Infrared not recognized

Anonymous
2019-05-22T19:34:31+00:00

Upgraded to Windows 10 ver 1903 and the infrared device is not working. Got this:

Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2019-06-19T21:33:58+00:00

Dalvic do you still have the problem?

Try to remove and re-add the Infrared.  It is probably more reliable to use the PowerShell Commands (If you are not comfortable you can try the interface which may not work.

Power Shell to Add / remove IrDA infrared components

Run PowerShell as administrator

Query state of the IrDA components:

get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Unistall

Remove-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Add

add-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Query state of the IrDA components:

get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

An example of the results (Thanks to FritzMerkel) of the scripts when fixing IrDA issue.

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Name         : Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0

State        : NotPresent

DisplayName  : IrDA infrared

Description  : Support for IrDA devices. Requires special IrDA hardware.

DownloadSize : 604101

InstallSize  : 1236233

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Then the others: 

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Remove-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Path          :Online        : TrueRestartNeeded : False

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> add-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0">>

Path          :Online        : TrueRestartNeeded : False

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

Name         : Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0State        : InstalledDisplayName  : IrDA infraredDescription  : Support for IrDA devices. Requires special IrDA hardware.DownloadSize : 604101InstallSize  : 1236233

Alternative: on windows interface:

To remove:

Go to Settings -> Apps and Features -> Optional Features

Select IrDA Infrared and click uninstall.

To Install

Go to Settings -> Apps and Features -> Optional Features

Add a feature (top of list)

Select IrDA Infrared from the list.

It installs and should be visible in the Optional Features list.

Go back to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items and hopefully you will now see Infra Red icon and features.

If this does not work do use the PowerShell commands

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

77 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-06-22T05:57:17+00:00

    I have 3 windows machines with 1903. One on the Insider fast channel and two using normal updates

    The ones with the normal consumer level worked fine with the USB adapter after 1903

    The one in fast channel not and got driver exclamation mark with the error description that registry was damaged.

    Because of this, re-installled Windows 1903. Once using reparing PC, the 2nd time time fresh form USB drive.

    Both failed and the same exclamation mark shown. This was two weeks ago.

    i compared the registry from good and bad machine and found in the bad machine many registry entries were gone

    Also two IrDA related driver files were missing compared to the good units

    After copying the registry settings and files to the bad machine, Still the registry error persisted

    Today tried again with the same USB drive from two weeks ago. This time a a different result

    After installing fresh,  the device was shown as "unknown "device.

    click "update driver"

    After a long wait of 5 (!) minutes the loading Window timed out with the messages:

    "Windows encountered a problem installing the drivers for your device"

    "Windows found driver for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install them"

    "USB-infrared Adapter"

    "The operation returned because of the timeout period expired"

    "if you know the manufacturer of your device, you can visit their website and check the support section for drivers"

    In my case this was the Coolgear. Infrared adapter.

    After pulling a few hairs out,  found this post and fixed it.

    Reinstaling all software again...

    This is the second time Windows 10 causes IR problems for unneeded reasons. First by removing the whole IR stack (after it worked in earlier updates) and now again breaking the driver installation in 1903.

    This is extremely annoying. Several people reported this issue.

    Please fix this as soon as possible and add this as a mandatory test case before releasing another update.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-06-19T22:25:11+00:00

    Used the "Settings" method and it worked!!! Thanks a bunch!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-06-16T20:57:59+00:00

    Great news.  I hope that works correctly and consistently.

    Regarding your comments:

    "Interesting how PowerShell worked, and the Adding in APPS did not." - Interesting is the correct word, but I have seen this on a number of occasions over the last 20 years.  If PowerShell works and the interface doesn't the solution is PowerShell.  :)  This is the world of Microsoft...

    "Also interesting that Powershell returns different info in 1809 and 1903" - As we are querying specifically the IrDA component by name clearly the name changed between 1809 and 1903 so it is not seen; but I suspect it is a completely new add-on feature in 1903.  this does not concern me but somebody with access to detailed information would be needed to confirm my suspicions.

    FYI: running "get-WindowsCapability -online" shows all components and their status.  I could not find an IrDA on 1809 on my computer.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-06-16T19:36:52+00:00

    I think maybe you did find the fix....but I'd already done the clean install. 

    Reloaded 1903 UPGRADE. No IrDA in Control Panel

    Ran the Powershell commands you suggested: 

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

    Name         : Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0

    State        : NotPresent

    DisplayName  : IrDA infrared

    Description  : Support for IrDA devices. Requires special IrDA hardware.

    DownloadSize : 604101

    InstallSize  : 1236233

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

    Then the others: 

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Remove-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

    Path          :Online        : TrueRestartNeeded : False

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> add-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0">>

    Path          :Online        : TrueRestartNeeded : False

    PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-WindowsCapability -online -Name "Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0"

    Name         : Network.Irda~~~~0.0.1.0State        : InstalledDisplayName  : IrDA infraredDescription  : Support for IrDA devices. Requires special IrDA hardware.DownloadSize : 604101InstallSize  : 1236233

    **Went and checked Control Panel >>>> IrDA present!!**Plugged in dongle, appeared in Device Manager, indicates 'working properly'.

    Tested with both download programs >>>> WORKED!

    Interesting how Powershell worked, and the Adding in APPS did not.

    Also interesting that Powershell returns different info in 1809 and 1903.

    Maybe something bears checking there?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments