PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME. My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty. The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1. So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection to the internet.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Turn Plug and play back on...:) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:
>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.
>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.
>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.
>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection
>to the internet.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

When checking to see if Plug and Play was on, it was. I tried to re-install the modem from the disc and even though it "installed" the device manager was still empty. No modem, no drivers, nothing. I even chose the "view hidden option" and still nothing. :-(


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:16 am, Steve wrote:
>Turn Plug and play back on...:)
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

did anyone answer your question, I am having the same problem?


On Monday, May 5, 2003 at 6:19 am, Tye wrote:
>When checking to see if Plug and Play was on, it was.
>I tried to re-install the modem from the disc and even though it "installed" the
>device manager was still empty. No modem, no drivers, nothing. I even chose the "view
>hidden option" and still nothing. :-(
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I am having the same problem, did you find any solution? I also have the PnPlay running but the device manager still empty...

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have a sneaking suspicion that this problem may be caused by a security update for the RPC vulnerability. I dont know why but I have this exact problem and it occured when I installed the update for the RPC vulnerability. I also know some peope that have experiencesd this after installign the blaster RPC patch.. Might be wrong but it seems like a big co-incidence...

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have had a look around and it doesnt seem that this could have been caused by the rpc patches because alot of people have been experiencing it well before the patches were released. I am sure Microsoft will actually have soem usefull troubleshooting for this sometime just after people have stopped using XP and moved to longhorn or whatever it ends up being called.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

If Device Manager is showing nothing, then Its the plug and play service that is the problem. But if the Device manager is showing the system_name and not showing any devices in the window, then check the security permissions on the Registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\ENUM .The SYSTEM account must have full control permissions on this key in order for the Device manager to list all the devices in the window


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:
>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.
>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.
>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.
>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection
>to the internet.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504 Please visit the Above MS KB Article. This happens if the Plug and Play devices are disabled.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Solution Check the Plug and Play Service to Startup in MSCONFIG To check on the status of the Plug and Play service from within MSCONFIG, perform the following steps: Click the Start button, click Run, and then type in the Open box msconfig. Click OK. The Microsoft System Configuration Utility window appears. Click the Services tab. Verify that the Hide all Microsoft Services checkbox is not checked; if it is, uncheck it. Scroll down the list of services until you see the service named Plug and Play. Click to check Plug and Play if the box is currently unchecked. NOTE: If you are still having difficulty accessing the Device Manager or the Status displayed in MSCONFIG is listed as Stopped, proceed to the next section to enable the Plug and Play service. Enable the Plug and Play Service To enable the Plug and Play service in a system where it is disabled, perform the following steps: Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage. The Computer Management window appears. Click Services and Applications, and then click Services. Click the tab labeled Standard, and scroll down to Plug and Play. Double-click Plug and Play. NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK. The Plug and Play Properties window appears. Click to change the Startup Type to Manual, and then click Apply. NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK. Under the Service Status section of the Plug and Play Properties windows, click the Start button. This will start the Plug and Play service. Click OK on the Plug and Play Properties. You should now be able to access the Device Manager

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I tried a solution I saw on the web. It involved turning off plug and play, rebooting and then turning PnP back on. That did nothing, I think my prob was related to USB as well. I finally reloaded windows xp and that fixed the problem. Its drastic but it was the only thing that worked thanks


On Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 7:56 pm, gman wrote:
>
>did anyone answer your question, I am having the same problem?
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I was having the same problem, and this solution worked for me Thanks a lot


On Monday, October 13, 2003 at 4:58 pm, Sayantan Datta wrote:
>Solution
>
>Check the Plug and Play Service to Startup in MSCONFIG
>
>To check on the status of the Plug and Play service from within MSCONFIG, perform
>the following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, click Run, and then type in the Open box msconfig. Click
>OK.
>The Microsoft System Configuration Utility window appears.
>Click the Services tab.
>Verify that the Hide all Microsoft Services checkbox is not checked; if it is, uncheck
>it.
>Scroll down the list of services until you see the service named Plug and Play.
>Click to check Plug and Play if the box is currently unchecked.
>
>NOTE: If you are still having difficulty accessing the Device Manager or the Status
>displayed in MSCONFIG is listed as Stopped, proceed to the next section to enable
>the Plug and Play service.
>Enable the Plug and Play Service
>
>To enable the Plug and Play service in a system where it is disabled, perform the
>following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage.
>The Computer Management window appears.
>Click Services and Applications, and then click Services.
>Click the tab labeled Standard, and scroll down to Plug and Play.
>Double-click Plug and Play.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>The Plug and Play Properties window appears.
>Click to change the Startup Type to Manual, and then click Apply.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>
>Under the Service Status section of the Plug and Play Properties windows, click the
>Start button.
>This will start the Plug and Play service.
>Click OK on the Plug and Play Properties.
>You should now be able to access the Device Manager

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hey Sajith, you are most welcome. You have any other issues for which you feel like suing Bill Gates just send me a mail to sayantandatta@indiatimes.com and we will sue together.


On Sunday, November 2, 2003 at 10:50 am, sajith wrote:
>I was having the same problem, and this solution worked for me
>
>Thanks a lot
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hello guys I have the same problem in Win 2000 professional at home. I folowed ur advice and went to services to check if PnP is running. It is running (Atuo mode) but iam unable to stopt/start it .. all buttons are disabled. FYI I was logged in as admin. Is ur solution only for XP ? doesnt apply to 2Kpro ? Any thing else u can think of. I have been sitting on this for a week now and am mighty pissed off ! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hey there Ganesh. I tried all internal databases at my workplace and all the goddamned internet but found no solutions. All I can advice from my experience is it is one of Microsoft's embarrassments that it prefers to keep off the books. I would suggest that you back up all system folders (My Document, My Music, etc. ) and run a repair reinstallation of Win 2000

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Guys, I've been watching this thread with interest, because it happened to me a few days ago on my Windows ME machine. Device Manager was empty except for one unknown device. However, Safe-Mode was still revealed the entire list. The solution for me was to boot the machine to a DOS prompt using an Emergency Startup disk. Then ran c:\windows\win. It reported a problem and said it had fixed it. Back in business!! Thought it was coincidental, but I was installing a Wireless Router onto my network back then. Hope this helps.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

You Rock!! Thanks so much for you contributions to this topic!!


On Monday, October 13, 2003 at 4:58 pm, Sayantan Datta wrote:
>Solution
>
>Check the Plug and Play Service to Startup in MSCONFIG
>
>To check on the status of the Plug and Play service from within MSCONFIG, perform
>the following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, click Run, and then type in the Open box msconfig. Click
>OK.
>The Microsoft System Configuration Utility window appears.
>Click the Services tab.
>Verify that the Hide all Microsoft Services checkbox is not checked; if it is, uncheck
>it.
>Scroll down the list of services until you see the service named Plug and Play.
>Click to check Plug and Play if the box is currently unchecked.
>
>NOTE: If you are still having difficulty accessing the Device Manager or the Status
>displayed in MSCONFIG is listed as Stopped, proceed to the next section to enable
>the Plug and Play service.
>Enable the Plug and Play Service
>
>To enable the Plug and Play service in a system where it is disabled, perform the
>following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage.
>The Computer Management window appears.
>Click Services and Applications, and then click Services.
>Click the tab labeled Standard, and scroll down to Plug and Play.
>Double-click Plug and Play.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>The Plug and Play Properties window appears.
>Click to change the Startup Type to Manual, and then click Apply.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>
>Under the Service Status section of the Plug and Play Properties windows, click the
>Start button.
>This will start the Plug and Play service.
>Click OK on the Plug and Play Properties.
>You should now be able to access the Device Manager

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

It would seem here the only option is to turn on Plug and Plague to get device manager back, is this true? I don't want Big Brother Billy controlling my resources, it seem to screw up my Motu Audio Digital interface card, that's why I tried to turn it off, so I can set the resources myself. But the device manager is now empty, and b 4, the "Automatic setting tab" is always grey out, unavailable for everything, why? Tried all the BIOS settings I could find, and all the Windows XP Home settings I found, ended up with no display in Device Manager, any help?? Sean AMD 1800+, 1 gig, Abit KX7-333R,Via 333R chipset Bloody Windows XP Home Lawsuit on Billy, count me in!!!!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have had this blank device manager for a month. Thanks a lot!!!!!!


