Welp, since no one has given any feedback as of yet, and since it's not like I'm doing anything serious, I decided to do some trial and error.

So, for reference, when I try installing the driver as-is, this would happen:

The line that caught me was:

1A service installation section in this INF is invalid.

Okay, so, why was it giving me that error? I tried injecting that code from the older Dell monitor's inf file, but that did nothing - still the same error.

So, I took another look at the S2417DG's inf file, and found these lines:

1[S2417DG_HDMI.Install.Services]
2AddService=monitor, %SPSVCINST_ASSOCSERVICE%, Monitor_Service.Install
3
4[S2417DG_DisplayPort.Install.Services]
5AddService=monitor, %SPSVCINST_ASSOCSERVICE%, Monitor_Service.Install
6
7[Monitor_Service.Install]
8ServiceType=1
9StartType=3
10ErrorControl=1
11ServiceBinary=%12%\monitor.sys

These lines where the only ones in the file to mention "services", so I tried commenting them out, and BAM!, I was able to install the driver!

My guess is this line:

1ServiceBinary=%12%\monitor.sys

Just trying to search the "WINDOWS" directory turns up no results - XP does not have such a file. On the other hand, searching for the file turns up 3 results under Windows 10 (I would also assume that 7 and 8.X have such a file too, since there are Windows 7 and 8.X drivers for this monitor).

Then the new question is this: What am I missing out with this edited driver without those "services", and are there any "monitor.sys" equivalents under XP (either in terms of files or features) that could potentially allow me to uncomment those lines and enable those services?

Hi, I don't know much about this issue. Monitor.sys really seems to be Win 7+.
Closest thing I found so far: https://www.dell.com/community/Monitors/E2414 … or/td-p/4299507

Anyway, the main purpose of the monitor-detection used to be the applying of the correct colour settings.
At least in the Win 9x days. Maybe it is also required now for other things, like controlling the monitor
via EDID and other technologies, not sure.

Jo22 wrote:

Hi, I don't know much about this issue. Monitor.sys really seems to be Win 7+.
Closest thing I found so far: https://www.dell.com/community/Monitors/E2414 … or/td-p/4299507

That does then confirm that it was the absence of "monitor.sys" that threw off Windows XP. I might try taking "monitor.sys" from a Windows Vista or 7 install I have on another computer and try implanting that into my XP install, but I doubt that would work, since it was written for a newer version of Windows. The question still remains, then: Is there a "monitor.sys" equivalent under XP, or not?

Jo22 wrote:

Anyway, the main purpose of the monitor-detection used to be the applying of the correct colour settings.
At least in the Win 9x days. Maybe it is also required now for other things, like controlling the monitor
via EDID and other technologies, not sure.

I'm not sure either. Just know it helps to have a driver for your monitor installed if such a driver is available. 🤣

Found here http://www.videoi.com/~pietro/monitor/
General purpose (98) Monitor INF, not sure if that style will work in XP - I'm sure there was a site or tool that can do it - Apparently Powerstrip can, not sure if the shareware has that unlocked

Matth79 wrote:

Found here http://www.videoi.com/~pietro/monitor/
General purpose (98) Monitor INF, not sure if that style will work in XP - I'm sure there was a site or tool that can do it - Apparently Powerstrip can, not sure if the shareware has that unlocked

Thanks for that resource. Don't know if I'll need it, but it's good to have options. 😀