Troubleshooting Parallels Tools installation with Driver Package Installer tool

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Symptoms

INFORMATION

Before using the tool, you need to identify which driver fails to install in Windows virtual machine. In order to do that, please:

  1. Create snapshot to be secured from all unwanted changes in the virtual machine. When solution is applied successfully, please delete snapshot.

  2. Go to C:\Windows\Temp. Find and open the most recent parallels-tools-setup document.

  3. Press Ctrl+F to open search dialog. Search for "DIFXAPP: ERROR" without qoutes:

    DIFXAPP: INFO:   Installing INF file 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Parallels\Parallels Tools\Drivers\prl_sound\prl_sound.inf' (Plug and Play).
    DIFXAPP: INFO:   Could not open file C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prl_sound.inf_amd64_857254279ea3f2e6\prl_sound.inf. (Error code 0xE0000100: The style of the INF is different from what was requested.)
    DIFXAPP: ERROR:  PnP Install failed. (Error code 0x3EE: The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.)
    
  4. Note what driver fails to install, e.g. prl_sound.inf_amd64_857254279ea3f2e6.

  5. Go to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and locate the driver folder. Enter the folder and open driver information file (see pic. below). Note driver version.

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  6. Now you have to locate the same driver with the same version on another virtual machine which is not experience this error (virtual machine with the same Windows OS, same bit version and the same Parallels Desktop build that you have). It could be your test virtual machine, or just another virtual machine on duty. Copy driver folder from FileRepository to the virtual machine you troubleshoot (paste it inside C: drive).

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    NOTE: Do not forget to check bit version of Windows OS. Drivers for 32 and 64 bit versions are different.

  7. Download Driver Package Installer (DPInst) from attach below:

  8. Place dpinst tool to the C: drive. In Windows virtual machine you troubleshoot open Command Prompt and execute:

    cd C:\
    dpinst.exe /d /u \\path-to-inf 
    

    where path-to-inf is a path to the *.inf file of the driver, which is located inside driver folder (the one you've downloaded)

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  9. Confirm that you want to uninstall the driver by pressing Enter.

  10. Reboot the virtual machine. Try to install Parallels Tools again. On the "All devices using this driver will be removed. Do you wish to continue?" pop-up say 'Yes'.

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  11. Now, if you picked-up everything correctly, the following pop-up will appear:

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This means that you are going to uninstall a live driver, which is currently used in the system. And Parallels Tools installation cannot replace this working driver due to the registry corruption. After confirming to uninstall the driver, reboot and try to install Parallels Tools.

You may also try to run 'dpinst' by using the driver from FileRepository folder. Also there could be several corrupter drivers, so if the installation fails again, look at the logs - there could be another error on another driver.

NOTE:

 

 

Cause

Corrupted Windows registry

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