Device manager is blank

Anonymous
2009-10-18T10:41:49+00:00

I tried Microsofts suggestion of clicking on plug and play and making sure it was set on automatic but that didn't work.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2009-10-20T17:05:54+00:00

Hello Estridge48,

Thank you for your post.  Try the following registry edit to resolve your issue:

  1. Go to "Start", "Run", and enter "regedt32"
  2. Maximize the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" window.
  3. Scroll down to "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum"
  4. With "Enum" selected click the "Security", "Permissions" menu.

Note: At this point you will probably notice there are no permissions on this key.

  1. Click "Add".
  2. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
  3. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
  4. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
  5. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
  6. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
  7. Click "OK"
  8. On the warning window click "Yes"
  9. Close REGEDT32

Modifying REGISTRY settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of REGISTRY settings can be solved. Modifications of these settings are at your own risk.

Please let us know if  this did or didn't help to resolve your problem.

Cheers

Jason Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-09-25T11:00:48+00:00

    Hi Jason,

    I had the same problem, where notthing was showing up in my device manager. but I followed your steps and I got it back. Thank you.

    Q: Why did this happen in the first place?

    Regards,

    Nadia

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-25T11:02:28+00:00

    Your right, Some of the subtypes where different to what was written I continued and all seems fine now.

    I was using a Windows 7 Professional.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-27T12:14:12+00:00

    Hi All,

    Considering the age of the thread and to avoid confusion, if the troubleshooting steps in this thread did not resolve your issue I would recommend creating a new thread so that the community can focus on that thread. Refer to the following link prior to posting a question so that you may provide all the relevant information, for us to help you:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-09-28T22:42:34+00:00

    Thank you all soooo sooo much!!! Been so frustrated for months and finally I have fixed the problem which means iTunes and my computer now recognises my iPod and iPhone! I am bad with computers but I worked through all of your instructions and it finally worked when I opened the registry with 'Run as adminstrator' so especially thanks to Frederick Chopin.

    Ignore the error message with the blue 'i'- it kept coming up for me but it still worked :)

    Created an account on here just so I could say thank you to everybody, so THANK YOU!!!!

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