XP will not install new harware

I have XP Home and it has been operating OK for some time but now when i try
to add new hardware i get the following messages

It goes through the normal found new hardware window

Looking for software etc [which on my other pcs it does in the background
for something like say a memory stick]

THe final window says:

Cannot Install this Hardware
There was a problem installing this hardware
THE NAME OF DEVICE HERE
An error occured during the installation of the device
THe system cannot find the file specified

This has happend on USM modem, usb stck, Internal card [so not just usb]

It then asks you to finish and then re-cycles and starts again !!!!!

HELP

Nic

"Nic Carter-Jones" <Nic Carter-Jones@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:69DCD013-BC2F-4DF2-A343-C7901AD9140C@microsoft.com...
>I have XP Home and it has been operating OK for some time but now when i
>try
> to add new hardware i get the following messages
>
> It goes through the normal found new hardware window
>
> Looking for software etc [which on my other pcs it does in the background
> for something like say a memory stick]
>
> THe final window says:
>
> Cannot Install this Hardware
> There was a problem installing this hardware
> THE NAME OF DEVICE HERE
> An error occured during the installation of the device
> THe system cannot find the file specified
>
> This has happend on USM modem, usb stck, Internal card [so not just usb]
>
> It then asks you to finish and then re-cycles and starts again !!!!!
>
> HELP
>
> Nic

Did you install the software drivers before connecting your hardware?