Empty device manager?

[diethx]

My fiance is running XP media center on his computer, and recently he noticed that his device manager is completely blank. His computer is running fine, he's scanned for viruses, spyware and malware, and there's nothing to be found. He has no idea when it first went blank since he doesn't use it every day, so he also has no idea what he did right before it happened. When he clicks on the blank area, nothing changes in the window, however buttons (scan for hardware changes, update driver, uninstall, enable, and disable) are added to the bar at the top as though he actually clicked on something that's invisible.

So, do any of you computer experts have any advice about what may fix this? He already googled and found nothing at all helpful. Anything serious will be appreciated. Thanks!

[Meges]

My fiance is running XP media center on his computer, and recently he noticed that his device manager is completely blank. His computer is running fine, he's scanned for viruses, spyware and malware, and there's nothing to be found. He has no idea when it first went blank since he doesn't use it every day, so he also has no idea what he did right before it happened. When he clicks on the blank area, nothing changes in the window, however buttons (scan for hardware changes, update driver, uninstall, enable, and disable) are added to the bar at the top as though he actually clicked on something that's invisible.

So, do any of you computer experts have any advice about what may fix this? He already googled and found nothing at all helpful. Anything serious will be appreciated. Thanks!

Is he looking at the right tab? It's not unusual for the "Applications" tab to be empty. All the loaded crap is located in the "Processes" tab. Just a thought.


Meges

[Zentoph]

I believe hes talking about the device manager, where you can find under system->hardware in your control panel.

And no, I've never heard of anything like this and could only suggest google for any help. good luck

[diethx]

Is he looking at the right tab? It's not unusual for the "Applications" tab to be empty. All the loaded crap is located in the "Processes" tab. Just a thought.


Meges

Device manager (start, right-click my computer, properties, hardware tab, device manager), not task manager. Thank you anyway though :)

[Meges]

Device manager (start, right-click my computer, properties, hardware tab, device manager), not task manager. Thank you anyway though :)

Oh, doh. I had task manager on the brain since I already had it opened. Sorry!

So anyway, have him open up device manager. Left click the CPU icon on the upper left of that window. Click "Customize View..." and click to check every box listed. Click okay at the bottom. Not sure if that'll help, but it involves showing all the menus, commands and buttons, etc.


Meges

[diethx]

Oh, doh. I had task manager on the brain since I already had it opened. Sorry!

So anyway, have him open up device manager. Left click the CPU icon on the upper left of that window. Click "Customize View..." and click to check every box listed. Click okay at the bottom. Not sure if that'll help, but it involves showing all the menus, commands and buttons, etc.


Meges

The only boxes that weren't already checked were "Console tree" and "Description bar". I checked those two but neither fixed it. Oh well, thanks for trying.

[Apotheosis]

Macintosh Navigation FTW.

[Meges]

The only boxes that weren't already checked were "Console tree" and "Description bar". I checked those two but neither fixed it. Oh well, thanks for trying.

I'm wondering if it's an adminstrative rights/access type of thing. I'm not even sure if this is accurate, but I could understand why a person signed/logged on as a visitor/non-admin would not have access to the device manager. Perhaps that's the issue.


Meges

[Meges]

I'm wondering if it's an adminstrative rights/access type of thing. I'm not even sure if this is accurate, but I could understand why a person signed/logged on as a visitor/non-admin would not have access to the device manager. Perhaps that's the issue.


Meges

Thought I'd look it up under Windows Help (I put the most relevant text in red):

"Why you should not run your computer as an administrator

When you run Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) using the Computer administrator (http://forum.gsplayers.com/ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\Update1.chm::/HELP=glossary.hlp TOPIC=computer_administrator) account, your computer is more vulnerable to viruses and other security risks than when you use the Limited account. For example, if you are using the Computer administrator account when you visit a Web site that contains a virus, a Trojan horse (http://forum.gsplayers.com/ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\Update1.chm::/HELP=glossary.hlp TOPIC=GLS_Trojan_horse) might be installed on your computer where it could do things like reformat your hard drive, delete all your files, or create a new user account (http://forum.gsplayers.com/ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\Update1.chm::/HELP=glossary.hlp TOPIC=gls_user_account) with administrative access. By contrast, if you are using the Limited account when you visit an Internet site that contains a virus, your computer is less likely to be infected by it.
The Limited account is the most reliable account type because it does not allow users to download or install programs (activities that make a computer vulnerable if not done correctly). You can perform routine tasks, such as running programs and visiting Internet sites, without exposing your computer to unnecessary risk.
The Limited account can restrict you from running certain programs and prohibit you from installing programs or adding printers. If you need to install a program, add a printer, change system settings, or run a specific program that won't work under the Limited account, you can log off and then log back on using the Computer administrator account.
If you frequently need to log on as an administrator, you can use the runas command to start programs as an administrator. For more information about using the runas command, click Related Topics."

While it does not specifically state that you would not have access to the device manager as a Limited account it strongly implies that you would not.


Meges

[diethx]

No.. this is his personal computer at our home. There's only one account on it and it's his, which is also the administrator account.

This is a new issue, remember. He'd never had problems viewing the device manager before a couple of weeks ago.

[Blud]

I don't know if this will help or not, but I talked to a friend in IT and he said your problem happens occassionally (he has seen it a couple of times). He said that he is not aware of a Root Cause of the problem, but attributes it to a bug in Windows. He has suggested Restarting the computer.

Has he tried restarting?

[diethx]

I don't know if this will help or not, but I talked to a friend in IT and he said your problem happens occassionally (he has seen it a couple of times). He said that he is not aware of a Root Cause of the problem, but attributes it to a bug in Windows. He has suggested Restarting the computer.

Has he tried restarting?

Yeah, he says he has, several times. :/

[Nieninque]

Has he tried the drop test?

[diethx]

Has he tried the drop test?

Nah, I think he wants his computer to continue working even if device manager stays blank. thx

[CrystalTears]

Found this as one possible solution:

Is your Plug and Play service turned off (disabled)?

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Plug and Play.

If you receive a Configuration Manager message, click OK.

3. In the Startup Type list, click Automatic, and then click OK.
4. Close Services.
5. Reboot

And also:

start
run
msconfig
services
make sure checkbox NOT selected in "hide all ms services" at bottom of
dialog box
check the rest of the services in dialogbox

[diethx]

Found this as one possible solution:

Is your Plug and Play service turned off (disabled)?

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Plug and Play.

If you receive a Configuration Manager message, click OK.

3. In the Startup Type list, click Automatic, and then click OK.
4. Close Services.
5. Reboot

And also:

start
run
msconfig
services
make sure checkbox NOT selected in "hide all ms services" at bottom of
dialog box
check the rest of the services in dialogbox

He's at work now, and I have to run to class, but i'll definitely have him try this later this afternoon when I get home. Thanks CT!

[Meges]

Obviously none of our advice, time, and troubleshooting is helping at all. Reinstall (after backup) everything and that'll resolve your issue and likely reduce your/his stress level once done.


Meges

[diethx]

Obviously none of our advice, time, and troubleshooting is helping at all. Reinstall (after backup) everything and that'll resolve your issue and likely reduce your/his stress level once done.


Meges

lol, he's not going to format his computer because of this. He's (we're) not stressed about it, since it's not causing anything to work improperly. He just has no idea what happened or why, and I thought someone on here may know. He should be home soon, and then i'll have him try CT's suggestions.