Windows XP Hardware Devices Empty RESOLVED

Question

I just got a web cam and digital camera, everything was working fine. Then suddenly my scanner "wasn't recognized" then the web cam, then the camera. I called Canon and he trouble shooted and discovered that when I right click on "My Computer" choose properties, hardware, then the tab "Hardware Devices" it comes up blank!! There is nothing in there....

Can someone please help me. I am so frustrated - I've been trying to fix this problem all week!!

RESOLVED SUNDAY 4/22/07 7:31 pm

Start

Run

Type regedt32.exe (note the missing "i")
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

SYSTEM

CurrenControlSet

Enum;
Highlight "Enum";
Go to Edit

Choose Permissions
Ensure Security is set to Allow Read & Full Control;
Click on "OK";
Reboot!

Message Edited by purplegirl029 on 04-22-2007 06:56 PM

JRosenfeld · Answer

Just to make sure that I understand (as what you wrote does not make sense to me):   Do you mean: right click My Computer, click properties, click Hardware tab, click device manager (button on the Hardware tab).   If so, what happens if you click start, run, type devmgmt.msc ,press enter or click OK?

BELL BOY · Answer

purplegirl029

Probably it’s because you are a newbie & frustrated, therefore not sure what Forum to post your query.

Better if you don’t post the same query in too many Dell Forums; otherwise you may end up trying to keep up multiple Forum replies going – that can become a nightmare :smileysad:

LatinMcG · Answer

its either Display hidden devices or data corruption.    in run type chkdsk /f (hit enter) then press Y for yes and press enter (in the error in black window) after you restart pc it does checkdisk and fixes data.    if that doesnt fix it its a deper problem and so perform steps bellow.   in run Type cmd and then click OK then type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 hit enter then cd %systemroot%\System32  (enter) then type start devmgmt.msc  (enter) if that dont do trick .. try this in same command window(black window) Type net stop plugplay  and press the key then Type  sc config plugplay start= auto  and press the key (There is a space between start= and auto) then Type net start plugplay and press the key Type exit and press the key.. now it shoudl work. if none of it works. system restore to day it happened in . start> programs>accessories>system tools>system restore. choose a bold numbered date and click restore. (it will restart pc and perform a rollback and on boot it confirms it was successfully restored or failed.)

BELL BOY · Answer

Great that purplegirl029 gave positive feedback :smileyvery-happy:

But to others with the same problem, please note that changing CurrentControlSet/Enum registry values is only one of many solutions mentioned in this link.

Interestingly one of the most common causes is apropos, a form of spyware that is (at least reportedly) not removed by any security software provided by the established big name companies?

When apropos is the cause, a removal tool called aproposfix.exe has been developed, see this link

Unfortunately I have seen others that have tried everything from posting numerous HijackThis logs, using all sorts of security scan software & PC software & hardware scanning tools, using msconfig to check PnP service settings, system restore, running services.msc, changing CurrentControlSet/Enum registry values, etc. etc. – but all to no avail, or at least no positive feedback reported.

For these unfortunates, it leaves a Windows clean reinstall as the only solution :smileysad:

Windows General

Windows XP Hardware Devices Empty RESOLVED

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