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:16 am, Steve wrote:
>Turn Plug and play back on...:)
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hello, I'm glad, if glad is the right word, to see that other people are having the same problem. It took about 3 days to figure out how to phrase this on google before finding the right forums...vexing. So yes, my problem with the empty Device Manager\PlugnPlay failure started after downloading all the recent Microsoft Updates and downloading the Windows XP version of the Yamaha DS-XG sound card driver. After that it was downhill...i turned on my computer the next morning and had no sound, no modem, or anything else related to Plug n Play. I've tried all the solutions so far here, from checking Services, to enabling System control priviliges in Regedit, to checking Computer Management, disabling it in the BIOS, rebooting, re-enabling. I've even bought a live chicken and a trapped soul in case i have to resort to Voodoo. personally I'd rather it was Gates' throat that could be slit...but that's just the angry side of me talking, that can't get online or play music... So yeah, I have the same problem... It seems that this is some kind of PlugnPlay problem among SEVERAL, judging by the amount of posts I've seen in this thread with the same problem but different preceeding events. What the heck, windows, what the heck. thanks, chris

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I too have the same problems after updating my perfectly working machine with XP SP-1 update on a Toshiba 5005-s504. It is running the Yamaha AC-XG sound (or was). No sound, no device manager entries and the initial display within Windows explorer from root (C:) takes 45-60 seconds to open and display. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated as I loved this machine but now....


On Thursday, June 3, 2004 at 4:22 am, vicejesus wrote:
>Hello, I'm glad, if glad is the right word, to see that other people are having the
>same problem. It took about 3 days to figure out how to phrase this on google before
>finding the right forums...vexing. So yes, my problem with the empty Device Manager\PlugnPlay
>failure started after downloading all the recent Microsoft Updates and downloading
>the Windows XP version of the Yamaha DS-XG sound card driver. After that it was downhill...i
>turned on my computer the next morning and had no sound, no modem, or anything else
>related to Plug n Play. I've tried all the solutions so far here, from checking Services,
>to enabling System control priviliges in Regedit, to checking Computer Management,
>disabling it in the BIOS, rebooting, re-enabling. I've even bought a live chicken
>and a trapped soul in case i have to resort to Voodoo. personally I'd rather it was
>Gates' throat that could be slit...but that's just the angry side of me talking,
>that can't get online or play music... So yeah, I have the same problem...
>
>It seems that this is some kind of PlugnPlay problem among SEVERAL, judging by the
>amount of posts I've seen in this thread with the same problem but different preceeding
>events. What the heck, windows, what the heck.
>
>thanks,
>chris

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

yeah, my My Computer was doing that. If i went into msconfig and regedit and disabled a lot of shit, i can avoid the delay, but i've lost patience. I'm just reinstalling and reformatting, which is proving to be even more exhausting because i have to wait till my dad sends over my Windows XP cd i left in the states, and im having immense difficulty reformatting and removing windows xp...joy of joys. good luck to all with the same problem.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks Pradeep. Your suggestion worked for me when I tried fixing the problem on a friend's PC. Never knew I can set permission for a Registry key :)


On Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 10:46 pm, pradeep kumar moses wrote:
>If Device Manager is showing nothing, then Its the plug and play service that is
>the problem. But if the Device manager is showing the system_name and not showing
>any devices in the window, then check the security permissions on the Registry key
>HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\ENUM .The SYSTEM account must have full control permissions
>on this key in order for the Device manager to list all the devices in the window
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Funny this just happened to me it took the list of items all was just blank. No virii I did 2 different scans. My D: drive wouldn't stop being checked as it came up clean no bad sectors no errors but scanned each bootup. I decided to reformat, C: wouldn't format so I formatted D: then forced C: to format & reinstalled C: on boot up chkdsk ran again on D: & I reformatted D: again. Everything now is ok. But this is wild. Just thought I would share.


On Monday, June 14, 2004 at 11:35 am, vicejesus wrote:
>yeah, my My Computer was doing that. If i went into msconfig and regedit and disabled
>a lot of shit, i can avoid the delay, but i've lost patience. I'm just reinstalling
>and reformatting, which is proving to be even more exhausting because i have to wait
>till my dad sends over my Windows XP cd i left in the states, and im having immense
>difficulty reformatting and removing windows xp...joy of joys. good luck to all with
>the same problem.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  I spent an entire day with Dell computer support 
trying to retrieve the device manager list on my girlfriend's laptop with Windoze 
2000.  It appears to have disappeared after Dell support had me install WinRoute 
to access a wireless TrueMobile 2300.  All that was left in the device manager list 
was an icon of a computer with the computer's name.  I was told that I would have 
to re-install Win2K, and anyway why wasn't I using XP?  I am getting disappointed 
with their level of support; it used to be better in the old days (wasn't everything?). 
 Other symptoms included: no more plug n play (for USB drives, etc.), no sound, slow 
bootup, etc.).

I tried the fix spelled out by Sayantan but it didn't work; however, I noticed that 
when I turned off plug n play, the icon with my computer name also disappeared, which 
led me to try the solution suggested by Pradeep.

After applying Pradeep's fix, everything seems fine.  Just for other dummies like 
me who weren't sure where to start, here are the steps I went through:

Start-Run-regedt32.exe (note the missing "i", it took me awhile to get past that);
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine;
Burrow into the registry - SYSTEM/CurrenControlSet/Enum;
Highlight "Enum";
Click on Security-Permissions on Tool Bar;
[Note: on my system, only "Everyone" was in the list, with no permissions]
Click on "Add", Choose SYSTEM from list, click on "Add", Click on "OK";
Toggle on Allow Read & Full Control;
[I also added Administrator to the list but don't know if this matters or not or 
if it may be a problem later...]
Click on "OK";
Reboot!

Again, many thanks for the effective advice!
Cheers,
Jim






On Monday, June 21, 2004 at 6:59 am, Khong How Yu wrote:

>Thanks Pradeep. Your suggestion worked for me when I tried fixing the problem on 

>a friend's PC. Never knew I can set permission for a Registry key :)

>

>

> 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

No!
None of the hints worked at all!

The device manager folder is empty 
The network connection folder is empty
PnP service is started
All rights for the "enum" in the registry are as needed
both folders are empty even after starting XP in saved mode
I installed SP1 (and tried also SP2) deinstalled all SPs

that is really annoying!!!!!!!
Please help (and try to find other solutions than the described in this forum)

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This was the answer to my problem.... SYSTEM did not have rights to the ENUM key. 
 Why is that?
Thanks. 

