Computer Hope

Other Pages

Home
Site map
Computer help

Dictionary
News
Q&A
What's new

Tools

E-mail this page
Print Preview
Edit this page





Microsoft Windows Device Manager

Quick links

Device Manager ABCs
Device Manager errors
Device Manager overview
Device Manager error codes
Technical Support

Device Manager ABCs

First introduced with the release of Microsoft Windows 95, the Windows Device Manager is a program that allows a user to view hardware devices and their status. Device Manager is available in Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. 

See our overview section for additional information on how you can get into the Device Manager.

Device Manager errors

Within Device Manager the user can locate three types of problems: an exclamation mark, a red X, or an Other device.

Exclamation Mark - When a device has a yellow exclamation mark, this is an indication that the device is conflicting with another hardware device.

Red X - Indication that the device has been disabled, removed or that Windows is unable to locate the device.

Other Devices - Windows was unable to locate the drivers for the device and cannot determine the type of device being installed.

Each of the Device Manager error codes can be found in the below Device Manager error codes section.

Device Manager Overview

Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and ME users enter the Windows Device Manager by clicking Start, Settings, Control Panel, System icon, and finally clicking the Device Manager tab.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP users enter the Windows Device Manager by clicking Start, Settings, Control Panel, System icon, Hardware tab, and clicking the Device Manager button.

Users who have a keyboard with a windows key may also quickly get to the system prosperities by pressing the Windows key and the Pause key at the same time.

Below is a basic example of what the Microsoft Window Device Manager may look like when open. Clicking on the below image will open a more readable version of this picture.


Click Image

Also be sure to review our Device Manager categories section below for a good overview of each of the categories found in the Windows Device Manager.

Index

Category:
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows ME
Windows XP


Companies:
Microsoft

Related Pages:
Operating systems

Resolved

Were you able to locate the answer to your questions?
DEVICE MANAGER CATEGORIES

Below is a listing of each of the Windows Device Manager categories and a basic explanation of what you may find in these categories. Knowing what categories are available and what should be contained in these categories can help you easily determine when a hardware device is being detected or not, and have a better understanding of Device Manager.

 

Category Description
Batteries Displays any batteries being detected by Windows. This category only displays ACPI compliant batteries that power computers; other batteries, such as a CMOS battery, will likely be displayed under System devices.
CD-ROM Displays a listing of the currently detected and installed CD disk drives in the computer. Later versions of Microsoft Windows renamed this category to DVD/CD-ROM drives to help accommodate all the new types of CD and DVD drives.
Disk drives Displays each of the hard disk drives installed in the computer.
Display adapters Displays each of the video cards installed and/or detected by Windows.
DVD/CD-ROM drives Included in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP, this category is the replacement for the earlier CD-ROM category and displays all CD and DVD drives currently detected and/or installed by Windows.
Floppy disk controllers Displays each of the floppy disk drive controllers detected on the motherboard.
Floppy disk drives Displays each of the floppy disk drives currently installed in the computer.
Hard disk controllers Displays each of the disk controllers currently detected on the motherboard. Later versions of Microsoft Windows renamed this category to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers or the appropriate controller for the controller detected on the motherboard.
Human Interface Devices Displays any HID devices currently detected by Windows. For example, game controllers and USB devices may be listed in this category.
IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers Included in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP, this category displays each of the ATA or ATAPI controllers currently detected on the motherboard. This category replaces the old hard disk controllers category.
IEEE 1394 bus host controller Displays any IEEE 1394 controllers currently being detected by Windows.
Keyboards Displays each of the keyboards currently being detected by Windows.
Mice and other pointing devices Included in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP, this category displays each of the computer mice and any other pointing devices currently being detected by Windows. This category replaces the old mouse category.
Modem Displays each of the computer modems being detected by Windows.
Monitors Displays each of the computer monitors being detected by Windows.
Mouse Displays each of the computer mice being detected by Windows. Later versions of Microsoft Windows renamed this category to Mice and other pointing devices.
Multi-function adapters Internal and/or external device that is capable of performing multiple functions.
Network adapters Displays each of the computer network cards being detected by Windows.
Other Displays any hardware device that is either not properly installed or cannot be detected by Windows. If this category exists it is possible for the computer to encounter errors.
PCMCIA socket Displays a listing of PCMCIA sockets currently being detected by Windows.
Ports (COM & LPT) Displays any COM ports (Serial Ports) and LPT ports (Parallel Ports) detected by Windows. This section will also display what COM ports are detected; for example, if you have multiple serial ports you may see a COM1 and COM2. In addition, this will also display the LPT port mode detected; for example, ECP printer port. The COM and LPT ports can be configured through the computer's BIOS.
Processors Included with computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, this category displays any processors currently being detected by Windows. If your computer has one or more processors or is a processor with Hyper-threading, you may have multiple processors listed.
SCSI controller Displays any SCSI controllers currently being detected by Windows.
Sound, video and game controllers Display the computer sound card, video capture devices, Codecs, and game controllers currently installed. Note: Your video card should be installed under the Display adapters category and not this category.
System devices The remainder of the system hardware devices that are nota already listed in this section. Commonly, this section will list motherboard resources such as the controllers, PCI bus, system speaker, system timer, etc.
Universal Serial Bus controllers Displays each of the USB devices, controllers, and hubs currently being detected by Windows.

