Device Manager - Phanton Device Entries

[Sam]

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with windows XP Prof SP2 installed. This
morning I was going thru Device Manager and when clicking on View, Show
Hidden Devices, I noticed varies phantom or faint colored icons for some of
the devices. When right clicking on the faint colored icons, selecting
properties, some of the information is as follows: "Currently this Hardware
is not connected to the computer, code 45."

I found phantom devices in the following categories. Is it safe to delete
these entries?? Any help would be very much appreciated, Sam

a. Disk Drives (I have two WDC WD400BB-75CAA0 - Full color Icons)
MAXTOR 6L040L2
QUANTUM ATLAS10K2-TY092L-SCSI Disk Device

b. Keyboards (I have the Dell enhanced Performance USB - Full color
Icon)
Dell Enhanced Performance USB
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard

c. Monitors (I have a Dell 1702FP (Digital) - Full color Icon)
Default Monitor
Default Monitor
Dell 17026T-HS/D1025HT

d. Other Devices
Dell Enhanced QuietKey PS2 with DellTouch

 

[R. McCarty]

If those other devices aren't used, then yes you can and should
remove them. However, there are a couple of categories where
"Phantom" devices should be left in the Hardware profile.

(1.) Sound Devices
(2.) Non Plug & Play (3rd Party Services, Safe Mode, ...)

System Devices shouldn't have any Phantoms, but be extra
careful removing any phantoms from that category.

Sometimes you'll remove a device, only to have it re-appear on
the next boot. In this case, the "Phantom" may be valid but not
using the correct driver. An example is a monitor, which sometimes
gets defined as Plug and Play and not the exact Vendor/Model.

I

 

[Sam]

Thanks very much for your reply. Sam.