How to restore missing USBscan.sys in Windows XP?
ADVERTISEMENTSRecently, I was trying to install drivers for my new digital camera, but I had a few problems. The installer requested the Windows XP SP 2 CD because a driver file, usbscan.sys was missing. I had actually lost the XP SP2 CD. The installer requested the XP SP 2 CD repeatedly that I had to do something, else the installation would fail.
Finally, I found a few solutions to recover usbscan.sys and I wanted to write them down here for others who might be facing the same problem while installing drivers for devices like Printers, Digital Cameras, etc. when connected via USB.
Here’s what you should do first:
- Click ‘Browse’ in the dialog window that requests the CD Go to C:\Windows\system32 and point to the usbscan.sys file
- The installation should take place seamlessly now
In case you’re unable to find the usbscan.sys file, don’t worry. There are two other options.
Here’s what you should do in case you don’t have the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD
- Download a copy of usbscan.sys from here (Right click and select ‘Save Target As’).
- Click ‘Browse’ in the dialog window of the installer and locate the usbscan.sys file you’ve just downloaded.
- Click ‘OK’.
- The installation should proceed.
If you’re lucky, and have the XP SP 2 or SP 1 CD with you, here’s what you can do:
- Insert the CD in the drive.
- Go to Start >> Run and type msconfig and press Enter.
- Click ‘Expand File’ in the Window that appears
- In the ‘File to Restore’ field, type in usbscan.sys
- In the next field, type X:\I386\DRIVER.CAB
- In the ‘Save File In’ field, click the ‘Browse To’ button and select a location for the usbscan.sys file to be stored, preferably the Desktop
- Click Expand and close the window. You should see the usbscan.sys file in your Desktop.
- Go back to the installer and locate the usbscan.sys file by using the Browse button, and click OK.
- The installation should now continue.
Those were just three easy and quick ways to restore your missing usbscan.sys driver file. The usbscan.sys is an important driver file that is required for installation of devices like the Printer, Camera, etc.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
You helped me to solve the problem that was urgent, thank you !
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
THANK YOU!!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Here’s a uber useful (yet commonly unheard of) tip: when you get a new computer, or do a fresh install of Windows, copy the I386 folder from the CD onto your hard drive. Every time windows asks for the CD, it’s asking for something in that I386 folder. If you copy it to your hard drive, you’ll never need to go looking for the CD…
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
thanx all dude !!!
who help me
luv u
May 6th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Thanks very much for this post. It helped me get over the missing file quickly. -D
May 7th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Thank you for the downloadable file!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Thank you, for posting the .sys driver, God bless you!
May 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Well, it seems many have found it useful. Good work, Shankar. I may have to use it in future (for now, my trusty Canon SD860 works fine without hacks
).
May 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
@Sumesh Ooh
My webcam still doesn’t work properly because some files are missing. I need to work on that, and may be even write a post 
May 19th, 2008 at 2:00 am
You helped me to solve the problem, thank you !
May 26th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I spent hours trying to find the files I needed to get the scanner running on my Lexmark All-in-One. As soon as I found your page and followed the simple instructions, my problem was over in minutes! Thanks, a thousand times!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Restore from file does not exist error…?
July 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
The problem was so urgent, I had to visit google, which brought me to this site and solved everything.
Thanks whoever it might be!!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you
August 13th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Thank you
September 16th, 2008 at 7:31 am
thanks alot i had problems installing my hp AIO w/o that file so its freat there is a place like this to find it…thanks again
October 12th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Thanks man ..I really needed this file
October 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
very thanks
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Thank you very much, especially on “Expand” part, very useful.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
November 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
thankkkkkkkssssssss