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
    2010-04-23T03:37:54+00:00

    Hi,  I have the same problem as you all.  I followed the instructions from Jason H. the support engineer and at the end of it all the box I checked says " replace all child permissions with inheritable permissions from this object."  After a warning pane it says "access is denied"  I am the only user on this computer and it is an Administrator account. I have been all around the internet and tried several things to fix this problem.  No luck.  Help!  BTW It's Windows 7 Home Premium.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-04-26T15:20:25+00:00

    Hello,

    I have the same problem with windows7 Premium, I can stop service PlugandPlay, no acces screen greyed, also for ENUM acces refused( Unable to save permission changes on enum. access is denied) . I don't understand why, I am logged as adminstrator and only user.

    Regards

    Pierre

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-04-29T03:23:13+00:00

    I also get the access denied message when I try to accept the warning pane. I have Windows 7 Premium. I am the only user and the administrator. Please help, I have scoured the internet and can find no solution. This has been keeping me from being able to use my Zune among other things for two months now.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-05-06T19:30:22+00:00

    I am also having this issue. I restored my win OS to an earlier date but still can do not see anything in my Device Manager. Plug and Play is enabled, Everyone and System are setting correctly. I also get "Registry editor could not set security in the key currently selected, or some of its subkeys" when "Replace permissions entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects"

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