Re: Device Manager is blank

Start the Plug and Play service.

Open Services...
Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK |
Scroll down to and double click Plug and Play |
Set Startup type to Automatic | Click Apply | Click the
Start button | When started, click OK | Close Services

No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311504

[[After you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) on a Windows
XP-based computer, the Device Manager window is blank or some devices no
longer appear. If some devices do appear and you remove one device, all
devices are removed from Device Manager.]]
from...
Hotfix here...
Device Manager malfunctions after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893249

Malware can also cause this.

Spyware.Apropos.C
http://securityresponse.symantec.com...apropos.c.html

AproposFix tool
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,14679793

A couple more things to try.

Disable the Plug and Play service.
Reboot.
Set the Plug and Play service back to Automatic.
Start the Plug and Play service.
If the Start button doesn't become available, reboot and that should restart
the service.

It may also be a registry key permission problem.

Start | Run | Type: regedit | Click OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum
Right click on the Enum folder and select Permissions...

Note: At this point you will probably notice there are no permissions on
this key. Or just SYSTEM may be missing.

Click Add
Add the group Everyone and the user SYSTEM
Select Everyone and check only the Read box
Select SYSTEM and check Full Control
Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.
On the Advanced window check Reset permissions on all child objects
Click OK
On the warning window click Yes
Close the Registry Editor.
Reboot!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:C290099C-FB56-4807-8178-28A96FF3E40F@microsoft.com,
Paul <Paul@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:

> Device manager is blank and system restore does not have any restoration
> points. Ran virus scans (with recent DAT files [McAfee]) and spyware
> scans. Whenever I install MSWindowsXP and try to repair it ask for
> Adminstrator password, but it will not accept the PW setup for the AdMin.
>
> Any help?
>
> (XP pro, 1gig ram, P5 processor, SP2)