Windows 7 Devices and Printers Tool

NormCameron

NormCameron

@ Tenforums.com
The following is an extract from from an Article by Paul Thurrott on his Review of Windows 7

"Devices and Printers Tool


I mentioned this feature in my Windows 7 Beta review, but I'd like to point out again that it's not just Device Manager for Dummies: This new Windows 7 feature can actually find and fix problems with your PC. And it really works. I've used this feature to find missing drivers on two different PCs now, and in both cases a similar search via Device Manager netted no lover at all.
Here's how it works. Launch Devices and Printers (use Start Menu search) and locate any devices with a yellow bang graphic on its icon. Right-click and choose Troubleshoot to launch one of Windows 7's stealthy new features: A troubleshooting infrastructure that links back to Microsoft's data center to always provide the most up-to-date help. The troubleshooter will detect the problem and look for solutions. And while I can't claim a 100 percent success rate quite yet, it's certainly worked better than device manager: I found a biometric driver and fixed a Bluetooth problem on my laptop, and found a system management bus driver on my desktop using this tool. Nice!
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_beta_notes.asp

win7_notes_04.jpg
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self Built
OS
Vista X32. Windows 7 32bit
CPU
Intel Quad Core 6600
Motherboard
Asus P5B
Memory
4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 206BW
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1024
Hard Drives
4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
PSU
550 w
Case
Thermaltake
Cooling
3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
Keyboard
Microsoft
Mouse
Targus
Internet Speed
1500kbs
I tried this on the SM bus controller item. As stated elsewhere, it is fine in Vista no driver needed, but in seven it shows the warning symbol. Everything seemed to work fine, but when I was done, no keyboard. Went to device manager and one of the USB controllers now had a problem and the SM bus controller still had the same problem as before. Rebooted and was back to where I started. Sometimes it breaks things instead.

Gary
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
garysgold said:
I tried this on the SM bus controller item. As stated elsewhere, it is fine in Vista no driver needed, but in seven it shows the warning symbol. Everything seemed to work fine, but when I was done, no keyboard. Went to device manager and one of the USB controllers now had a problem and the SM bus controller still had the same problem as before. Rebooted and was back to where I started. Sometimes it breaks things instead.

Gary
Click to expand...


Oh well.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self Built
OS
Vista X32. Windows 7 32bit
CPU
Intel Quad Core 6600
Motherboard
Asus P5B
Memory
4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 206BW
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1024
Hard Drives
4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
PSU
550 w
Case
Thermaltake
Cooling
3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
Keyboard
Microsoft
Mouse
Targus
Internet Speed
1500kbs
Hey, nothing is perfect. It did solve another problem for me. Not a driver issue, but it was fast easy and did what I wanted did without me having to hunt up the solution myself. :D

Gary
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
Ummm, The nVidia Chipset drivers include an SMBus driver....

It made mine go away for good....

Of course, it helps if you have an nVidia chipset to begin with :p

Windows 7 Build 7000 Devices and Printers.PNG
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    The Beast Model A (homebrew)
    OS
    Windows 11 21H2 Current build
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
    Motherboard
    MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
    Memory
    4 * 32 GB - Corsair Vengeance 3600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XC3 ULTRA GAMING (12G-P5-3955-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC1220 Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x Eve Spectrum ES07D03 4K Gaming Monitor (Matte) | Eve Spec
    Screen Resolution
    3x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3x Samsung 980 Pro NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 2 TB SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM) } 3x Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1 TB SSD
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling’s Silencer Series 1050 Watt, 80 Plus Plat
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 XL Dark ATX Full Tower Case
    Cooling
    SteelSeries Apex Pro Wired Gaming Keyboard
    Keyboard
    SteelSeries Apex Pro
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S | MX Master 3 for business
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + MB 3
    Browser
    Nightly (default) + Firefox (stable),Chrome, Edge
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell Latitude E5470
    OS
    ChromeOS Flex Dev Channel (current)
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 + RealTek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell laptop display 15"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 128GB M.2 22300 drive
    INTEL Cherryville 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SATA III SSD
    PSU
    Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S (shared w. Sys 1) | Dell TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
johngalt said:
Ummm, The nVidia Chipset drivers include an SMBus driver....

It made mine go away for good....

Of course, it helps if you have an nVidia chipset to begin with :p
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it.

Gary
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
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