 

DEVICE MANAGER ERROR CODES

Below is a listing of Device Manager error codes and possible resolutions to resolve the errors generated by Device Manager.

CODE / ERROR HOW TO RESOLVE ERROR
CODE 1 - System Failure - No Config Flags (Not Configured). Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 2 (First Error) - The (FLOP, ESDI, SCSI,...) device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver
CODE 2 (Second Error) - Windows could not load a device driver is reporting (ISAPNP, PCI, BIOS, EISA, or ACPI) bus types
Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 3 - System Failure - Run Out of Memory Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 4 - Device Failure - Devloader/Static VxD/Configured is of Wrong Type. This code indicates that the .inf file for this device may be incorrect or the registry may be damaged. This error code is displayed if the .inf file specifies a field that should be text, but is binary instead. In addition to following the recommended suggestions, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer for an updated .inf file.
CODE 5 - Device Failure - Lacked an Arbitrator. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 6 - Boot config Conflicted. One or more of your devices within your computer are conflicting, such as an IRQ conflict. Ensure that the IRQs DMA, and I/O addresses are all correct.
CODE 7 - Filtering Failed - Possible problem in Device Driver Code. If the device works correctly, you do need not to perform any steps to correct the code. If the device does not work correctly, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code and the device does not function properly, check with the hardware manufacturer for an updated driver.
CODE 8 - System failure - Devloader Not Found If you are receiving an error about Devloader, there is no known resolution. If you are receiving any other error, attempt to reinstall the driver or update the driver.
If you are getting an error with a System Devloader, Windows should be reinstalled because the Devloader is built into the Vmm32.vxd.
CODE 9 - Invalid Data in Registry. This code means that the information in the registry for this device is invalid.
It may be possible to resolve this error by using Device Manager to remove the device and then running the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, contact the hardware's manufacturer for the proper registry settings or updated drivers.
CODE 10 - Device Failed to start. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 11 - Device Failure. To resolve this error, run the Automatic Skip Driver utility from the System Information tool. If the problem persists, contact the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers.
CODE 12 - Was normal conflicting - One of the resource arbitrators returned a failure. One or more of your devices within your computer are conflicting, such as an IRQ conflict. Ensure that the IRQs DMA, and I/O addresses are all correct.
CODE 13 - System Failure - Possible problem in Device Driver or Windows 95 Code. This code indicates that the device driver did not find the hardware.
To resolve this error code, first ensure the device is properly installed. As an alternative, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel.
CODE 14 - Need to restart your computer for this device to be re setup or to be finished installed. Restart the computer.
CODE 15 - This device is causing a resource conflict. One or more of your devices within your computer are conflicting, such as an IRQ conflict. Ensure that the IRQs DMA, and I/O addresses are all correct.
CODE 16 - Was not fully detected, not all detected. Double-click on the device, click the Resources tab and manually enter the settings.
CODE 17 - Device failure - Resource number was not found. This code means that the hardware is a multiple-function device and the .inf file for the device is providing invalid information on how to split the device's resources to the child devices.
To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer about an updated .inf file.
CODE 18 - Reinstall. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 19 - System Failure - Registry returned unknown result. Problem in the registry.
If you have Windows 95 and you have not made a backup of the registry you will need to reinstall Windows.
