device manager is empty

[Guest]

Hi

Can anyone tell me why my device manager is empty? It was fine an hour ago.

Windows XP is having trouble with my usb devices - 2 usb ports in
particular. It keeps telling me my devices have malfunctioned or it can't
recognise the usb device. In particular I has a problem with WinTV. I
followed instructions from the manufacturer to change permissions in the
registry and that's when I noticed the device manager problem.

The issue with my usb devices is annoying. I don't suppose anyone knows what
is going on?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Hi Millie:

This might get your Device Manager back:

"No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504

 

[Guest]

Hi Leonard

Thanks for that link. I had performed a system restore before your reply,
which also got device manager items back. When I followed the instructions
'automatic' was already selected. I wonder if it got turned off somehow?
Might that explain why windows was having trouble seeing my usb devices also?
Perhaps the two problems were linked.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Hi again:

It's hard to know based on the amount of information you provided. In
general, you stand the best chance of having your USB devices recognized
by plugging them directly into the USB ports on the back of your computer.

The Plug and Play service enables your Windows to recognize and and
install drivers for hardware devices.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi again:

It's hard to know based on the amount of information you provided. In
general, you stand the best chance of having your USB devices recognized
by plugging them directly into the USB ports on the back of your computer.

Why in the back? Those on the front (if you have them on the
front--many newer computers do) work just as well.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Hi Ken:

I don't know why the advice I've read in many places favors the USB
ports in the back...maybe the authors have computers without ports in
the front? ;-)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken:

I don't know why the advice I've read in many places favors the USB
ports in the back...maybe the authors have computers without ports in
the front? ;-)

Probably. Or you've read old advice, written before front ports were
common.

There's really no difference between front ports and rear ones. They
are both simply cables run from the motherboard to an external
connector. You could put them anywhere on the case--even the top or
side--and they would work equally well.

I use my rear port only for permanent connections, and the front ports
for temporary ones, like thumb drives. They all work fine.