When setting up the “seven”, users very often encounter a notification or message in the system tray that an unknown device was found in the Windows 7 device manager. Many users think this is some kind of virus. Maybe so, but in the general case the situation is much simpler.
Unknown device in Windows 7 device manager: what is it?
To begin with, not a single Windows system, no matter how its developers would like it, can have absolutely all drivers and absolutely all devices installed in its standard package. In other words, we see an unknown device code in the Windows 7 device manager, this can only mean that it is present in terms of hardware on the computer, but cannot work normally.
And what are these devices? As a rule, these are the most standard USB-carriers, and simply put, flash drives or removable hard drives, as well as MIDI-keyboards without installed drivers. Firstly, the file systems may not match when connecting a removable device or even a mobile gadget. Secondly, a computer system may automatically require its formatting.
Okay, if it’s really connected with a flash drive. And the problem of the user finding an unknown device in the Windows 7 task manager may have other root causes. According to many users, the problem is only the irrelevance of the drivers. This is not true. Such “smart” specialists would like to advise using the standard method for updating an unknown device driver from the system database. After all, nothing works, and “Windows” writes that the most suitable driver is installed.
You will either have to download drivers manually, or install an automatic client. One of those is the Driver Booster software package. Note that the third updated version is installed on the computer for free and updates the drivers automatically not one at a time, as it was in the previous versions, but all at once.
How to enter the Windows 7 device manager and what to do next?
Regarding entering a service that allows you to view all devices whether they work or not, you can note the universal dispatcher, although not every user knows that it is possible to disable or activate any device in terms of hardware in the BIOS. If you disable the component, even the system will not see it during configuration.
Nevertheless, we will examine the question of how to enter this service and why an empty Windows 7 device manager sometimes appears in front of the user. First, you need to use the Run menu, and not wander through any control panels and enter the devmgmt.msc command there , which is quick and provides access to this service.
Here it follows from the view menu to select exactly what is required. If nothing helps, you need to use the services system called by the services.msc command.
If nothing is displayed
Now we turn to the most sensitive issue. But what if there is not a single device in the dispatcher at all, although the user knows that they exist and work (or worked until a certain time)?
Firstly, it is worth checking the system for viruses (this is not discussed). Secondly, is it really a USB drive that is not supported by Microsoft or the BIOS boot system.
Here you really have to install specific drivers. By the way, the owners of the “cool”, as it seems to them, video cards suffer most from such situations. In fact, an unknown device in the Windows 7 device manager (and not only) can be displayed for the sole reason that the system itself is outdated. Here you just need to enable auto-update. And then, even the system update does not always work correctly. Drivers for devices that are not in the list of the Windows installation directory simply will not be installed.
Therefore, it is recommended to use exclusively “native” driver disks or programs like Ultimate Driver Solution or Driver Booster. By the way, the last, third version is absolutely free and updates the drivers not one at a time, as was previously provided, but all at once.
What is the result?
In the end, it remains to add that the problem that an unknown device is found or shown somewhere or somehow in the Windows 7 task manager is solved at least by simply installing the appropriate driver, if not from the Windows directory, then from the “native” or the updater - Yes sir.
Naturally, it’s worthwhile to say in addition that it’s not worth updating the required drivers designed for any “Windows”. Anyway, the system will try to install something from its catalog, considering them the most correct. There are many complaints about this. Just try disabling the system update and using the above program. The difference is huge.