Cant get my E172 working on windows 7 - run out of things to try

[ps]

I'm currently having issues with my Huawei E172. I cannot get the driver to install correctly. Every time I try, I get the same message from windows "the driver did not install correctly".

I have uninstalled, reinstalled, got version 10 of the software, installed that, connected the dongle, same issue. I even uninstalled all the software, uninstalled the device (plus dirvers). I also then went into the system32/drivers section and renamed these files: ewdsc.sys ewusbdev.sys and ewusbmdm to have the appendix of .old.

I deleted the vodafone modem in the device manager and told it to delete the driver too. To be safe, I also renamed all drivers that were named ew***

I have tried version 10 of the software, no dice, and also version 9, with the same issue.

I have also tried the software on the USB stick, but each and every time, I get the error that the driver did not install correctly.

I will post up some screenshots of what I am experiencing.

Screenshot of my device manager.

http://img543.imageshack.us/i/devicemanager.jpg/

Screenshot of the huawei modem

http://img716.imageshack.us/i/huaweiproperties.jpg/

Screenshot of windows failing to install the driver.


---Trying again---

Just done a "clean boot", and renamed all the old drivers.

So I am now installing the version 10 software, with the USB modem removed.

http://img860.imageshack.us/i/installedsoftware.jpg/

Plug the modem in, and it says "device detected", but I cannot click connect.

http://img222.imageshack.us/i/device.jpg/


Checked the device manager, and sure enough, error code 31 again. The USB dongle is flashing blue to show its got 3g signal, so there should be signal to connect.



I've tried every "fix" that I can find on the net, and I'm now at a loss. I cant seem to get this thing working on my windows7 machine. The dongle works fine on vista and xp, but not on this windows 7 machine.

I really need some help on this, as its driving me insane trying to get it working. (The old software would tell me RAS 633 whenever i tried clicking conect)

p.s I've also tried your fix posted in the FAQ to change the Com port higher, and that didnt work either._E

*Edit - apparently I need to add lithium.com to my adblocker plus to have paragraph formatting.....*

[Retired-BenJ]

Hi PS

This doesn’t sound right at all.

The actual drivers should be located at c:\program files\Vodafone\Vodafone mobile broadband\drivers. For windows 7 the drivers will be in a vista folder. 

Have you updated the firmware on your E172? I noticed there was an update for this modem a long while ago and it’s possible you may have not updated which could cause this issue.

It might be worth checking to make sure the E172 is up to date:

Instructions:

• Download the firmware update utility
• Ensure the Sim card is removed from the modem, the modem is plugged in, Vodafone Mobile Connect Software is not running, and the computer is on mains power 
• Double click the E17XUpdate_11.311.04.01.00.B402.exe to run
• Follow on screen prompts to apply the firmware update ensuring the device is not removed and the computer is not switched off during the upgrade process 
• Once complete, reboot the computer 

At this point I’m thinking that it might be a good idea to a clean uninstall and start again with this:

This is our guide for Windows XP in terms of completely removing VMC Please let me know if you have any problems with this under windows 7

Do not have the modem attached whilst you do this.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Uninstall the Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite from: Add / Remove Programs.

      2.   Search and delete information files for the unit from the system.

a. Select Search from the Start Menu

b. In the box at the left labelled All or part of the filename, type oem*.inf

c. In the next box labelled A word or phrase in the file, enter the word huawei

d. In the Look in drop down menu browse to c:\Windows\inf

e. Below this drop down menu are some options in bold lettering, one of which is More                                  Advance options, click this to reveal the advanced options

f. From these options tick Search system folders, Search hidden files and folders and Search subfolders

From the list of oem files that appear, open a few in notepad and you need to ensure that it has only dug out files in accordance with the search criteria we have specified and they should all have Huawei appear amongst the text within them.

If you are satisfied that they are all Huawei related, delete them.

1. Search and delete driver files for the unit from the system.

           The next step you should take is to delete the drivers from C:\Windows\system32 or C:\Windows\system32\drivers.

To search for the relevant driver files use the following criteria:

1. Select Search from the Start Menu
2. In the box at the left labelled All or part of the filename, type ewusbmdm.sys
3. There is nothing you need to enter into A word or phrase in the file.
4. In the Look in drop down menu browse to c:\Windows.

This should return all the references to this file, delete them when the list has completed.

Repeat the search but looking for the following filenames and delete anything found for these:

ewmdm2k

ewser2k

 Once you have cleared this lot out, reboot the PC.

Allow the PC to fully reboot, once you are sure that Windows has loaded up everything that it should at startup.

The computer is now in a state as though it had never had a USB modem attached before. 

4. Removing hardware through the registry.

Removing hardware from device manager is not the most effective means of removing the hardware since it is the registry that holds settings for devices.

The registry will create a new set of values for the device when it is connected to each individual USB port, so for each instance of the hardware component in the registry, it is possible to have a table of values for each USB port the device has been connected to, in fact it is possible to establish how many ports a user has tried connecting this thing to and what stage the setup is failing.

