Devices and Printers Dialog Box Empty

Anonymous
2009-10-30T22:04:54+00:00

When I open my "Devices and Printers" dialog box, it is empty; nothing shows up and the item listing says "0 items". 

The devices and printers showed up in the Devices and Printers dialog box earlier, but now are gone from the dialog box.  However, they are still in the system as everything seems to work.  The problem comes with trying to set the preferences for any of the devices or printers since they can't be seen or accessed. 

Anyone got any ideas of how to get the devices and printers to show up again?

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
2010-03-07T06:22:04+00:00

Devices and printers will show one device when you have configured multiple printers for the same device.   There is a fly out menu to get to all the other printers on the device.    Use the spooler teams UI, printmanagement.msc to view all local printers on Pro and Ultimate.

The old printers folder can be launched if you are running Home versions.

Open a command prompt and paste this in.

start shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}


Alan Morris Windows Printing Team; Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here: http://support.microsoft.com/search/Default.aspx?adv=1

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Anonymous
2009-11-27T18:23:06+00:00

I am having the same problem. I did a clean install from Vista and the computer has worked fine for weeks.  Today, my devices and printer window is empty. I can still print from some applications, but Windows Live Mail gives me an error when I select print:

'an error has occurred in the script on this page'

line:291

char: 1

error: interface not registered

Code: 0

URL: res://ieframe.dll/preview.js

Do you want to continue running scripts on this page - Yes or No?

Barry

By the way, no new hardware has been installed recently.

I found another post that solved my problem.  I was about to give up and re-install Windows 7, but tried this and it worked.

Go to: http://iefaq.info/index.php?action=artikel&cat=42&id=133&artlang=en

for the CMD file and explanation.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-06-06T00:56:56+00:00

    this worked as it allowed me to view the multiple versions of my printer that i have attempted to install....but it won't let me access the printer software like i was able to when i double clicked on a printer when it was listed under device and printer folder.

    previously (before i used a microsoft recommended software to clean my system) when i had multiple printers and devices listed under the "device and printer" folder, i could double click on my canon MP220 (which was my default printer) and the canon software would pop up and allow me to scan items from my printer to save to my system and do other things with my multipurpose printer.

    then after the system cleanse...no devices or printers were listed in the device and printer folder. reinstalling failed to list anything there. All tips listed have failed. Based on pasting the command prompt (start shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} ) i was able to see the versions of my printer i attempted to install but still can not access them. I have checked everything and need to know if there is a backdoor to access my printers other functions. one of the things im really getting frustrated with about windows and microsoft is the inability to shut off the crappy elements of your system without having to have a masters in computer enginieering...im talking about the "trusted installer" lock on programs and the authorization process. i can't seem to remove programs even though im the only user on my system and im the administrator.

    if you can help me get full function with my printer i could not give a rats **** if its listed in your special folder but you don't seem to allow access to things unless you choose to give it to us.

    but thank you though as this response out of the hundreds that i have read is the only one that made me feel like i was not crazy.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-05-03T08:06:41+00:00

    Hello Chris,

    This looks like a well spread issue with Windows 7. Do you know if MS planing to fix it and if there is a logged case/KB covering it?

    Regards, Ilkin J.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-25T22:48:47+00:00

    This worked great for me as well! Well done!!!

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