Tom






On Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 10:46 pm, pradeep kumar moses wrote:

>If Device Manager is showing nothing, then Its the plug and play service that is 

>the problem. But if the Device manager is showing the system_name and not showing 

>any devices in the window, then check the security permissions on the Registry key 

>HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\ENUM .The SYSTEM account must have full control permissions 

>on this key in order for the Device manager to list all the devices in the window

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thats right!! You ROCK! This one helped me!


On Sunday, May 2, 2004 at 12:53 pm, JG wrote:
>You Rock!! Thanks so much for you contributions to this topic!!
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK. Double-click Plug and Play. If you receive a Configuration Manager message, click OK. In the Startup Type list, click Automatic, and then click OK. Close Services. Restart the computer.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've now got this same problem. Just got a new Gamepad and reallised XP had ignored my game port on my... you guessed it, Yamaha 754 XG card. An updated driver later and no sound, no devices, no fun, no gamepad. I've read the whole thread and tried everything but nout has worked. XP Home edition SP2 Dell 4600 2.8 P4


On Thursday, August 5, 2004 at 8:57 am, Inge Mueller wrote:
>No!
>None of the hints worked at all!
>
>The device manager folder is empty
>The network connection folder is empty
>PnP service is started
>All rights for the "enum" in the registry are as needed
>both folders are empty even after starting XP in saved mode
>I installed SP1 (and tried also SP2) deinstalled all SPs
>
>that is really annoying!!!!!!!
>Please help (and try to find other solutions than the described in this forum)

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I'm also very thankful it worked for our INSPIRON 8000 that developed the same empty device manager. So thank you all for posting this very helpful information.


On Monday, July 5, 2004 at 6:10 pm, James Norio wrote:
>Hi,
>Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I spent an entire day with Dell computer support
>trying to retrieve the device manager list on my girlfriend's laptop with Windoze
>2000. It appears to have disappeared after Dell support had me install WinRoute
>to access a wireless TrueMobile 2300. All that was left in the device manager list
>was an icon of a computer with the computer's name. I was told that I would have
>to re-install Win2K, and anyway why wasn't I using XP? I am getting disappointed
>with their level of support; it used to be better in the old days (wasn't everything?).
> Other symptoms included: no more plug n play (for USB drives, etc.), no sound, slow
>bootup, etc.).
>
>I tried the fix spelled out by Sayantan but it didn't work; however, I noticed that
>when I turned off plug n play, the icon with my computer name also disappeared, which
>led me to try the solution suggested by Pradeep.
>
>After applying Pradeep's fix, everything seems fine. Just for other dummies like
>me who weren't sure where to start, here are the steps I went through:
>
>Start-Run-regedt32.exe (note the missing "i", it took me awhile to get past that);
>Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine;
>Burrow into the registry - SYSTEM/CurrenControlSet/Enum;
>Highlight "Enum";
>Click on Security-Permissions on Tool Bar;
>[Note: on my system, only "Everyone" was in the list, with no permissions]
>Click on "Add", Choose SYSTEM from list, click on "Add", Click on "OK";
>Toggle on Allow Read & Full Control;
>[I also added Administrator to the list but don't know if this matters or not or
>if it may be a problem later...]
>Click on "OK";
>Reboot!
>
>Again, many thanks for the effective advice!
>Cheers,
>Jim
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

The issue is security permissions in the registry.  I cannot tell how they are lost 
but I can tell you how to fix it short of having to re-install Windows!

You must use regedt32.exe in Windows 2000/XP (as I have not seen this problem posted 
for any other operating system).  Be very carefull making changes in the regisrty!

You must be logged on as a local administrator to perform this task:

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.

5. Click "Add".
6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
7. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
8. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
9. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
10. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
11. Click "OK"
12. On the warning window click "Yes"
13. Close REGEDT32

You should now be able to see everything in Device Manager, Network Places Properties, 
and Printers.







On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:

>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.

>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.  

>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.

>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection 

>to the internet. 

>

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had the same problem on a clients computer. I found a solution that actually worked on Microsofts website. Here is the link- http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311504 Now everything is showing up in device manager. Hope this helps!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

EMERGENCY BOOT DISK FREEWARE

" I'd rather it was Gates' throat that could be slit... "

It is a bit Kosher isn't it? ☺
Mac

WINDOWS SUPPORT  RAM

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Got the same problem after installing Yamaha sound card drivers. Found the solution. It is needed to reset children permissions under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum registry key. It seems drivers setup sets wrong permissions for some keys its create. This leads to problem with device manager.


On Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 12:27 pm, Matt wrote:
>I've now got this same problem. Just got a new Gamepad and reallised XP had ignored
>my game port on my... you guessed it, Yamaha 754 XG card. An updated driver later
>and no sound, no devices, no fun, no gamepad.
>I've read the whole thread and tried everything but nout has worked.
>XP Home edition SP2
>Dell 4600 2.8 P4

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Just had this problem on the client's PC, I found out with the help of RegMon what all permissions was missing from my registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB (can be any other key in Enum branch in your case). In this case Device Manager just aborts reading device information and displays nothing. To fix, check permissions on all the keys here, should be "Full Control" for "SYSTEM" and "Read" for "Everyone", and add them if necessary. WBR, Gregory


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:
>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.
>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.
>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.
>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection
>to the internet.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks, I had the same problem and your solution worked great.


On Monday, October 4, 2004 at 11:00 am, Dan wrote:
>The issue is security permissions in the registry. I cannot tell how they are lost
>but I can tell you how to fix it short of having to re-install Windows!
>
>You must use regedt32.exe in Windows 2000/XP (as I have not seen this problem posted
>for any other operating system). Be very carefull making changes in the regisrty!
>
>You must be logged on as a local administrator to perform this task:
>
>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.
>
>5. Click "Add".
>6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
>7. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
>8. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
>9. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
>10. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
>11. Click "OK"
>12. On the warning window click "Yes"
>13. Close REGEDT32
>
>You should now be able to see everything in Device Manager, Network Places Properties,
>and Printers.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This solution worked! My device manager list also disappeared, but after installing gamepad drivers for the Saitek P2500. All the other solutions here had no effect. Thank you! -Lee


On Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 11:51 am, jusid wrote:
>Got the same problem after installing Yamaha sound card drivers. Found the solution.
>
>It is needed to reset children permissions under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum
>registry key.
>
>It seems drivers setup sets wrong permissions for some keys its create. This leads
>to problem with device manager.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

No, nothing to do with Plug and Play. Need to change permission settings in the registry. Go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum. Add full permissions to Everyone. Click on Advanced button. Put a tick in both options at the bottom (Inherit from parent the permission entries... and Replace permission entries on all child or objects...). Exit and reboot - Device Manager no longer empty.


On Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:28 pm, Carlos wrote:
>I am having the same problem, did you find any solution? I also have the PnPlay running
>but the device manager still empty...

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I am havng a similar problem with my COM ports not showing on device manager. I tried the fixes suggested and no luck and also tried http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;825826 Does anyone have any other suggestions or links to MS Bulletins? Thanks for any help.