If you have Windows 98: To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution, which will run Scanreg.exe. If this does not resolve the issue, type scanreg /restore from C:\Windows\COMMAND.
CODE 20 - System Failure - VxDLdr Returned Unknown Result. This code means VxD Loader (Vxdldr) returned an unknown result. For example, there could a version mismatch between the device driver and the operating system driver.
Attempt to update driver. If that does not work, try removing the device from Device Manager and then running the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 21 - Will Be Removed. Restart the computer.
CODE 22 - This device is disabled. Double-click on the device and Enable. If this does not work, attempt to update the driver. If this also does not work, attempt to remove the device and reinstall through Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 23 - Device Failure - Devloader was not ready. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 24 - Device not Found, This device is either missing or not working properly. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 25 - Was Moved - Possible problem in device driver code. Attempt first to restart the computer at least two times, if you continue to get this error Reinstall Windows.
CODE 26 - Device Failure. First restart the computer. If this does not resolve the issue, check for updated drivers. In some cases, this issue may also be resolved by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 27 - Device failure - No Valid Log configuration This code means that the portion of the registry describing possible resources for a device does not contain valid entries. For example, the device is marked as configurable, but the configuration information in the .inf file is set to hardwired. To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If the device still does not work, consult the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers or further assistance.
CODE 28 - Failed Installation - This device was not installed completely. Verify you have the latest driver installed for your device. You may also be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager and going through the Add New Hardware Wizard in Control Panel.
CODE 29 - Hardware Disabled - This device does not work and cannot be made to work. Ensure that the device is not disabled through BIOS. Many times Windows cannot override settings in the BIOS. If the device is enabled there is no other known resolution.
CODE 30 - Cant Share IRQ. A PCI/EISA SCSI controller is sharing an IRQ that is also in use by a real-mode device driver set not to be overwritten. Remove the real mode driver that is using the same IRQ as the device from the config.sys or autoexec.bat.
CODE 31 - <device> is not working properly. The properties button displays the properties for the other device. More than likely the other device will also have one of these Device Manager error codes. Follow all the recommended solutions. If the devices still do not work remove the devices from Device Manager and use the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel to redetect them. Finally, verify that your devices have the latest drivers.
CODE 32  - Cannot install the device because cannot access the Networked drive. First, restart the computer. If this does not resolve your issue, verify that the device you are attempting to copy from is properly working. If the device is working, verify you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer.
CODE 33 - Device is not responding. This error is usually only shown when hardware has failed.

 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Reference Issue / Question
FORUM If your question is not listed on this page please try our online forum.
CH000143 MS-DOS compatibility mode issues.
CH000196 Device Manager reports a device as a category and will not remove it.
CH000197 How to change a devices resources.
CH000294 If a device is removed in Device Manager will it be redetect?
CH000295 Where is Device Manager in Windows NT 4?
CH000833 How do I get into Windows Device Manager?
CH000869 Unable to remove a device in Windows Device Manager.
CH000870 How do I remove a device in Windows Device Manager?
CH000921 Windows Device Manager base system device under other devices.

 

Home - Computer help - Contact - Dictionary - Links
Link to Computer Hope - Bookmark Computer Hope