Computer Problems? Computing.Net has over 1,000,000 posts about all things technology related! Over 90% answered within 24 hours! Click here to start participating now! Also, be sure to check out the New User Guide.
Device manages shows unknown drives
Name: richard Date: November 17, 2003 at 16:15:50 Pacific OS: Windows ME CPU/Ram: Athlon 1200 / 512
Comment:
When I first turned this computer on today it booted into Safe Mode. While trying to diagnose the problem I looked at the Windows Device Manager. Under Disk Drives there were fourteen drives listed including the two installed hard drives. Seeing this I looked at CD Drives and there are ten CD drives listed but there is only one CD-RW drive installed. When I view Device Manager when ME is booted normally only the actual drives that are installed show up in device manager. I recognize the drives that are listed but not installed as drives my son tested in this machine last year. My questions: is the system negatively affected to have all of these drives listed? Would it be safe to just delete them when in Safe Mode? Thanks in advance
Name: Leroi Date: November 18, 2003 at 01:35:59 Pacific
Reply:
Sometimes "phantom" entries appear in the device manager in safe mode. I think these are drivers for hardware that could be installed OEM in your computer by the manufacturer (depending on hardware availability to the manufacturer?). I found two phantom entries in the device manager for DVD/CDRW drives (my pc has one of each), one for each of the drives. I figured out which drives I actually had installed and deleted the phantom drivers from the device manager with no ill effects, whether it helped perfomance in any way, I cannot say for sure, but I like to run my pc as "lean and mean" as possible so I removed the irrelevant entries.
0
Response Number 2
Name: richard Date: November 18, 2003 at 04:05:27 Pacific
Reply:
Thanks Leroi, I also like you like to have a lean machine. I have removed the phantom drives and the computer still works just fine.
0
Response Number 3
Name: FrankO Date: November 18, 2003 at 05:40:51 Pacific
Reply:
in device manager delete all cd drives and also hard drives, reboot, then go into cmos and set your hd detection to auto and windows should find and install everything properly.
0
Response Number 4
Name: wawadave Date: November 18, 2003 at 13:09:38 Pacific
Reply:
hello 'there called ghost drives or devices. delete them all and reboot.
0
Response Number 5
Name: richard Date: November 18, 2003 at 15:50:26 Pacific
Reply:
Thanks, all of you hit the nail on the head. Great to have such knowledgeable people willing to help.
Summary: The device manager only lists Computer (no sub objects). The 2 hard drives work, but anything that requires a driver is not listed, nor are any things like ports, controllers, videio card, etc. The ...
Summary: hello go into safe mode and see what other devices are showing up too many times remove all ghost drives from device manager and reboot. your problem is most likely this. ...
Summary: everytime i boot up the comp is detecting new hardware on the comp, but just calls it unknown device. I havent put anything new on, the drivers arent on when it tries to look for drivers. How can i s...
0 
