Understanding Windows Device Manager: Managing and Troubleshooting Hardware

The Windows Device Manager is a powerful built-in utility that plays a crucial role in managing and troubleshooting hardware devices on a Windows computer. Whether you need to install new hardware, update drivers, or identify and fix hardware-related issues, Device Manager is the go-to tool. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of Windows Device Manager, its functionalities, and how it can be used to ensure your hardware runs smoothly. Along the way, we will provide visual aids to help you navigate the interface and understand the processes better.

What is Windows Device Manager?

Windows Device Manager is a central management console that provides users with an overview of all hardware devices installed on their computer. It categorizes these devices into various sections, making it easier to identify and address specific issues related to each hardware component.

To open Device Manager, you can use one of the following methods:

• Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.
• Right-click on “This PC” or “My Computer,” select “Manage,” and then click on “Device Manager.”

Navigating the Device Manager Interface

Upon opening Device Manager, you will be presented with a list of hardware device categories. Clicking on the arrow beside each category will expand it to display the devices within that category.

Understanding Device Status and Icons

Device Manager uses specific icons and status indicators to convey the condition of each hardware device:

• A green checkmark: This symbol indicates that the device is working correctly, and no issues are detected.
• A yellow exclamation mark: This symbol suggests that the device has a problem or requires attention. This could be due to driver issues, conflicts, or other errors.
• A red “X” mark: This symbol signifies that the device is disabled or unavailable, and it requires troubleshooting or enabling.

Managing Hardware Devices in Device Manager

Device Manager offers a range of options to manage hardware devices. Here are some common tasks you can perform:

Updating Device Drivers

Drivers are essential software that allows your operating system to communicate with hardware devices. Outdated or faulty drivers can lead to performance issues and instability. To update drivers using Device Manager:

1. Right-click on the hardware device and select “Update driver.”
2. Choose whether to search for drivers automatically or browse your computer for driver software.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

Disabling or Enabling Devices

Sometimes, you may need to disable a device temporarily, especially if you suspect it’s causing conflicts or issues. To disable or enable a device using Device Manager:

1. Right-click on the hardware device and select “Disable” or “Enable,” depending on the current status.

Uninstalling Hardware Devices

If you want to remove a hardware device completely, you can uninstall it using Device Manager:

1. Right-click on the hardware device and select “Uninstall device.”
2. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted.

Scanning for Hardware Changes

If you suspect that a recently installed device is not being detected, you can use the “Scan for hardware changes” option in Device Manager to trigger a scan and detect any new hardware:

1. Right-click on the root node of Device Manager (the computer’s name) and select “Scan for hardware changes.”

Troubleshooting Common Hardware Issues

Device Manager is a valuable tool for identifying and troubleshooting hardware-related problems. Some common issues you might encounter include:

• Driver Conflicts: Conflicts can occur if multiple devices are using the same resources or if incompatible drivers are installed. Device Manager will highlight conflicting devices with a yellow exclamation mark.

To resolve driver conflicts, update the drivers for the affected devices or use the “Roll Back Driver” option if available.

• Missing or Outdated Drivers: Device Manager can identify devices with missing or outdated drivers, helping you keep your hardware up-to-date.

• Device Not Recognized: Sometimes, newly installed hardware might not be recognized by the system. Use the “Scan for hardware changes” option to detect the device.
• Disabled Devices: If a hardware device isn’t working, it might be accidentally disabled. Enable the device through Device Manager if necessary.
• Unknown Devices: Occasionally, Device Manager may list devices as “Unknown” due to missing drivers or unidentified hardware. In such cases, use online resources to find and install the appropriate drivers.

Advanced Device Manager Features

Windows Device Manager also offers additional features for power users and advanced troubleshooting:

• View Hidden Devices: This option allows you to display hidden devices, such as previously connected USB devices and devices that are not currently connected but were installed on the system.
• Resource Monitoring: Device Manager enables you to monitor the resource usage of each hardware device. This can help identify devices that may be consuming excessive system resources.

Windows Device Manager is an indispensable tool for managing and troubleshooting hardware devices on your Windows computer. From updating drivers to resolving conflicts and detecting unrecognized hardware, Device Manager provides a user-friendly interface that empowers users to ensure their hardware components function optimally.

Regularly checking Device Manager and keeping hardware drivers up-to-date can help prevent compatibility issues, enhance system stability, and improve overall performance. By familiarizing yourself with this essential utility, you can maintain a healthy and efficient computing experience.

Remember, Windows Device Manager is just one aspect of maintaining a healthy PC. Regular system maintenance, hardware checks, and software updates are equally important for the longevity and smooth operation of your computer.

Using Device Manager

To start Device Manager, you can launch the Start Menu search functionality and search for «Device Manager». Alternatively, in File explorer, select and hold (or right-click) This PC, select Manage, and then select Device Manager from the System Tools that are listed in the resulting dialog.

Device Manager displays information about each device. This includes the device type, device status, manufacturer, device-specific properties, and information about the driver for the device.

