't play DVDs. I had to re-install the DVD drive also as it had gone awol for a few months. It's a Matshita UJ-850S but now only shows as generic. drivers are elusive.

I'm not sure if the inf file relates to a driver for the DVD drive or the SMplayer and it's unstated in the notice.

Ideally I am hoping to have it running and able to nominate Windows Media Playeror SM player just with a right mouse click.

ICIT2LOL · 11 Mar 2014

Hello and welcome Fathom first mate what exactly do you mean by "dodgy" DVD's? if you are talking pirated stuff then it is frowned upon in the forum and may get you into some hot water.

If they have been burnt legally then I would suggest you get a decent brand of optical drive - they are real cheap and get rid of that brand I have never heard of.

The SMPlayer is something else I would not be using either and it may have come with some unwanted "guests" so again I would suggest getting rid of it. Again I would suggest you try this for what yo want to do VideoLAN - VLC: Official site - Free multimedia solutions for all OS!

Fathom · 11 Mar 2014

Thanks for your reply, Lets focus on the issues

The inf does not exist notice... how do I find out what it refers to? It's a system generated notice withno clear association?

I have used VLC before but UM player rode out the DVDs I bought during my 3 years living in Malaysia best.
When in Rome... Scratched or damaged or crap DVDs were always best played by UM player, but it is no longer updated and appears replaced by SM player. It's a very nice player. :)

The Matshita UJ-850S was a very popular DVD drive in many laptops of Acer, Toshiba etc..I have no reason to replace it because a bit of software is not loading. It used to appear below the HD as a Matshita UJ-850S and I think now it is just using windows drivers and not happy.

Any HELPFUL replies are most welcome

ICIT2LOL · 11 Mar 2014

Hum Fathom have had a look mate but it doesn't seem to have a specific driver and most mentions are for drivers in Vista.
It is up to you I suppose but personally for $30 max I would install Lite on or a Samsung optical.

Sorry but more than that I cannot think of anything to do.

Fathom · 11 Mar 2014

Yes my laptop also came loaded with Vista..a load of crap I paid for and was never reimbursed. . If I sold such crap I could not sleep at night.

So such Windows notices have no traceability? What a surprise. and PPl pay for this rubbish every day. FFS it's not rocket science.

TVeblen · 11 Mar 2014

An inf file is a driver file. It is normally not the only driver file, just one of them. The message tells you that a particular driver file that is required for the hardware or software is not installed, corrupted, or missing. Since that file is required by the hardware or software, not Windows, the OS is simply reporting the error so you don't sit there waiting for a device to work that is not going to. But the OS is not going to run a full diagnostic of 3rd party software for you.
Shame on Windows for not doing everyone else's work for them.