Devices and Printers icons (Device Stage)

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  1. Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Devices and Printers icons (Device Stage)


    Hi everybody.

    Quick question.

    Are the icons in the Devices and Printers window (Device Stage) replaced immediately upon any system update, or do they just show up and get replaced at random whenever Win7 feels like doing it?

    I recently did a fresh install of Win7 on two different machines (Ultimate x64 on one machine and Enterprise x64 on another) and the devices listed show the stock icons even though the drivers for those peripheral units are installed... All "Update" settings are set to recommended and automatic on both machines.

    Weird thing is before I re-installed Ultimate on the first machine, the true icons showed up in Devices and Printers for my monitor, keyboard (MS keyboard), Canon scanner, Brother printer... I didn't quite pay attention how/when that happened, but I was pleasantly surprised with the extra access I had by just clicking that life-like icon.

    Now, since the re-install, all I get are the stock icons.

    Funny thing is when I hit "Properties", say - for the keyboard, which is a Microsoft 3000 kbd, the info simply reads: "Unknown Manufacturer", "HID keyboard Device". The MS drivers are installed though.

    Same thing for my monitors (Dell 2209WA). Windows downloaded the drivers, but the properties info shows the monitor as "uknown manufacturer". How weird is that?


    Something I'm missing???? Or is this Device Stage fubared somehow?

    Cheers
    Steve
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Steve,

    You need to make sure that you have either step 3 or have Replace generic device icons with enhanced icons checked in step 5 in the tutorial below first to allow the icons to be changed. I have not noticed any pattern as to when it decides to update the icons. Usually after X times of running Windows Update.

    Device Installation Settings

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Shawn for the quick reply.

    Indeed, I've checked the tutorials before addressing the masses here (long-time lurker to these forums). The settings on my machine are checked for image retrieval.

    Seems strange, however, to have the proper x64 drivers/software installed for a particular device, yet the OS still reports the device as being "generic". The most ironic part of it is this applies to Microsoft's own hardware!!!

    Thanks again
    Steve
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 173
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
       #4

    Microsoft doesn't always have the correct image for all devices. This is especially true for old hardware.

    I have a HP deskjet printer that is seven years old, and I think Windows just doesn't have the image for something that old.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #5

    Yeah, I agree with Satchmo. Not all of them will have a new custom icon available for them. So far, I only had two that changed.

    Devices and Printers icons (Device Stage)-devices.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Oh I understand that.

    Here's the reason for asking the question in the first place.

    I installed Win7 Ultimate x64 a while ago (MSDN) and everything worked out very nicely. My monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer and camera all had those "life-like" icons. The system settings were all set for "automatic and recommended update download".

    Just last week, I ditched a failing 500GB drive and installed a 640GB drive in its place. Re-installed Win7Ux64 but all the icons in the "Devices and Printers" are stock icons even though Win found and installed drivers for the hardware.

    Weirdest part is all the hardware that worked before and was recognized by manufacturer and model are now only recognized as "generic"... i.e., HID-compliant mouse, HID keyboard, Monitor .... even though the drivers are all installed directly from the manufacturer. With all else being equal, this shouldn't happen.

    To be honest, I've installed Win7 over 5 times now and each install seems different in some way - at times the mainboard devices aren't recognized, other times Windows installs the drivers automatically, etc... These inconsistencies make me wonder what the heck Win7 is installing each time to make it different.

    Really bizarre.

    (I have a different issue with another machine and Win7 Enterprise x64 not recognizing the mainboard SATA configuration properly)...

    Steve
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 173
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64
       #7

    Strange indeed.

    I did notice myself that my Logitech webcam wasn't recognized by Windows 7 in the first 3-4 days after OS installation, but it was recognized (with the correct hardware picture) within a week.

    I had to manually download the latest driver for the webcam and install it though.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks gents for your input and suggestions - much appreciated.

    I'll just plug away and install the rest of the goodies on the machine and get going with work that needs to be done. As long as the hardware works, I'll be happy.

    Cheers
    Steve
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #9

    You're welcome Steve. Please let us know if they ever change for you. :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Will do.

    Last time I checked, no changes yet.

    Wonder if the changes take place over a period of a number of updates. Would be nice if the device stage info got updated on device installation, but looks like it isn't so.

    Anyways... lots of tweaking to do in the meantime.

    Thanks again to all.
      My Computer


 
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