Device manager not working correctly

[jmosk]

Something happened to my device manager that is keeping it from operating correctly. When I select ANY device and select Update Driver Software, it does absolutely nothing. It does not bring up the window asking how you wish to look for drivers. If I select ANY device and select Uninstall it does nothing. When I plug in a USB device, it shows the device along with a yellow caution symbol.

I ran sfc /scannow which did not report any problems. I ran a virus and maleware check which did not report any problems. But now I am unable to connect new USB devices. This means I can't connect my smartphone and perform backups or sync with my address book and calendar any longer.

I have not downloaded any new software but I did try going back to a restore point just in case a windows update caused this to happen. But the restore displayed a message that it failed to restore properly.

I am afraid that if my only choice is to reload Windows 7, that I will lose all of my installed applications which would need to be reinstalled. That would be a nightmare.

I don't know where else to look to try to repair this situation.

 

[indianacarnie]

Welcome to the forums!

Have you tried manually installing the drivers you need?

Have you considered a repair install? That could fix your problem and save your applications. We have many fine tutorials here at the forums, here's one on how to do that. Just click on the link : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[jmosk]

Welcome to the forums!

Have you tried manually installing the drivers you need?

Have you considered a repair install? That could fix your problem and save your applications. We have many fine tutorials here at the forums, here's one on how to do that. Just click on the link : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

The device manager does not do anything when selecting Uninstall Driver or Update Driver. It is as if something is blocking the device manager from running.

I might just need to do the repair option offered. None of my restore points were successfully retrieved. I am not aware of any changes that have been made to my system that may have started this from happening. The repair option appears not to affect applications already installed, which is important as i don't know if I have all the original installation files for every application on my system. The notes do indicate that I might need driver files for various devices and I certainly do not have all of those. But hopefully windows will be able to locate them itself.

 

[Kenna]

You might want to check the Group Policy, as the Administrators can use Group Policy settings to prevent user access to Device Manager.

Which it sounds like it is doing.

-Kenna

 

[jmosk]

You might want to check the Group Policy, as the Administrators can use Group Policy settings to prevent user access to Device Manager.

Which it sounds like it is doing.

-Kenna

No this is not a problem with Group Policy. I am the administrator of this system. It is not that Device Manager is not running, it is a problem that selecting a device in the device manager and executing Update Driver, does absolutely nothing. But here is an interesting thing. Selecting Computer/Manage/Update Driver does nothing. But selecting Control Panel/Device Manager/Update Driver respond with the proper 'Search automatically for updated driver software' or the 'Browse my computer for driver software' options which it should. So it appears that depending up which way the device manager is entered, causes it to operate normally or ignore the Update Driver option. I am selecting the same device each time to test the update driver function.

 

[Kenna]

You may want to check first to see if the snap in is working correctly
In the search box, enter 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc' and check if the file is present.

It is possible file could be corrupt, I would recommend doing an system file check to attempt to repair this file.
System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and then replace the file. To do this, follow the steps from the article: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

 

[Computer0304]

You may want to check first to see if the snap in is working correctly
In the search box, enter 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc' and check if the file is present.

It is possible file could be corrupt, I would recommend doing an system file check to attempt to repair this file.
System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and then replace the file. To do this, follow the steps from the article: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

He already did that. sfc /scannow is the same thing. try right click->run as admin

 

[jmosk]

You may want to check first to see if the snap in is working correctly
In the search box, enter 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc' and check if the file is present.

It is possible file could be corrupt, I would recommend doing an system file check to attempt to repair this file.
System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and then replace the file. To do this, follow the steps from the article: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

He already did that. sfc /scannow is the same thing. try right click->run as admin

Yes I already ran the scan and it can only be executed as an administrator. It does not report any problem with installed software.

If you execute C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc the device manager comes up and I AM able to update device drivers. This is what I reported when you bring up the device manager using the control panel. But, if you bring up the device manager by right clicking My Computer, then selecting Manage, then try to update a device driver, it does absolutely nothing. Like you never even specified the operation. So why does it matter which way the device manager is being initiated to have Update Driver Software operate or not operate. This is the question. Something is blocking the Update function when device manager is started using My Computer/Manage.

 

[Computer0304]

You may want to check first to see if the snap in is working correctly
In the search box, enter 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc' and check if the file is present.

It is possible file could be corrupt, I would recommend doing an system file check to attempt to repair this file.
System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to determine which file is causing the issue, and then replace the file. To do this, follow the steps from the article: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

He already did that. sfc /scannow is the same thing. try right click->run as admin

Yes I already ran the scan and it can only be executed as an administrator. It does not report any problem with installed software.

If you execute C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc the device manager comes up and I AM able to update device drivers. This is what I reported when you bring up the device manager using the control panel. But, if you bring up the device manager by right clicking My Computer, then selecting Manage, then try to update a device driver, it does absolutely nothing. Like you never even specified the operation. So why does it matter which way the device manager is being initiated to have Update Driver Software operate or not operate. This is the question. Something is blocking the Update function when device manager is started using My Computer/Manage.

Noi meant the manager not the scan.

 

[jmosk]

He already did that. sfc /scannow is the same thing. try right click->run as admin

Yes I already ran the scan and it can only be executed as an administrator. It does not report any problem with installed software.

If you execute C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc the device manager comes up and I AM able to update device drivers. This is what I reported when you bring up the device manager using the control panel. But, if you bring up the device manager by right clicking My Computer, then selecting Manage, then try to update a device driver, it does absolutely nothing. Like you never even specified the operation. So why does it matter which way the device manager is being initiated to have Update Driver Software operate or not operate. This is the question. Something is blocking the Update function when device manager is started using My Computer/Manage.

Noi meant the manager not the scan.

As I reported, you can run devmgmt.msc (without executing it as the administrator) and it does operate as expected - selecting Update Driver Software brings up the 'Search for updated driver software' popup screen. But running the device manager from My Computer and selecting Update Driver Software does Nothing!!!