If your device is required to start the computer, a problem with your device installation can prevent the computer from starting. In these cases, you have to use the kernel debugger to troubleshoot your device installation. For more info, see Getting Started with WinDbg (Kernel-Mode).

If your device isn’t required to start the computer, if there’s a problem with your device, Device Manager places a yellow exclamation point next that device’s name in the Device Manager dialog. Device Manager also provides an error message describing the problem. For more information about the error messages, see Device Manager Error Messages.

By default, Device Manager may hide some devices from the view. To see all devices, see Viewing Hidden Devices.

Device Manager provides detailed information in the Properties dialog for each device. Select and hold (or right-click) the name of the device, and then select Properties. The General, Driver, Details, and Events tabs contain information that can be useful when you debug errors. For more information, see Device Manager Details Tab.

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Device Manager

Device Manager is a Control Panel applet in Microsoft Windows operating systems. It allows users to view and control the hardware attached to the computer. When a piece of hardware is not working, the offending hardware is highlighted for the user to deal with. The list of hardware can be sorted by various criteria. [1]

For each device, users can:

• Supply device drivers in accordance with the Windows Driver Model
• Enable or disable devices
• Tell Windows to ignore malfunctioning devices
• View other technical properties

Device Manager was introduced with Windows 95 and later added to Windows 2000. In NT-based versions, it is included as a Microsoft Management Console snap-in.

Contents

• 1 Types of icons
  • 1.1 Disabled device
  • 1.2 Hardware not working properly
  • 1.3 Hardware not recognized
  • 1.4 Device manually selected

  Types of icons [ ]

  Disabled device [ ]

  A disabled device has either been manually disabled by a user or by some way of error. In Windows 95 through XP, this is denoted by a red X. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, this was replaced by a grey downward pointing arrow in the lower right-hand corner of the device’s icon.

  Hardware not working properly [ ]

  There are many reasons why hardware may not work properly. If Windows recognizes a problem with a device, it is denoted by a black exclamation point (!) on a yellow triangle in the lower right-hand corner of the device’s icon.

  Hardware not recognized [ ]

  Hardware may not be recognized if it is not installed properly or not compatible with the system. This is denoted by a yellow question mark in place of the device’s icon.

  Device manually selected [ ]

  A blue «i» on a white field in the lower right-hand corner of a Device’s icon indicates that the Use automatic settings feature is not selected for the device and that the resource was manually selected. Note that this does not indicate a problem or disabled state.

  Error codes [ ]

  Device Manager error codes are numerical codes, each accompanied by an error message, which help users determine what kind of issue Windows is having with a piece of hardware. [2][3]

  Code	Meaning
  1	This device has not been configured correctly.
  3	The driver for this device may be corrupted, or the system may be running low on memory.
  10	This device cannot start.
  12	Not enough resources for the device.
  14	The computer must be restarted for the device to work properly.
  16	Windows can’t identify all the resources this device requires.
  18	Drivers for this device must be reinstalled.
  19	Configuration information in Windows registry is damaged or corrupted for this device.
  21	Windows is removing this device.
  22	This device is disabled.
  24	This device is not present, does not have all its drivers installed, or is not working properly.
  28	The drivers for this device are not installed.
  29	The firmware of the device did not give it the required resources.
  31	Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device.
  32	A driver for this device has been disabled.
  33	Windows cannot determine which resources are required for this device.
  34	Windows cannot determine the settings for this device.
  35	The computer’s firmware does not include enough information to properly configure and use this device.
  36	This device is requesting a PCI interrupt but is configured for an ISA interrupt (or vice versa).
  37	Windows failed to initialize the device driver for this hardware.
  38	Windows cannot run the driver for this device because a previous instance of the driver exists.
  39	Windows cannot load the driver for this device. The driver may be corrupted or missing.
  40	Windows cannot access this hardware because its service key information in the registry is missing or corrupted.
  41	Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device.
  42	Windows cannot run the driver for this device because there is a duplicate device already running in the system.
  43	Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems.
  44	An application or service has shut down this hardware device.
  45	This hardware device is not connected to the computer.
  46	Windows cannot gain access to this hardware device because the operating system is in the process of shutting down.
  47	Windows cannot use this device because it has been prepared for safe removal, but it has not been removed from the computer.
  48	The driver for this device has been blocked from starting because it is known to have problems with Windows.
  49	Windows cannot start new hardware devices because the system hive is too large and exceeds the Registry Size Limit.
  52	Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged.

  Driverquery command [ ]

  driverquery

  Developer(s)	Microsoft
  Operating system	Microsoft Windows
  Type	Command
  License	Proprietary commercial software

  The driverquery [4] command-line program generates lists of installed devices and drivers, similar to the Device Manager’s output, which the user may view on-screen or redirect to a file. This is useful for note-taking and for reporting problems to remote third parties such as technical support personnel. The program has switches to control the output detail and format, including an /fo switch with csv parameter to generate output in comma-separated values format, suitable for importing into a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel. [5]

  При подготовке материала использовались источники:
  https://medium.com/@xcomppc.official/understanding-windows-device-manager-managing-and-troubleshooting-hardware-3efeb446a5dc
  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/install/using-device-manager
  https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Device_Manager