Issue:
Why does the “Found New Hardware Wizard” appear each time I plug a different PGR camera in?

Solution:
This article explains why the “Found New Hardware Wizard” appears in Windows each time a different Point Grey camera is connected, and the relationship of this behaviour to Windows driver signing.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The camera driver and SDK (e.g. PGR FlyCapture SDK, Digiclops SDK, Ladybug SDK) must be installed before connecting the camera to the computer. If the camera is connected before installing the software, the system may not use the correct driver. If this happens, go the knowledge base article at http://www.ptgrey.com/support/kb/details.asp?id=100.

If the camera driver and SDK have been installed, the Found New Hardware Wizard may appear the first time your Point Grey camera is plugged into a Windows XP or Vista system. This Wizard prompts you to choose how to install the software and driver for your camera. The Wizard may appear once for every new camera that has not been seen by the system – the first time the camera is plugged in – and should not reappear every time a camera is plugged or unplugged. This behaviour is different from Windows 2000. On a Windows 2000 machine the New Hardware Wizard will appear, but after correctly installing the driver for the first Point Grey camera, any other cameras that are subsequently plugged in that use the same driver will automatically be installed, and no Hardware Wizard will appear.

The reason the Found New Hardware Wizard appears each time a new camera is connected to a Windows XP or Vista system is because of Microsoft’s driver signing program. This program is designed to verify that the driver being installed to control the camera will not cause problems on the system. When a new device is connected, Windows checks its list of “signed” drivers (via the associated *.inf file in C:\WINDOWS\inf\) to determine which is the most appropriate driver to install. If it finds one, it will automatically install it without requiring the user to go through the Found New Hardware Wizard. If it does not find one, the Found New Hardware Wizard appears. Not all released versions of Point Grey drivers are signed. As a result, the Found New Hardware Wizard may appear each time a Point Grey camera is first plugged in.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although not all versions of drivers released by Point Grey are signed, this does not reflect on the quality of our drivers or their ability to function properly in your system. A signed driver is simply one that has been officially tested and certified by Microsoft.

Related Articles:
1.) Windows Device Manager incorrectly lists my PGR camera, or displays an exclamation mark beside the device.
2.) Performing a clean installation of PGR camera software and drivers.
3.) Why do I get a Hardware Installation warning screen when I try to install my camera drivers?
4.) Microsoft Windows Driver Signing Requirements