Note For Windows 7 and earlier, when you close the command prompt window, Window clears the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 variable that you set in step 2 and prevents ghosted devices from being displayed when you click Show hidden devices. When you finish troubleshooting, close Device Manager.
Note Click Show hidden devices on the View menu in Device Manager before you can see devices that are not connected to the computer. Troubleshoot the devices and drivers in Device Manager. To work around this behavior and display disconnected devices when you click Show hidden devices:įor Windows 7 and earlier, start with step 1:Ĭlick Start, point to All Programs, point toĪccessories, and then click Command Prompt.Īt a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:įor Windows 8 and later: From Start, search for device manager, and select Device Manager from the search results.įor Windows 7 and earlier: Type the following command a command prompt, and then press ENTER: Devices that you install that are not connected to the computer (such as a Universal Serial Bus device or 'ghosted' devices) are not displayed in Device Manager, even when you click Show hidden devices. Device Manager displays only non-Plug and Play devices, drivers, and printers when you click Show hidden devices on the View menu.
