Device Drivers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bob
  • Start date Start date
B

bob

Hi,
When something like a Wireless USB Adapter is
disconnected, and it disappears from the device manager,
is it uninstalled or is it still there? I am guessing it
stays there because it doesn't say found new hardware
when I plug it back in. How would you delete it if it
isn't connected. I was told that devices such as hard
drives, cd roms and dvd writers use a
generic windows driver which is automatically
added/removed when the device is connected/disconnected.
Does this go for the same for other things like a
Wireless USB Adapter? I apologize for this being written
poorly.
Thanks!
 
Does this go for the same for other things like a
Wireless USB Adapter?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's exactly what happens. It "uninstalls" the
device when you remove it, but the next time you put it
in, it already knows what it is so it can install it for
you under the covers.
 
bob said:
When something like a Wireless USB Adapter is
disconnected, and it disappears from the device manager,
is it uninstalled or is it still there? I am guessing it
stays there because it doesn't say found new hardware
when I plug it back in. How would you delete it if it
isn't connected.
Click to expand...

It stays there, ready for reuse. Deleting it is rather a hassle, of
looking in the Registry's
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\Vid_whatever
keys for it, and removing not just the keys there (at the Vid_ level)
but others in CurrentControlSet\Classes, best found by searching on a
characteristic part of the 'DeviceDesc' in that first key. This is not
usually worth bothering about
 
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