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

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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
    2012-10-04T02:14:21+00:00

    I have to agree with Rod Holley here.  Seems latest patch blew IE and underlying Explorer out of the water and these work arounds appear to resolve some issues, TEMPORARILY!! 

    A permanent fix is what's desired!!!!!!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-08-31T13:54:51+00:00

    Hello,

    Just to let you know that I have just tried this and it worked successfully!  For the past few days I couldn't access my devices & printers folder, but I was just too busy to try and sort out the problem, I hoped it would solve itself!  Just now, I needed to connect my phone via bluetooth, and when I couldn't, I  realised that it was all part of the same problem.  I googled, and came up with this, and am now up and running again.  

    Thanks for that Chris!

    Hello ZiaTexas,

    Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Answers Community.

    When did this issue arise? Have you installed any other hardware at the time that it started?

    After some research, it looks as though a possibility could be the Bluetooth Support Service is disabled. Check in your Services to determine if this service is disabled?

       - Click Start Orb > type services in the searchbox

       - Click services in the search results above

       - Look for Bluetooth Support Service in the list of services on the right pane.

    If it is set to disabled:

       - Right-click Bluetooth Support Service > click Properties

       - Under Startup type select Automatic then click OK

    Hope this helps

    Chris.H

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-04-26T14:04:50+00:00

    One computer on our site has the same intermittent problem. I have tried bluetooth services, sfc scannow, but keeps reoccurring. This causes crashes in excel, and other programs - even if not printing.

    Is there a definitive solution / reason.

    .

    Many thanks for your anticipated quick response MIcrosoft!

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