Windows NT4 Plug-and-Play (PnP)

Plug-and-Play (PnP) on Windows NT4 is not a straight forward issue:
When installing NT4, the system is NOT able to handle Plug-and-Play.

The support for installation of Plug-and-Play is 'hidden' in the DRVLIB- directory on the NT4 CD-ROM (not part of the usual I386-setup) and can most easy be located in the installation instruction for the Creative Labs SoundBlaster:

Locate on the NT4 CD-ROM in the path: DRVLIB\PNPISA\X86 the file PNPISA.INF, call up the context-menu (right-mouse click) and select to Install

Once you rebooted, you can check in the Control-Panel Services-Applet,
that the Plug-and-Play services is started:


But in my experience, this Plug-and-Play support works for Soundcards,
but not reliable with PnP-Network-cards (so I suggest to use on NT4 either
PCI-network cards or Non-PnP-ISA cards, some PnP-ISA cards can be configured to be NON-PnP).

A word of warning: The installation of a Sound-card under Nt4 is not trivial ! Make sure that you read carefully the installation instruction on the NT4-CD-ROM (if you have the original SoundBlaster PnP) or (if you have a newer model) locate and read the installation instructions for NT4 on the CD-ROM delivered with the card before opening your computer and installing the soundcard. If no CD-ROM is supplied with the card, or if it does not include NT4-drivers, then please search first on the Internet on the website of the manufacturer for an updated driver and installation info for the sound card.