Deleting the following entries will remove any saved background information about the configuration of each of the components installed by the USB modem.

It will also clear out references to multiple references to the modem from the phone and modem options list.

1. Go to HKEY_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB

1. Locate the following keys \ entries and delete them.

(This may require permissions to be set to allow Full Control of these  keys, I find that allowing control of each subkey ie USB or USBSTOR is best as you then have full reign of the entire set of keys and subkeys for that category).

Vid_12d1&Pid_1003

Vid_12d1&Pid_1003&MI_00

Vid_12d1&Pid_1003&MI_01

Vid_12d1&Pid_1003&MI_02

(To be certain these are Huawei related entries, glance across at the right panel in the registry editor and look at the information for Friendly Name, it should describe the Huawei hardware the entry relates to ie: Huawei 3G modem)

1. Now go to

HKEY_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\enum\USBSTOR

1. Locate the following entry and delete it. (normally at the top of the list)

CdRom&Ven_HUAWEI&Prod_Mass_Storage&Rev_2.31

Now reboot the PC and a fresh installation can now be done once restarted.

After this has rebooted you can install 10.1.108 again If you get a error code 31 again please run this registry script its an automated version of Lee's instructions and should resolve this error. Please ensure you’re using the drivers located at c:\program files\Vodafone\Vodafone mobile broadband\drivers.

Please let me know how this gets on

Thanks
BenJ
eForum Team

[ps]

Hi BenJ.

I've just spent the good portion of 1.5 hours having to manually set permissions to each and every single folder, as trying to force permissions to subfolders would not work. It kept coming up with an error. After getting the first 4 keys done, and moving onto the USBSTOR section, I almost died a little inside.

The CdRom&Ven_HUAWEI&Prod_Mass_Storage&Rev_2.31 folder has 12 subfolders. In each properties folder, there are 2 folders, one with 3, the other with 9. And each of those folders has 1 subfolder.

So by my rough math.... Each parent folder needs permissions setting 24X11, which is 264 permission settings.....

Also, theres a SECOND and THIRD entry in the USBSTOR, CdRom&Ven_Vodafone&Prod_CD_ROM_(Huawei)&Rev_2.31, and Disk&Ven_Vodafone&Prod_Storage_(Huawei)&Rev_2.31.....

Surely there should be an easier way then having to perform 700+ individual permission settings.... Each folder annoyingly does not have ANY permission setting in it, hence windows cannot execute the "set to subfolders and objects" I have to manually take ownership, then add myself as a user.

I'm going to call it a night for now, and I'll have a look for a registry deletion program that will just nuke those keys without requiring subfolder permission checks.

I was also having issues deleting the drivers from the DRIVERSTORE\FileRepository folder. I kept getting denied access when deleting the files in question as listed by you.

Any help with this to make me not go insane would be greatly appreciated....

[ps]

Hi all

After about 4 hours of manually setting permissions for every single key (yes, there were around 700 of them) and deleting them all. Deleting all of the drivers. Even finally managed to get rid of all the drivers in my driverstore folder.

Updated the firmware on a windows XP machine.

Followed every single step, and its STILL giving me an error code:31

I think I'm just destined to not get this thing working...

I've attached my msinfo again one last time.

[Retired-Trev]

Hi ps

This does seem to be rather problematic.:smileyindifferent:

I've sent your latest msinfo through to our data specialist, along with details of everything you've tried so far. As soon as I get a response back, I'll update the thread accordingly.

Regards

Trev

eForum Team

[Retired-Trev · Accepted solution]

Hi ps

I have an update for you on this issue.

Our data specialist has supplied me with a Patch Tool to rectify this issue. I have attached both the tool, and the instruction guide to this thread.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards

Trev

eForum Team

[ps]

OH MY GOD.

Kudos to all of you.

Its actually WORKING!

I was actually planning on doing a reformat next weekend, but now I dont have to anymore!

Oddly though, I put that Installer32 in the registry multiple times, and it would delete it every time I installed the modem. The patch worked a treat. Uninstalled VMC, Ran the patch, reinstalled, and just to prove a point, I'm currently logged on via 3g, and posting this message.

You are all awesome. I cannot thank you enough.

P.s, you all deserve a raise. :smileyvery-happy:

[irp555]

I had the same problem with an E172 dongle. Tried everything but no joy.

Installed the registry patch posted by Trev 1/4/11 and all working again!!

Rebooted, re-connected straight away.

Thanks

[murron]

I have the exact same problem as the original poster, only my modem is a K3715. Tried everything, to no avail. Do you think the attached patch will work for me as well? I'm going nuts now, to be frank :smileyindifferent: so any help is appreciated.

[murron]

Forgot to attach my msinfo 32 logs. Really hoping for a solution.

Mobile connection not possible.

- Set your current mobile device as the default
  device in the 'Manage Devices' view
- Ensure that no other programs are using your
  mobile device and try again in a short while
- Delete the device in the 'Manage Devices' view,
  add it back again, and then try connecting.

If this error persists, please contact Support
at your mobile network operator.

Support information:
RAS error code 31