Driver will not install on 32 bit XP running on 64 bit machine

I have a desktop running 32 bit XP and 64 bit 7. (Multiboot not xp mode). I try to install a 32 bit driver for an old Microtek Scanmaker E3+ on the 32 bit XP installation.
There are no peculiarities during the install. It says it's finished and reboots. Fine.

However, its folder does not appear in program files or the start menu. It seems to have gone up in smoke. It is nowhere.

However, if I try the installation again, it says the previous version must be uninstalled. I do it, then the whole process repeats itself.

Note, I'm not trying to install a 32 bit driver into 64 bit Win7. Setup is failing on 32 bit XP. Anyone experienced anything like this? Could the 64 bit hardware be interfering with this particular driver? Any other ideas?

Thanks

Mellon Head said:

It could be installing to one of XP's hidden user folders or the Windows folder. It's been a while, so I have no idea which one. Normally a driver will not appear in the Start menu unless it has application software to go with it.

Thanks.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. Yes, there is an application along with it. The driver is for the scanner, obviously. and the application is to set up and adjust the image that will result. So it shows up in Program Files and on the Start Menu. Driver and app come in the same install package.

AddRAM said:

Does the harware work ?

Is it fine in device manager ?

Thanks for the reply. No. And no. It doesn't work and it doesn't show up in device manager.

In Device manager select View>Show Hidden Devices to see if the scanner shows up. If not driver, try to Update driver automatically.

Just to see, I'd boot into Win7 to see if it detects the scanner, possibly provides a driver once you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and check Windows Updates. If not rightclick the driver installer to Check Compatibility to see what mode it wants and try installing as Administrator in that Compatibility Mode

The reason for this is that almost any device that will install in Win7 can be installed if necessary in XP Compatibility Mode in Windows 7, which tricks the installer into thinking its XP. You also can get newer, possibly more compatible drivers delivered via WIndows Updates which are not available for XP any longer.

gregrocker said:

In Device manager select View>Show Hidden Devices to see if the scanner shows up. If not driver, try to Update driver automatically.

Just to see, I'd boot into Win7 to see if it detects the scanner, possibly provides a driver once you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and check Windows Updates. If not rightclick the driver installer to Check Compatibility to see what mode it wants and try installing as Administrator in that Compatibility Mode

The reason for this is that almost any device that will install in Win7 can be installed if necessary in XP Compatibility Mode in Windows 7, which tricks the installer into thinking its XP. You also can get newer, possibly more compatible drivers delivered via WIndows Updates which are not available for XP any longer.

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Thanks for the reply. Win 7 will recognize it because it has a different 64 bit driver and scan management program installed. The original, from Microtek, wouldn't install on 7 in any mode. I, and many others, spent hours trying. I want to use the Microtek product on XP because it is more pleasant to use - and I made the assumption that it would work, 32 bits for 32bits, within XP. I still think that I must be missing something simple and obvious.

AddRAM said:

Have you got windows to install drivers automatically on both OS`s ?

Yes. But I don't understand what you're getting at.

32 bit programs will install on 64 bit placing themselve in the 32 bit program file. For scanners that won't function with their own software in Win7, check Devices and Printers in Start Menu because on right click context menu the Windows Fax and Scan utility will often substitute itself if it can support the scanner. This is rudimentary but decent scanning. A program that won't run in Win7 at all is likely so ancient (like XP) that we are grateful if it can be made to run at all.

As to the inability to install the software in XP, this can be because of remnants the old software has left in the registry. You can do a manual search in the registry for the software's name to delete any found keys, but it may not be enough because the name may be altered and elude search. You can extract the files in the software to gain clues for which to search in registry. Registry Editor - Find and Find Next

You can also check System Restore to revert to earliest REstore Point to see if it will then install or properly uninstall first.

As a long shot you can try the CCleaner registry tab to find and fix issues, but it is not aggressive though it does search for unused reg keys.

I would not be optimistic that an XP Repair Install would work because it could just as easily pass the bad keys back through, but you can try it if you feel experimental.

If you can't get the scanner to work at all in Win7 or reinstall it in XP, then If you have a spare hard drive you can unplug all other drives to install XP as a test to see if it will install then. The reason I suggest reinstalling XP only to another HD is because it will steal the boot on a mult-boot until Win7 is repaired, EasyBCD installed to add XP again. With a separate HD you can test this, if it works keep XP on the second HD booted via the one-time Boot Menu key, then we can help you Delete XP from the old Dual Boot .