can't reuse device name

[G]

I am reinstalling a scanner and canon digital camera. I
uninstalled all software but when I plug the devices in
they are given a #2 attached to their name and I can not
rename them to their previous label. Where do I need to
clear the old device name in so I can reuse it?

thank you,

 

[Nathan McNulty]

This may be a little more than you are comfortable with, but here we go:

Most of this depends on the device connection type to the computer. I
am going to assume that both of these are USB. Click Start-Run-Type
regedit and click OK. Now expand to this "directory":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB

You will see a bunch of "folders" labeled Vid_Xxxx under the USB folder.
Expand each of these and find the two that contain the two peices of
hardware you are having a problem with. The hardware name will be in
the description in the folder under the one labeled Vid_Xxxx. Unplug
both of your peices of hardware before doing this. Now right click on
the Vid_Xxxx folder that contains the information you want to change and
select Permissions. Check Full Control to Allow and click OK. Now
right click and delete that folder. Once you have done this for both
peices of hardware, close Regedit and plug the devices back in. Windows
will recognize them and reinstall them for you