How to restore missing USBscan.sys in Windows XP?

March 28, 2008 · Posted in problems and solutions 

Recently, 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.

    • How to restore missing usbscan.sys file?

  • 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.

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Comments

24 Responses to “How to restore missing USBscan.sys in Windows XP?”

  1. RIAN on April 22nd, 2008 8:07 pm

    You helped me to solve the problem that was urgent, thank you !

  2. Rodney on April 22nd, 2008 8:15 pm

    THANK YOU!!!! :)

  3. Jason M. on April 24th, 2008 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…

  4. Muhib on May 3rd, 2008 5:46 pm

    thanx all dude !!!
    who help me
    luv u

  5. Desharri on May 6th, 2008 7:17 pm

    Thanks very much for this post. It helped me get over the missing file quickly. -D

  6. Simon on May 7th, 2008 10:46 pm

    Thank you for the downloadable file!

  7. Momchil on May 15th, 2008 12:54 pm

    Thank you, for posting the .sys driver, God bless you!

  8. Sumesh from Blog Creativity on May 15th, 2008 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 ;) ).

  9. Shankar Ganesh on May 15th, 2008 2:38 pm

    @Sumesh Ooh :D 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 ;)

  10. Shaalan on May 19th, 2008 2:00 am

    You helped me to solve the problem, thank you !

  11. Dena on May 26th, 2008 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!

  12. Scott on July 18th, 2008 4:26 am

    Restore from file does not exist error…?

  13. Chacha on July 18th, 2008 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!!

  14. Jason H on August 6th, 2008 9:19 pm

    Thank you, thank you, thank you

  15. Sv@lex on August 13th, 2008 12:27 am

    Thank you

  16. michael on September 16th, 2008 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

  17. Ali on October 12th, 2008 12:30 am

    Thanks man ..I really needed this file

  18. çiçek siparişi on October 24th, 2008 2:34 pm

    very thanks

  19. Thankful reader on November 3rd, 2008 9:41 pm

    Thank you very much, especially on “Expand” part, very useful.

  20. ZhangLiang on November 6th, 2008 6:29 pm

    :wink: Oh Thank you very much. I love “killertechtips” !

  21. fede on November 16th, 2008 9:43 pm

    thankkkkkkkssssssss

  22. joe on November 24th, 2008 7:49 am

    Restore from file does not exist error…????? Help anyone?

  23. Big Jim on December 29th, 2008 2:12 pm

    Thanks for solving an urgent problem so I could get my printer running again.

  24. Big Jim on December 29th, 2008 2:12 pm

    Thanks for solving an urgent problem so I could get my printer running again.

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