After installing Pro Tools on a PC, there is a Found New Hardware wizard for “USB Composite Device.” The wizard cannot locate the necessary software and will not finish.

There is a solution to this problem, but it involves adjusting permissions in the Windows registry. Keep in mind that this is a very tricky solution, and you need to follow the steps exactly as they are printed. If you don’t, then you risk serious harm to Windows, possibly to the point of forcing a reinstallation.

1. Go to Start > Run, type in “regedit” (without the ” “) and press “OK.” This will open the registry editor.
2. Navigate to HHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > ControlSet001. Right-click on the “Enum” folder.
3. Choose “Permissions.”
4. Click the “Add” button, then the “Advanced” button, then the “Find Now” button.
5. In the user list on the bottom of the window, choose “Everyone” and press “OK,” then “OK” again.
6. You will now see “everyone’ highlighted in the top window. In the “Permissions for everyone” section, check the boxes under the “Allow” column for “Read” and “Full Control.”
7. Press the “Advanced” button.
8. At the bottom of the page, check both of the boxes (“Inherit from parent…” and “Replace permissions…”).
9. Click “OK,” then “Yes,” then “OK,” then “OK.” This will return you to the registry editor.
10. Restart your PC.
11. You will get a Found new hardware wizard when the computer restarts. if it asks to connect to Windows Update, choose “No, not this time.” From there, choose “Install the software automatically.” press the “Next” button as many times as you need to complete the wizard. If you are warned about Windows Logo testing, choose “Continue Anyway.”
10. Repeat steps 2 through 10 with these folders:

* HHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > ControlSet001 > Control, and right-click on the DeviceClasses folder.
* HHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > ControlSet001, and right-click on the Services folder.

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