Viewing non-present but installed devices in device manager?

[Ben Hogland]

A while back, I found someone posted how to view uninstalled device
drivers in the device manager. It was opening a cmd window and typing in
a command then when looking at the device manager, it would show the
devices that were no longer present but dimmed out and allowed the
uninstall of it's drivers to reduce clutter and conflicts. Does anyone
remember how to do this again? I didn't write it down.

Anyone?

Thanks!

Ben

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Open Device Manager...
Start | Run | Type: devmgmt.msc | Click OK |
View | Select Show hidden devices

You may have to click on the [+] to expand each item.

The hidden devices appear dimmed.

Hidden devices include non-Plug and Play devices (devices with earlier
Windows device drivers).

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Nightowl]

A while back, I found someone posted how to view uninstalled device
drivers in the device manager. It was opening a cmd window and typing in
a command then when looking at the device manager, it would show the
devices that were no longer present but dimmed out and allowed the
uninstall of it's drivers to reduce clutter and conflicts. Does anyone
remember how to do this again? I didn't write it down.

Anyone?

Hi ben, I think this is what you're thinking of:

Open up a Command Prompt window and type:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 <enter>

start devmgmt.msc <enter>

You must keep this Command window open while you look in Device Manager,
because once the session is closed the setting will be lost.

In Device Manager, on the View menu, check Show hidden devices. You
should now be able to see any extra entries or grayed-out "ghosts" of
hardware that is installed but not currently connected to the computer.

Hope this helps.

 

[bumtracks]

If view hidden doesnt show em
then something like this probably

cmd window
set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1

Then start devmgmt.msc
Click the View menu and select "Show hidden devices"

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Device Manager Does Not Display Devices That Are Not Connected to the
Windows XP-Based Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315539/EN-US/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Kelly]

There is a "big" difference between uninstalled and hidden.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

In memory of those lost during Katrina &
Prayers and Hope for the remaining displaced.

 

[Ben Hogland]

A while back, I found someone posted how to view uninstalled device
drivers in the device manager. It was opening a cmd window and typing
in a command then when looking at the device manager, it would show the
devices that were no longer present but dimmed out and allowed the
uninstall of it's drivers to reduce clutter and conflicts. Does anyone
remember how to do this again? I didn't write it down.

Anyone?

Thanks!

Ben

Thanks to everyone who helped. Yes, it was the set
"devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 <enter>
start devmgmt.msc <enter>" that I was looking for.

I knew the good people here would be able to help me.

Thanks again,

Ben

 

[V Green]

There is a "big" difference between uninstalled and hidden.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

In memory of those lost during Katrina &
Prayers and Hope for the remaining displaced.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;241257

For W2K, but works on XP as well.

As Kelly said, you really have to know what you're doing
here, or you could wind up with an unbootable system.