Vista Tutorial - Device Manager - Hidden Devices

This site has lots of cool tips and I love them all, thanks a lot.
If I can contribute some too?

Even after selecting "show hidden devices" there are some more devices which are still hidden. To show them:

Goto c:\windows\system32, find cmd.exe, right click and choose "run as administrator"
In the command window which opens, type:
Set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 (press enter)
Devmgmt.msc (press enter)
In the device manager window which opens click View=>show hidden devices.

This is handy to remove all the superfluous entries such as keyboard, monitor, mouse, hard drive etc which have been redetected. Just rightclick and uninstall any devices which you are sure are not connected anymore.
Be careful not to remove any devices you're not sure about, some of them are meant to be hidden, are used by Windows, and will cause big troubles if removed. The main purpose of this is to remove multiple entries of devices which have been unplugged and then plugged back in to a different port, eg. Mouse, keyboard.

Welcome to the forum Stickywulf,

I am glad you like them. Yes, please contribute as much as you like and feel free to create a tutorial to if you would like to.

Thank you,
Shawn

Another way to do this which always makes devices not currently connected show up in pale grey when you click Show Hidden Devices:
Go to Control Panel, System, Advanced System Settings, Environment Variables, New ( user variables if just for you or system variables for all users of your computer ). In the Variable Name box type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices and in the Variable Value type 1. Then you need to OK it twice.
This saves you having to do the command prompt everytime.
Love the site and thanks to all who contribute. SIW2

Thank you SIW2.

Shawn

You can even streamline that a little more:
Right click My Computer and click Properties - - Advanced System Settings - - Advanced tab. Click Environment Variables. Under System Variables, click the New button. Type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices for the Variable Name. Under Variable Value, type “1″ and click OK. In the bottom screen outline the item "FALSE" and substitute "TRUE" . Click OK twice more to apply your changes and exit the System Properties dialog box. Now open Device Manager again and from the View menu, click Show Hidden Devices.

LOL, thank you Dave.

You can also press the Windows Key + Pause/Break key then Advanced System Settings etc.......

Shawn

I reckon you've topped us all!!

LOL, I'm sure someone will come along with another easier way of doing it.

The more, the better. It only helps.

Shawn

How You All Create This Video.