On Sunday, November 7, 2004 at 6:39 pm, Grigory Morozov wrote:
>Just had this problem on the client's PC,
>I found out with the help of RegMon what all permissions was missing from my registry
>key
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USB
>(can be any other key in Enum branch in your case).
>In this case Device Manager just aborts reading device information and displays nothing.
>To fix, check permissions on all the keys here, should be "Full Control" for "SYSTEM"
>and "Read" for "Everyone", and add them if necessary.
>
>WBR,
>Gregory
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have been pulling my hair out for 3 days now and I finally got everything to work again. Click START, right click MY COMPUTER and click MANAGE. Select SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS then SERVICES. ALL of my services were disabled. I went through the entire list and started all of the services that I could and all my programs started again. Dell wanted me to wipe out my C drive and start all over but I knew there must be a way to undo the damage done by attempting to install the Verizon Support program. I hope this helps anyone who experiences the damage that a poorly written program can do to your machine!


On Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 4:27 pm, Fritz Newton wrote:
>I am havng a similar problem with my COM ports not showing on device manager. I
>tried the fixes suggested and no luck and also tried http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;825826
>
>Does anyone have any other suggestions or links to MS Bulletins?
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

My sentiments, exactly! Nothing, nothing, nothing worked... until: Check, in Services, if the Universal Plug and Play Device Host is started. Mine wasn't. When I started this, I could finally see my devices in Device Manager. Seems that the SSDP service is part of the Universal Plug and Play and must be started for the other to work correctly. Got this info from Robert Moir's Website... the url is too long to list. Hope this helps!


On Thursday, August 5, 2004 at 8:57 am, Inge Mueller wrote:
>No!
>None of the hints worked at all!
>
>The device manager folder is empty
>The network connection folder is empty
>PnP service is started
>All rights for the "enum" in the registry are as needed
>both folders are empty even after starting XP in saved mode
>I installed SP1 (and tried also SP2) deinstalled all SPs
>
>that is really annoying!!!!!!!
>Please help (and try to find other solutions than the described in this forum)

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I changed permissions in the registry for everybody, but when I put a check in both options for inherit parent and child it did not change some of the sub permission entries. rebooted and still have the same problem. Can you help further Thanks Don


On Friday, November 19, 2004 at 7:55 pm, Wayne Smith wrote:
>No, nothing to do with Plug and Play. Need to change permission settings in the
>registry.
>
>Go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum.
>
>Add full permissions to Everyone. Click on Advanced button. Put a tick in both
>options at the bottom (Inherit from parent the permission entries... and Replace
>permission entries on all child or objects...).
>
>Exit and reboot - Device Manager no longer empty.
>
>
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

All, I too had this problem when I installed a USB camera from Logitech. I learned from this web site: http://www.webservertalk.com/archive49-2004-7-289039.html That the security permissions for the system and administrators was missing when viewed under regedt32.exe. I went to registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Enum. Highlighted the Enum entry, go to the top of the regedt32 menu bar, choose "Security", and view the settings for key "Enum". You might notice that it is void of "allow" checkmarks for the local members of the machine you are working on. Check "allow" for each login account you want to allow access to the device manager, click apply and re-run the device manager. Please don't credit me, credit the folks at WWW.WEBSERVERTALK.COM, specifically the person that described the fix, Torgeir Bakken. Regards, Ron Malloy


On Monday, December 13, 2004 at 6:07 pm, Jim wrote:
>I have been pulling my hair out for 3 days now and I finally got everything to work
>again. Click START, right click MY COMPUTER and click MANAGE. Select SERVICES AND
>APPLICATIONS then SERVICES. ALL of my services were disabled. I went through the
>entire list and started all of the services that I could and all my programs started
>again. Dell wanted me to wipe out my C drive and start all over but I knew there
>must be a way to undo the damage done by attempting to install the Verizon Support
>program. I hope this helps anyone who experiences the damage that a poorly written
>program can do to your machine!
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Am testing all the suggested solutions here. I got this problem after uninstalling Spybot S-D (Search & Destroy), downloaded from www.download.com. I don't know if this program is related to the problem, though.


On Wednesday, January 5, 2005 at 7:36 am, Ron Malloy wrote:
>All,
>
>I too had this problem when I installed a USB camera from Logitech. I learned from
>this web site: http://www.webservertalk.com/archive49-2004-7-289039.html
>That the security permissions for the system and administrators was missing when
>viewed under regedt32.exe. I went to registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Enum.
>Highlighted the Enum entry, go to the top of the regedt32 menu bar, choose "Security",
>and view the settings for key "Enum". You might notice that it is void of "allow"
> checkmarks for the local members of the machine you are working on. Check "allow"
>for each login account you want to allow access to the device manager, click apply
>and re-run the device manager.
>
>Please don't credit me, credit the folks at WWW.WEBSERVERTALK.COM, specifically the
>person that described the fix, Torgeir Bakken.
>
>Regards,
>Ron Malloy
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

The solution BELOW worked for me wonderfully, although enabling all those devices tried my patience. These were the things that happened before my 'problem' occurred. I'm not sure which one actually triggered the problem...but in the future this might help. 1) I installed a Windows Security Update for adware (released in the last couple of weeks). 2) I uninstalled Spybot S-D (anti spyware program that affects the system registry) 3) I tried booting up using the Diagnostic Startup once, which possibly disabled all my services (even if I then booted up with the Normal Startup afterwards nothing worked though...maybe the settings didn't just bounce back.)


On Monday, December 13, 2004 at 6:07 pm, Jim wrote:
>I have been pulling my hair out for 3 days now and I finally got everything to work
>again. Click START, right click MY COMPUTER and click MANAGE. Select SERVICES AND
>APPLICATIONS then SERVICES. ALL of my services were disabled. I went through the
>entire list and started all of the services that I could and all my programs started
>again. Dell wanted me to wipe out my C drive and start all over but I knew there
>must be a way to undo the damage done by attempting to install the Verizon Support
>program. I hope this helps anyone who experiences the damage that a poorly written
>program can do to your machine!
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi, I had the same problem for the last few days, but I've finally found the solution to the problem. I think this is definitely a glitch in the Win XP OS because we all came across the same problem through different actions. I wasn't installing any new software, hardware, or was even on the internet, for that matter. All I did was scan for adware and viruses and BAM! -- it happened.

The root of the problem is that for some reason Win XP thinks it'd be funny to disable all the services that make up the backbone of the OS, which is why Windows XP suddenly has no ability to connect to any hardware or that it looks like Windows 2000 and not the sleek XP. And what's really annoying about this glitch is that it erases all the system restore points you ever saved in the past, so there's no way you can ever go back to normal. As some people mentioned in previous posts, yes, Plug and Play was disabled, but you can't fix this problem through the BIOS Setup Screen because Win XP has its own way of enabling P&P, for some stupid annoying reason.

So how to fix this damn problem... Go to START --> RUN --> "services.msc" (sans quotes). Here is a list of all the services that XP disabled on its own. Go through it an enable all of them (some you can skip if you know you won't use it) and don't forget to start them as well, or else they won't work. (right click on service-->"start")

I have all of hardware back, including sound, and Win XP looks sleek and nice again, but there are still problems here and there. First of all, you'll never get those system restore points back because Win XP is a jackass. Second of all, I'm having trouble starting my firewall or connecting to the internet (wi-fi, 56k), but I don't know if that's because I'm not at my house where I have LAN, or if I need to re-install some applications or services from my recovery disk. And finally, there are still some services that after enabled cannot be started for some odd reason. Windows error says that the device or service connected to the said service is not enabled, but that doesn't make sense since I've enabled all of them, so there are still glitches in the system. I hope this helped some, and if anyone can figure out the rest of the glitches, please reply! Thanks.


