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
    2010-07-27T20:56:42+00:00

    When going to "Security", "Permissions" menu: I do not have these options.

    Security is not part of the Enum options, much less Permissions.

    Now what??  Plug and Play is already Automatic . . .

    *** Email address is removed for privacy ***

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-20T18:48:31+00:00

    on a computer literacy scale of 0-10. I am probably 2. but i have managed to solve this issue by reading all of your posts. I just want to thank all of you from bottom of my heart.  Now i am able to use my IPOD for itunes which  was not showing before. and i have my device manager working again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-10T18:50:10+00:00

    Thanks, the above solution has solved my problem on Win7 Ultimate x64

    www.arvindgaba.com

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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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