Solved Can't get Windows 7 x64 to use the drivers I've installed repeatedly

[AngryWindowsUse]

Hello fellow forumites,

I recently purchased a device which allows me to record my guitar playing into my computer without the need of an audio interface. I simply connect the floor pedal to my laptop via USB cable and the device actually works as an external soundcard as well. To make this happen, I have to use the drivers provided to me by the manufacturer of the device, which is a Line 6 POD HD500x.

Now, my laptop does realize something is plugged to it, and calls it "HD500", and lists it as an "unknown device" in the device manager. What it doesn't do is use the drivers I have installed for it. So I wonder how to make windows 7 find and use the drivers I install, because otherwise I can never use the POD with my laptop. I believe the installer is not installing the drivers to the right location, so Windows can't access the drivers.

 

[maxie]

Hi Welcome to Seven Forums ... Did you Install the Software first ? ....

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

I did. I refuse to believe it's the device's fault, as it works perfectly. I don't know what's wrong. Perhaps something with the registry?

 

[maxie]

It should have worked .. I have read the Insulation guide seems straight forward .. I suppose you have run the Update too ? That is the only thing i can think of ..

 

[maxie]

Here is another bit of Information it needs to be plugged in to the same Port as you Installed it on ..

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

I think I may have figured out a part of the problem. It seems like the installer fails to add the drivers to the registry. Is there any way to add them manually?

 

[ComputerGeek]

Device driver installation in Win 7 and higher (maybe Vista too, don't remember) is a 2-step process.

Step1
If a "Driver Package" is valid (e.g. it is suitable for machine architecture and it is digitally signed), Windows loads the driver package into the "Driver Store". A "Driver Package" is the set of files required for device installation.

Step 2
When a device is detected, Windows only installs drivers found in the Driver Store

Open a command prompt window. Type pnputil -e Windows lists all driver packages added to the Driver Store since Windows 7 was installed.

Look at Driver Package Provider names. Do you see an entry that might be for your device? . Let's see if Step 1 or 2 is failing.

/* EDIT */
The output may be larger then prompt window buffer size. Redirect output to a file. File will be in the folder you see at command prompt

pnputil -e   > drivers.txt

/* EDIT 2 */
While you're at it, right click the device->Properties->Detail tab. Use pull down menu to display the hardware IDs. Copy/paste them into next post

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

Interestingly enough, the name of the company (and thus the driver package) appears several times in the output. My Windows is in German, so I'll translate some of the words.

Veröffentlichter Name=Published name.
Treiberpaketanbieter=provider of the driver package
Klasse=Klass
Name des Signaturgebers=Name of the signature provider.
Here's the output:
-----------------------------------

Veröffentlichter Name: oem2.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller
Treiberversion und -datum: 07/11/2013 4.2.7.1
Name des Signaturgebers:

Veröffentlichter Name: oem10.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller
Treiberversion und -datum: 06/26/2013 4.2.6.9
Name des Signaturgebers:


Veröffentlichter Name: oem50.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller
Treiberversion und -datum: 07/11/2013 4.2.7.1
Name des Signaturgebers:


Veröffentlichter Name: oem51.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Unbekannte Treiberklasse
Treiberversion und -datum: 07/11/2013 4.2.7.1
Name des Signaturgebers:


Veröffentlichter Name: oem52.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller
Treiberversion und -datum: 07/11/2013 4.2.7.1
Name des Signaturgebers:

Veröffentlichter Name: oem56.inf
Treiberpaketanbieter: Line 6
Klasse: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller
Treiberversion und -datum: 07/11/2013 4.2.7.1
Name des Signaturgebers:

So it looks like the drivers lack a signature.

These are the hardware ID's:

USB\VID_0E41&PID_414D&REV_0000
USB\VID_0E41&PID_414D

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

Well, I finally forced Windows to assign drivers to the device...the problem isn't fully solved, but I will mark this thread as such. Thank you all for your help

 

[ComputerGeek]

Let us know what you did to force the install. It;s good info to know for the future

p.s. and Good Work!

/* EDIT */
p.s. Based on my understanding (from all i've read) Windows doesn't allow unsigned drivers on 64-bit machines. Per your System Specs, you're running 64 bit, yes?

I'm also surprised that the vendor would provide an unsigned Win 7 driver. Or that Windows would load an unsigned driver into Driver Store on a 64 bit machine.

So i'm very curious to learn more about what you did!?

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

Apparently, Line6 drivers are always provided without a signature (big mistake). So I basically had to install the driver package first, plug the device in question in (POD HD500x) and then select the driver from a list of installed drivers. Windows 7 (64 bit, home premium edition) asks me if I truly want to install a driver that isn't signed, I click on "yes" and the drivers are assigned to the device, which is now properly listed in the device manager. Now I can record directly into my audio programs (DAWs) through the USB connection between the laptopt and the POD, something that is really important to me, as it is more practical than running the audio output of the POD into an USB audio interface which is then plugged to the computer (too many cables).

The only problem now is getting two of the company's programs to recognize the device and let me modify the guitar tones included in it.

It's the last time I am buying any products by that company anyways. It's not the first time I have so many technical difficulties with their products.

 

[maxie]

Hi there .. Strange it did not work the first time .. Any how the main thing is you got it sorted

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

Indeed strange.

I wonder if there is anyway for me to force a software to recognize a piece of hardware?

 

[maxie]

All depends what is the Hardware and Software ?..

 

[AngryWindowsUse]

Nevermind, I will wait for the company I got my device from will reply. Thanks for your help

 

[maxie]

Very welcome