On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:
>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.
>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.
>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.
>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection
>to the internet.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Welp, everyone on here has just mentioned and reposted over and over all the pat
answers from Microsoft about the services and the permissions...  well, here's
my problem. MUCH worse than what you guys are getting I guess.

I've got the same blank/empty Device Manager only this happens right after (and
due to) installing XP Service Pack 2.  I get this on multiple laptops, but ONLY
the laptops (IBM StinkPads, widely varying models).

All my services and registry permissions look fine. But I still have blank Device
Manager.  However, if I look at the registry key:  
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum

I have at least one garbage entry as my first entry and many times I even have
multiple garbage entries or even all of them. ex.  a blank key under ENUM with 
the name   $%&'()*+,   and no values.

Many times the key name gets longer and longer consecutively. I cannot delete 
these keys because they are of course in use by the system. The same will be 
repeated in ControlSet001 and 002, so I can't even repair using those.

So there...whatcha think of THAT!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

BIG THANKS to Dan for his accurate and clear information. It solved my problem of blank device manager. I think it might have been caused by me chopping out registry entries for a program called LOGMEIN although I'm not 100%. Dave

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi, Windows XP Service Pack 2 did the same thing to my computer as well as disabling internet explorer from browsing the internet. When I unloaded windows xp service pack 2, I had an empty device manager and when I tried to install a 56k modem for doing faxes no ports were showing. (this modem has worked before). Internet explorer was working, at least (I connect with high speed) I suspect that Microsoft has a virus on their site that causes this. If you don't think that this is possible - then please note that this has actually happened to me - I tried downloading a dialup networking upgrade for windows 98 from Microsoft's website in the past and it tried to plant a virus onto my computer... Oh, btw not only can't I see the hardware settings in device manager if I try to get the hardware settings by checking out the properties after clicking on a control panel icon, for example e.g. the keyboard the hardware settings are blank there too. Maybe there is some registry setting like "disable hardware properties display" or something like that that will fix this, I hope so, 'cause I can't bloody well fax resumes anymore..... Joe


On Friday, January 21, 2005 at 12:25 pm, Enigma wrote:
>Welp, everyone on here has just mentioned and reposted over and over all the pat
>answers from Microsoft about the services and the permissions... well, here's
>my problem. MUCH worse than what you guys are getting I guess.
>
>I've got the same blank/empty Device Manager only this happens right after (and
>due to) installing XP Service Pack 2. I get this on multiple laptops, but ONLY
>the laptops (IBM StinkPads, widely varying models).
>
>All my services and registry permissions look fine. But I still have blank Device
>Manager.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I think more than one or two issues are in play here.  I was working on our church 
computer and found it slow as Christmas.  I downloaded and ran adaware. It ran for 
4 hours, getting slower and slower as it ran.  It had found some 66K spyware files 
at this point, most in a directory that appeared to hold an old OS (Migrated from 
ME to XP) and had an option to uninstall XP.

Since the machine had effectively stopped...examining one file every minute or so. 
I had to simply shut it off....kind of dangerous, I know.  I let it run chkdsk coming 
back up.  I ran msconfig and set it in diagnostic mode (cutting off a lot of services 
and devices).  I then ran a disk cleanup program that comes with XP and found that 
I could eliminate the old OS files...which I did.  I rebooted, again in diagnostic 
mode, and ran adaware again. This time, it completed in a few minutes...found two 
registry problems and a handful of spyware files (kind of strange it was now so few). 
 The machine had some pop to it now.

I rebooted, reenabled the normal startup and everything looked good.  Next day the 
secretary complains that she can't print anything.  I go by and check it out.  Internet 
access is fine...everything seems to work except:
1. no printers are listed in the printers faxes window
2. No scanners are listed, although a digital camera had been installed and a scanner 
was attached.
3. The device manager showed a blank.

What I found here was that somehow a whole string of services were disabled.  I looked 
at the list running "services.msc".  I clicked on each one at a time and set disabled 
to "automatic".  I rebooted the machine and it's working fine now.

So my problem, although described a lot like others in this thread actually had nothing 
to do with permissions. I can see however that you should have the same problem if 
you simply didn't have the rights to see these system utilities.

Maybe the abnormal end to the adaware run caused the trouble.  Maybe my disabling 
a lot of drivers and services as part of my temporarily cutting the load down on 
the processor had something to do with this problem.

Whatever, this forum was invaluable to me in getting this corrected.  A rebuild of 
the computer would have been a nightmare.  Thanks for all the good advice.

By the way, this machine was running service pack 1 when it failed.






On Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 10:33 am, JoeMeister wrote:

>Hi,

>

>Windows XP Service Pack 2 did the same thing to my computer as well as disabling 

>internet explorer from browsing the internet. When I unloaded windows xp service 

>pack 2, I had an empty device manager and when I tried to install a 56k modem for 

>doing faxes no ports were showing. (this modem has worked before). Internet explorer 

>was working, at least (I connect with high speed) I suspect that Microsoft has a 

>virus on their site that causes this. If you don't think that this is possible - 

>then please note that this has actually happened to me - I tried downloading a dialup 

>networking upgrade for windows 98 from Microsoft's website in the past and it tried 

>to plant a virus onto my computer... Oh, btw not only can't I see the hardware settings 

>in device manager if I try to get the hardware settings by checking out the properties 

>after clicking on a control panel icon, for example e.g. the keyboard the hardware 

>settings are blank there too. Maybe there is some registry setting like "disable 

>hardware properties display" or something like that that will fix this, I hope so, 

>'cause I can't bloody well fax resumes anymore.....

>

>Joe

>

>

> 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

>this enum advice is the best. i had the same problem when i updated the software for a logitec camera and the plug and play was started and all that stuff - the problem was in the permissions in the registry.


On Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 4:16 am, Catherine wrote:
>
>Am testing all the suggested solutions here.
>I got this problem after uninstalling Spybot S-D (Search & Destroy), downloaded from
>www.download.com. I don't know if this program is related to the problem, though.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've tried every suggestion in this forum and nothing has helped. I may have a deeper problem... When I run the list of enabled/disabled services most are disabled, but when I try to enable them I get an odd error message about Plug and Play not being operational (and I can't enable Plug and Play). I also get an error about "Win32" whatever that means....


