Sound problem + Device manager is blank

[Panic]

My good friend "screwed the pooch" somehow last night while messing with
msconfig. We've only discussed it over the phone. His most obvious problem
is that he has no sound. His volume control on his task bar is missing and
his Control Panel icon for Sound is grayed out. I had him bring up Device
Manager and when he highlighted it the entire area on the right was blank.
Not just his sound stuff but EVERYTHING is blank. Drives, CDs, etc. Not
listings at all, not even the category.

I had him switch from msconfig Normal startup to Selective, back to normal,
made sure all items in the Start Up tab were selected, etc. I tried to have
him use System Restore but he had not activated automatic Restore Points.
(He has now). If it were just the sound problem he could reinstall his
sound software but with the absence of any listings in Device Manager I fear
he may need to do a repair install of Win XP.

Anyone have any ideas on the basic problem and any advice on a repair
install if it becomes necessary?

 

[Rock]

My good friend "screwed the pooch" somehow last night while messing with
msconfig. We've only discussed it over the phone. His most obvious
problem is that he has no sound. His volume control on his task bar is
missing and his Control Panel icon for Sound is grayed out. I had him
bring up Device Manager and when he highlighted it the entire area on the
right was blank. Not just his sound stuff but EVERYTHING is blank.
Drives, CDs, etc. Not listings at all, not even the category.

I had him switch from msconfig Normal startup to Selective, back to
normal, made sure all items in the Start Up tab were selected, etc. I
tried to have him use System Restore but he had not activated automatic
Restore Points. (He has now). If it were just the sound problem he could
reinstall his sound software but with the absence of any listings in
Device Manager I fear he may need to do a repair install of Win XP.

Anyone have any ideas on the basic problem and any advice on a repair
install if it becomes necessary?

No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311504

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=device+manager+blank

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=device manager blank&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wg

 

[Panic]

Your links worked perfectly to correct all the problems. My good friend
asked me to give you his thanks. It saved his bacon.
--
Darrell R. Schmidt
B-58 Hustler Web Site
http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
Cadet Class 55-I Web Site
http://pilotclass55india.org/

 

[Rock]

Wonderful, glad I could help and thanks for posting back.