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

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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
    2012-11-03T02:13:58+00:00

    i follow all the steps however on Step 12 when I click yes I am told that I am unable to sav.e permission changes on enum.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-03T16:01:14+00:00

    I got as far as daniboo did.  There was no "Security" option displayed when "Enum" was selected.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-04T16:00:18+00:00

    Hi Jason,  I regret your suggested solution has not resolved my problem.  Device Manager is still empty/blank.

    It looks as if I will have to arrange for a computer engineer to take a look in the hope that he will not be too expensive and can finally overcome this confounded problem.

    I believe the problem coincided with the download of an update from Kodak in relation to my All in One printer.  Everything was hunkidory before the update.  Now I am unable to get either of my printers to work.

    Thanks for your suggestion though.  It worked for some folks but not me.

    Mike, Crediton.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-05-13T21:17:28+00:00

    Thanks Frederick! Finally this solved the problem. Sometimes the solution is so obvious that complex thinking just black out us:)

    Thanks again.

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