On Friday, January 21, 2005 at 12:25 pm, Enigma wrote:
>Welp, everyone on here has just mentioned and reposted over and over all the pat
>answers from Microsoft about the services and the permissions... well, here's
>my problem. MUCH worse than what you guys are getting I guess.
>
>I've got the same blank/empty Device Manager only this happens right after (and
>due to) installing XP Service Pack 2. I get this on multiple laptops, but ONLY
>the laptops (IBM StinkPads, widely varying models).
>
>All my services and registry permissions look fine. But I still have blank Device
>Manager. However, if I look at the registry key:
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum
>
>I have at least one garbage entry as my first entry and many times I even have
>multiple garbage entries or even all of them. ex. a blank key under ENUM with
>the name $%&'()*+, and no values.
>
>Many times the key name gets longer and longer consecutively. I cannot delete
>these keys because they are of course in use by the system. The same will be
>repeated in ControlSet001 and 002, so I can't even repair using those.
>
>So there...whatcha think of THAT!
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

yeah lol you think u have it bad... I cant even get into device manager I click the button it gives me the error "failed to create empty document." if I try to get into services.msc it gives me the same error "failed to create empty document." or even right click on my computer and select manage what do you know same bloody error "failed to create empty document." what on earth is wrong with my computer?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank you Jim; your use of regedt32.exe (as opposed to regedit.exe) was what allowed me to take care of my Device Manager issue... however I just assigned read and full modification rights to the current user, and instantly I had a Device Manager that actually allowed me to manage devices - no reboot required! Thanks so much to all who have contributed to this thread! Roberto


On Monday, July 5, 2004 at 6:10 pm, James Norio wrote: "Hi, Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I got it through a combination of things mentioned here and elsewhere...perhaps it will help you, as well. ~ BIOS: Plug & Play OS - No ~ Checked Registry: ENUM permissions in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet (as they should be: Everyone - Read; SYSTEM - Full Control) ~ Services (Start | Run | Services.msc) Plug and Play: 2X Click --> Set to Disabled (Just OK the errors) - Reboot ~ Services (again) - Set to Automatic (Just OK all errors) - Reboot System Tray goes a little nuts (with Found New Hardware icons) as it rediscovers all devices again. Device Manager now displayed all devices as normal. Note (the following may only relate to my circumstances): I had two devices with (Network Card and Com 1) with error exclamation marks...clicking them produced errors. Right-clicked and uninstalled both. Rebooted - Windows rediscovered these two "uninstalled" devices and set drivers correctly without any intervention\interaction from me. All is well again. Good Luck


On Friday, February 18, 2005 at 5:36 am, clif wrote:
>I've tried every suggestion in this forum and nothing has helped. I may have a
>deeper problem... When I run the list of enabled/disabled services most are disabled,
>but when I try to enable them I get an odd error message about Plug and Play not
>being operational (and I can't enable Plug and Play). I also get an error about
>"Win32" whatever that means....
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Many thanks Dan! My computer had Administrators set with no permissions instead of what you describe. I don't know when and how these permissions got messed up, but your solution worked it out. You rock!


On Monday, October 4, 2004 at 11:00 am, Dan wrote:
>The issue is security permissions in the registry. I cannot tell how they are lost
>but I can tell you how to fix it short of having to re-install Windows!
>
>You must use regedt32.exe in Windows 2000/XP (as I have not seen this problem posted
>for any other operating system). Be very carefull making changes in the regisrty!
>
>You must be logged on as a local administrator to perform this task:
>
>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.
>
>5. Click "Add".
>6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
>7. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
>8. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
>9. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
>10. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
>11. Click "OK"
>12. On the warning window click "Yes"
>13. Close REGEDT32
>
>You should now be able to see everything in Device Manager, Network Places Properties,
>and Printers.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Enigma, my IBM at work is having a problem very similar to yours. I first noticed my Network Connections folder was empty accept for the Network Wizard/Connection Wizard icons and the dialup account. There's supposed to be a LAN connection too. This being the case I thought about going thru the Device Manager to see if there was a problem with the NIC drivers. Come to find out the Device Manager was empty. I first tried the Plug and Play solution but the P&P service was already started. I also tried the Registry key permission solution, everything was already set though. Here's where I can relate with Enigma, the subdirectories in Enum were all a bunch of characters and each folder got longer and longer. The only difference was I was able to delete all of the folders, there were probably a couple hundred in there. Deleting them changed nothing so. It's very possible that installing SP2 caused this but I can't say for sure because I didn't notice the problem until a few months ago. This is a business computer so I can't just reformat because special software has to be installed. I did have a question about regedit.exe and regedt32.exe. What's the difference, they both look identical. And in the instructions it says to go to Security>Permissions. There is no security menu option...I was able to right click on Enum and click Permissions though. Anyway I still have no solved this mystery, tried every possible solution I know to.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thats right.... Go to RUN type Regedt32 Then go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum With the ENUM KEY HIGHLIGHTED Click SECURITY menu that appears in the toolbar, then PERMISSIONS. (In XP you right click the key and choose permissions) You may have to ADD the group for the profile that can't see the device manager/printers/network contents. Give this group READ ONLY permission and then give SYSTEM full control. In some instances, you will need to go to ADVANCED and check reset permissions on all child objects. Click yes in the warning window and reboot.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

hey i just had this problem. i rebooted and my sound was gone with nothing in device manager etc. the prob was i dissabled plug and play in the services... type msconfig in the run box and then check and make sure plug and play is selected.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hello Dan, You know what I had been looking to resolve this issue from past week and finally your solution helped. I was almost decided to reinstall the software as per Dell tech support. Thank you very much for the information. Regards Arvind G


On Monday, October 4, 2004 at 11:00 am, Dan wrote:
>The issue is security permissions in the registry. I cannot tell how they are lost
>but I can tell you how to fix it short of having to re-install Windows!
>
>You must use regedt32.exe in Windows 2000/XP (as I have not seen this problem posted
>for any other operating system). Be very carefull making changes in the regisrty!
>
>You must be logged on as a local administrator to perform this task:
>
>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.
>
>5. Click "Add".
>6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
>7. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
>8. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
>9. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
>10. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
>11. Click "OK"
>12. On the warning window click "Yes"
>13. Close REGEDT32
>
>You should now be able to see everything in Device Manager, Network Places Properties,
>and Printers.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I'm having this problem too. My customer tells me that his PC modem just stopped working a couple of days ago. Modem diagnostics produce only an error message saying that the COM port is in use by another program. When I checked the Winxp Home device manager there were no COM ports shown at all. Any ideas anyone? I am currently checking for Viruses and Adware. Customer has a comprehensive McAfee security software installation. Any suggestions gratefull received.


On Thursday, December 9, 2004 at 4:27 pm, Fritz Newton wrote:
>I am havng a similar problem with my COM ports not showing on device manager. I
>tried the fixes suggested and no luck and also tried http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;825826
>
>Does anyone have any other suggestions or links to MS Bulletins?
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've tried every single fix listed here.  My Enum permissions were already set to 
'full control' for system, and the 'plug and play' service was enabled and running. 
 

My device manager is still empty.  Does anyone have a fix for this problem that works?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Wayne, Thanks for the tip it now works, I don't know how this happened, but have my suspicions when I was loading some Sony software..


On Friday, November 19, 2004 at 7:55 pm, Wayne Smith wrote:
>No, nothing to do with Plug and Play. Need to change permission settings in the
>registry.
>
>Go to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum.
>
>Add full permissions to Everyone. Click on Advanced button. Put a tick in both
>options at the bottom (Inherit from parent the permission entries... and Replace
>permission entries on all child or objects...).
>
>Exit and reboot - Device Manager no longer empty.
>
>
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank you so much for the tip! Worked exactly as I needed. It was brought on, for me, by a very bad auto update from Norton Internet Security 5 (s/w rather than av) that went terribly wrong causing me no amount of grief.


On Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 7:42 am, Chris Koloszar wrote:
>Wayne,
>Thanks for the tip it now works, I don't know how this happened, but have my suspicions
>when I was loading some Sony software..
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Ok, download Tune-Up utilities from http://www.download.com/TuneUp-Utilities/3640-2086_4-10280149.html load up and choose tune up registrydefrag, when thats completed restart.. And voila!!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I am in shock - that is a truely fantastic piece of software. I had numerous problems before: - Device Manager Empty - My Computer took an age to load - My new Logitech Mx510 mouse wasn't fully recognised. I had hunted high and low for solutions to each of these. With that program this registery clueless individual had solved all of them in five minutes. I think I need to go and lie down lol!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hehe.. Bow down to my greatness :P

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have Windows 2000 Pro and my modem was dumped while loading some Sony software as well -- hmmm. Sony said they had never heard of such a thing and insisted that it was a virus. It wasn't.


On Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 7:42 am, Chris Koloszar wrote:
>Wayne,
>Thanks for the tip it now works, I don't know how this happened, but have my suspicions
>when I was loading some Sony software..
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This fix, and many other is not working for me. The Microsoft website claims there is a hotfix but you have to contact them.


On Monday, October 13, 2003 at 4:58 pm, Sayantan Datta wrote:
>Solution
>
>Check the Plug and Play Service to Startup in MSCONFIG
>
>To check on the status of the Plug and Play service from within MSCONFIG, perform
>the following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, click Run, and then type in the Open box msconfig. Click
>OK.
>The Microsoft System Configuration Utility window appears.
>Click the Services tab.
>Verify that the Hide all Microsoft Services checkbox is not checked; if it is, uncheck
>it.
>Scroll down the list of services until you see the service named Plug and Play.
>Click to check Plug and Play if the box is currently unchecked.
>
>NOTE: If you are still having difficulty accessing the Device Manager or the Status
>displayed in MSCONFIG is listed as Stopped, proceed to the next section to enable
>the Plug and Play service.
>Enable the Plug and Play Service
>
>To enable the Plug and Play service in a system where it is disabled, perform the
>following steps:
>
>Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and then left-click Manage.
>The Computer Management window appears.
>Click Services and Applications, and then click Services.
>Click the tab labeled Standard, and scroll down to Plug and Play.
>Double-click Plug and Play.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>The Plug and Play Properties window appears.
>Click to change the Startup Type to Manual, and then click Apply.
>
>NOTE: If a warning dialog box appears, click OK.
>
>
>Under the Service Status section of the Plug and Play Properties windows, click the
>Start button.
>This will start the Plug and Play service.
>Click OK on the Plug and Play Properties.
>You should now be able to access the Device Manager

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I tried this software.  This is a demo version, you get 30-days, then you pay.  I 
think it was $39.95 or something like that.

Didn't resolve the problem and my default browser was changed!

I would consider reloading, but that is what I am in the process of right now!  If 
I find an answer that works for me, I will post the solution.  Don't recommend shareware 
or demoware!







On Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at 3:22 am, Murxidon wrote:

>Ok, download Tune-Up utilities from http://www.download.com/TuneUp-Utilities/3640-2086_4-10280149.html

>

>load up and choose tune up registrydefrag, when thats completed restart.. And voila!! 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I got this problem after installing a new DVD drive.

The PNP service was running fine, and the enum permissions were all setup correctly.

The cause of my problem was that I had invalid registry keys in the PCI and PCI->USB 
branches of the enum registry keys!

The corrupt registry keys were along the lines of "$%^&*()01234" or longer.

My fix was the following

1) Go to the permissions of the corrupt registry key
2) add new permission for the administrator
3) give the administrator "full control"
4) once applied you can now delete the offending key
5) so, delete the corrupt key.

Once I had deleted ALL the corrupt keys in the enum/PCI branch of the registry my 
device manager start to work again.

Therefore I am posting my findings here so that someone else can benfit from my findings.

-Jodi







On Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 8:10 am, Tye wrote:

>PLZ PLZ RESCUE ME.

>My computer has a Windows XP OS and the Device Manager is empty.  

>The modem is there on com port 3 but the only com port available is com port1.

>So I am unable to load the modem driver and re-install the modem so I can get connection 

>to the internet. 

>

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Similar probvlem after no particular event.  XP SP 2 had been installed already, 
everthing was working one minute, next minute Device Manager empty.

Found a number of solutions... one was the PNP thing, the other had to do with permissions 
and opened them up and set them up to inherit all the way down the line.  Still no 
success.

How can a guy discover where and which registry keys are corrupt.  That may be my 
answer but I have no idea where to start.

Thanks.







On Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 10:09 am, Jodi wrote:

>I got this problem after installing a new DVD drive.

>

>The PNP service was running fine, and the enum permissions were all setup correctly.

>

>The cause of my problem was that I had invalid registry keys in the PCI and PCI->USB 

>branches of the enum registry keys!

>

>The corrupt registry keys were along the lines of "$%^&*()01234" or longer.

>

>My fix was the following

>

>1) Go to the permissions of the corrupt registry key

>2) add new permission for the administrator

>3) give the administrator "full control"

>4) once applied you can now delete the offending key

>5) so, delete the corrupt key.

>

>Once I had deleted ALL the corrupt keys in the enum/PCI branch of the registry my 

>device manager start to work again.

>

>Therefore I am posting my findings here so that someone else can benfit from my 
findings.

>

>-Jodi

>

>

> 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

i tried enum fix etc .etc. the only thing that worked for me was to delet security update for windows KB905749 in add remove programs.not really sure why this update is causing a prob with my pc though.?


On Saturday, July 16, 2005 at 3:09 pm, Joe Sullivan wrote:
>I've tried every single fix listed here. My Enum permissions were already set to
>'full control' for system, and the 'plug and play' service was enabled and running.
>
>
>My device manager is still empty. Does anyone have a fix for this problem that works?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

this is very odd,windows security update KB905749 is corrupting my enum registry,i will look into it tomorrow to see if i can figure it out, but as of now if install above update (KB905749) no device manager,but if i uninstall it (reboot) there is my device manager . yours confussed. mark


On Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 10:09 am, Jodi wrote:
>I got this problem after installing a new DVD drive.
>
>The PNP service was running fine, and the enum permissions were all setup correctly.
>
>The cause of my problem was that I had invalid registry keys in the PCI and PCI->USB
>branches of the enum registry keys!
>
>The corrupt registry keys were along the lines of "$%^&*()01234" or longer.
>
>My fix was the following
>
>1) Go to the permissions of the corrupt registry key
>2) add new permission for the administrator
>3) give the administrator "full control"
>4) once applied you can now delete the offending key
>5) so, delete the corrupt key.
>
>Once I had deleted ALL the corrupt keys in the enum/PCI branch of the registry my
>device manager start to work again.
>
>Therefore I am posting my findings here so that someone else can benfit from my findings.
>
>-Jodi
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks god for this one. Nothing was working until i read your last message. I de-install the windows security update KB905749 and a few other which have been installed at the same date. Reboot the machine, and my devices are back :):):) Thanks


On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 8:54 pm, mark wrote:
>this is very odd,windows security update KB905749 is corrupting my enum registry,i
>will look into it tomorrow to see if i can figure it out, but as of now if install
>above update (KB905749) no device manager,but if i uninstall it (reboot) there is
>my device manager .
>yours confussed.
>mark
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

in the end i decided to back up my registry using xp backup utillity and saved it to my desktop.installed KB905749 every thing messed up as usuall,then restored my registry with the backup i just made and were looking good divice manager back,and no more server busy...switch to..screen coming up when i start photo explsion.And no more you have updates ready to install..etc etc. personaly id like to thank microsoft at this time for this little dittiy as i have nothing better to do than try and keep my OS running :-)


On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 9:44 pm, Ben wrote:
>Thanks god for this one.
>
>Nothing was working until i read your last message. I de-install the windows security
>update KB905749 and a few other which have been installed at the same date. Reboot
>the machine, and my devices are back :):):)
>
>Thanks
>
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had also the same kind of problem, that came with a certain amount of others (problems with windows explorer and IE6, being unable to remove my webcam device...), I tried everything and nothing worked. I decided to remove all the windows security updates installed in the last five days, and everything works fine now !


