Share via

How do I install a cab file?

Jon Ley 20 Reputation points
2026-01-02T12:46:02.87+00:00

I have downloaded a cab file from the Microsoft Update Catalog site with Windows 11 printer drivers for the Dell C1660w printer. How do I install the drivers from this file? The cab includes one .inf file plus various other (?)compressed files with the last letters of each file extension replaced with an underscore. I tried manually adding a new printer, selecting the .inf file when prompted for the driver, but this didn't work - it just kept asking me to insert the manufacturer's disk.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-01-02T12:46:13.5266667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To install a CAB file containing printer drivers, you can follow these steps:

    1. Extract the CAB file: Use the Command Prompt to extract the contents of the CAB file. Open a Command Prompt window and navigate to the directory where your CAB file is located. Use the following command to extract it: 
         expand <CAB FILE NAME> -F:* <DESTINATION>
      Replace <CAB FILE NAME> with the name of your CAB file and <DESTINATION> with the folder where you want to extract the files.
    2. Install the driver: After extracting, you should see the .inf file along with other driver files. To install the driver, go to the Devices and Printers section in the Control Panel, and select Add a printer. When prompted, choose the option to install a driver manually.
    3. Select the INF file: When asked for the driver location, browse to the folder where you extracted the CAB file and select the .inf file. This should allow Windows to recognize the driver files included in the CAB.
    4. Complete the installation: Follow the remaining prompts to complete the installation of the printer driver.

    If you encounter issues, ensure that the .inf file and all associated files are correctly extracted and accessible. If the installation still fails, it may be necessary to consult the printer vendor for specific driver requirements or troubleshooting steps.

    References:

2 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. DaveM121 867.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-02T13:18:56.3933333+00:00

    That printer is very old, if Dell do not provide ARM specific drivers, then it will not be possible to use that printer on a device with an ARM processor, because ordinary drivers cannot be installed on an ARM architecture.

    0 comments
  2. Jon Ley 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-02T12:53:21.94+00:00

    Looks like I'm out of luck. The drivers only work for x86/AMD processors and I have ARM.

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.