On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 8:42 pm, mark wrote:
>i tried enum fix etc .etc.
>the only thing that worked for me was to delet security update for windows KB905749
>in add remove programs.not really sure why this update is causing a prob with my
>pc though.?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had same problems. Registry editing and changing permissions did not work. However, deleting Microsoft Security Update KB905749, and only that update, solved my problems. Computer recognized all of my hardware and repopulated my Device Manager. Thank you all for your excellent help! Uncas


On Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 5:48 am, Rrose wrote:
>I had also the same kind of problem, that came with a certain amount of others (problems
>with windows explorer and IE6, being unable to remove my webcam device...), I tried
>everything and nothing worked. I decided to remove all the windows security updates
>installed in the last five days, and everything works fine now !
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I'm putting this in here even though it's an old thread. I just ran into this, and found no solution anywhere. I tried all the suggestions and none worked. This is what worked for me. I ran regedt32.exe. Under HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\ROOT_HUB I had a large number of garbled entries. I deleted them all manually. Yeah, it was crazy punching the "delete" then "enter" keys alternately and rapidly, because there are a lot of entries to delete. You can tell the garbled ones because the normal entries have a certain pattern, such as Vid_0ea0&Pid_2168 and so on. That's not garbled, it's just standard MicrosoftRegSpeak. The bad ones just have a bunch of % and $ and stuff, and seem repeated over and over, getting longer all the time. I deleted the ones under CurrentControlSet001 and 002 as well. _Then_ I could see my devices again!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I noticed that my Network Properties was still empty after my fix (described above). Ouch! Do I have to try to find more crud in the registry? I rebooted, and they were back. I was inspired to try what I did by a comment in the Microsoft Knowledge Base about the FixCSS.exe you have to grovel to MS to get. There's a comment about crud in the registry. So I found it and deleted it. I was about to do a clean re-install anyway.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I found the Root_Hub solution... there were no contents there to remove, and I groveled 
to Microsoft for the FixCSS.exe as well... no luck.  I have got to find out what 
causes this problem.  

My problem has occured at about 95% of an installation of Windows XP SP2 and security 
patches (and in different spots each time, and all of a sudden) and it has happened 
with both Microsoft Office XP and 2003 on these computers.  

Worse part is squeezing some support (and lying to even get someone to talk to me) 
out of Microsoft and there not being an answer.  Lots of people have been having 
this problem for a long time.  I am starting to feel like I have stepped back in 
to the Windows 95 days!







On Friday, October 21, 2005 at 11:49 pm, Jaz wrote:

>I noticed that my Network Properties was still empty after my fix (described above). 

> Ouch!  Do I have to try to find more crud in the registry?  I rebooted, and they 

>were back.  I was inspired to try what I did by a comment in the Microsoft Knowledge 

>Base about the FixCSS.exe you have to grovel to MS to get.  There's a comment about 

>crud in the registry.  So I found it and deleted it.  I was about to do a clean 
re-install 

>anyway.
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Fantastic! Thanks Jodi! Just delete the strange registry keys in enum - pci and usb - they get longfer and longer and look completely different to the other keys. Thanks mate - you're a genius.


On Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 10:09 am, Jodi wrote:
>I got this problem after installing a new DVD drive.
>
>The PNP service was running fine, and the enum permissions were all setup correctly.
>
>The cause of my problem was that I had invalid registry keys in the PCI and PCI->USB
>branches of the enum registry keys!
>
>The corrupt registry keys were along the lines of "$%^&*()01234" or longer.
>
>My fix was the following
>
>1) Go to the permissions of the corrupt registry key
>2) add new permission for the administrator
>3) give the administrator "full control"
>4) once applied you can now delete the offending key
>5) so, delete the corrupt key.
>
>Once I had deleted ALL the corrupt keys in the enum/PCI branch of the registry my
>device manager start to work again.
>
>Therefore I am posting my findings here so that someone else can benfit from my findings.
>
>-Jodi
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

After trying all the prior fixes, deleting all corrupt keys and subkeys gave me my Device Manager back. Hurra and Tnx!


On Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 11:28 am, Andrew Humphriss wrote:
>
>
>Fantastic! Thanks Jodi!
>
>Just delete the strange registry keys in enum - pci and usb - they get longfer and
>longer and look completely different to the other keys.
>
>Thanks mate - you're a genius.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This is the only thing that worked for me.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now may scanner started to work again.
In fact, this is how I became aware of the problem.
It was not just the empty Device Manager.  My Canon USB flatbed scanner was not working, 
probably after I installed that Security Update (as far as I remember).

Now I am back in business!!!!

Thank you so much again!
Yushi






On Friday, October 21, 2005 at 7:02 am, William Magness wrote:

>I had same problems.  Registry editing and changing permissions did not work.  However, 

>deleting Microsoft Security Update KB905749, and only that update, solved my problems. 

> Computer recognized all of my hardware and repopulated my Device Manager.  Thank 

>you all for your excellent help!

>

>Uncas

>

>

> 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Spent half a day, checking the registry, restoring the devmgr.files etc., switching 
on and off the plug n play services. But the actual curprut was

Microsofts Automatic Security update KP905749...

The purpose of these updates is to protect our systems. But it seems they can actually 
corrupt them. 
This does not seem like good businesss sense. What the f..k' are Microsoft up to. 

This is just poor product support and bad quality development. For a company like 
Microsoft its totally inexcusable. 
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Many many thanks Mark, after deleting security update KB905749, device manager lists everything fine and also the slow "my computer/windows explorer searching for hardware" no longer happens. However after rebooting, xp was downloading an update, i assume its redownloading the same update, but hopefully as long as i dont allow it to install i'll be OK?


On Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 8:42 pm, mark wrote:
>i tried enum fix etc .etc.
>the only thing that worked for me was to delet security update for windows
>in add remove programs.not really sure why this update is causing a prob with my
>pc though.?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

microsoft offers 4 solutions for the 'my computer' long delay problem(which is caused by the KB905749 security update) --- http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=819017 --- it only slightly cured the problem for me. it fixed the delay, but not the device manager (which was still blank). out of frustration i did a system restore before that patch was released and im flying now! i'm a video editor and my video playback was totally screwed up/sluggish/choppy, i was loosing my mind. i seriously thought it was a virus... never thought it was because of billy boy & his merry men. my computer is now trying to re-install the security patch again.......

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

hi andy. glad this worked for you. when you are at the windows update site you can hide updates you do not want to install,which is what i did to stop my auto update from trying to install KB905749. :-) its also possible to unhide an update,so say ...in a year or so from now when microsoft decide to fix this problemb you can unhide it and install it.


On Sunday, November 6, 2005 at 2:54 pm, andy wrote:
>Many many thanks Mark, after deleting security update KB905749, device manager lists
>everything fine and also the slow "my computer/windows explorer searching for hardware"
>no longer happens. However after rebooting, xp was downloading an update, i assume
>its redownloading the same update, but hopefully as long as i dont allow it to install
>i'll be OK?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]