"Unknown Device" living in my Device Manager!

Hi again, I don't know where this "Unknown device" came from. It is located in the System Devices list, in the Device Manager. I don't know if it came from my previous problem, or if it is a virus or something. The Found New Hardware wizard cannot recognize it, so it cannot find software for it like the correct drivers, etc... I tried to uninstall it and when I did that the drivers for all the other devices were deleted and then had to be reloaded. When I startup my computer I get a Found New Hardware popup and then the ADD New Hardware wizard appears and tries to install it but gets a "can't install" message. I don't know what I have here but I would really like to get rid of it. Any ideas? Maybe I need an Exorcist??? Thanks, Jim ( jjlthepainter )

 

I have not had to try this yet myself since I stumbled across it a few months ago so I cannot vouch for it. http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html

 

If your computer runs perfectly well and you don't get any errors about "hardware ", Evan's suggestion will work.

If you have saved all the driver disks (CDs) for your computer (the main drivers, that should have been supplied with the computer, as well as any added hardware), you may have missed installing the drivers for a piece of hardware. This is easy to overlook if you do a fresh install of Windows.

If you would like to investigate:
When you run the hardware wizard, watch if a specific device is specified (look at each wizard "box" carefully).

You may need to install or upgrade the upper level drivers, at the top are chipset drivers. The manufacturer's chipset drivers may not be installed, or, they may need to be updated. Installing a good set of chipset drivers may allow the "unknown" device to be recognised.

All the drivers should be supplied on the disks that came with the computer...or on disks for the hardware/devices that has been added.

You have not given us details about the computer.

If you do not have the original driver disks, you will need to find the drivers at the hardware manufacturer's website.

Matt

 

Unknown Device that Hates me!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Evan, Thanks for the response. Yes, I have tried every way possible to disable it but all the "disable" places are covered up or missing, it won't let me disable it! Wierd! I f you think of something else I am all ears! Thanks, Jim

 

Unknown Device that's haunted!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks McTavish, It looks promising, I am going to try it and I will let you know if it worked! Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks, Jim

 

This Unknown Device is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mattman, Wow! Thanks for all the info, I will try it all along with Mctavish's idea And I will let you know what happens. The wizards popping up all over the place drive me crazy, maybe that's why they call them drivers????? I need to stop them. I don't know that much about my computer, what do you need to know? I will find out for you. Thanks for the help. This site is awesome. Jim

 

If it is a branded computer like a Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway etc, you will need to go to their website and follow the instructions to find the model number and from there go to the downloads for it.

If there is no information or model number apparent on it, try using Everest in my signature. Post back with the details for motherboard name and model number.

You can go to Start -> Run and enter msinfo32. Look for System Name and System Model in the Summary.

Matt

 

This Unknown Device is like my ex-wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi boys! Well I tried really hard to make Mctavish's fix work, but no success! I get everything done ok but at the end, it won't work, I can't get it to recognise the unknown device either. When I click to detect the device, nothing!!! I don't know if it's me doing something wrong, or if the fix just doesn't work. Mattman, I don't have all the drivers but I have most, I tried your ideas and want to try replacing the chipsets but I don't know where to find them, can you tell me? The different wizards popping up and down are really bugging me. This whole problem is wierd, it has a mind of it's own. I can't do anything to fix it, disable it, uninstall it, delete it, recognise it, hide it, burn it, smash it, or just plain understand it! Any new suggestions will be greatly appreciated Thanks Jim

 

Unknown Device hates me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Hi Matt, I have my system Information, it will tell you just about every thing, how can I send it to you? These emails you send say not to reply so I am a bit confused where to send it. Thanks Jim Jim

 

Try this:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3908.html

mickzer.

 

What would be the best information at the moment is the make and model of the motherboard or "System ".

If you are looking at System Summary in msinfo32, go to Edit -> Select All => Edit -> Copy, you can paste it in your reply here.

If it is using Everest and it wants to send an email, send the email to yourself. Open it, copy the major information and post it here.

Matt

 

This Unknown Device is Living in my head now!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt, I hope this is what you want! System manufacturer.... VIA Technologies Inc., System Model...............P4M266-8233, System Type................X86-based PC , Processor....................x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel~ 1817Mhz, OS....................Windows XP Professional, SP2 Version 5.1.2600, Build 2600, Motherboard Resourses.....Device ID ACPI\PNP\0C02\1 , Machine Inf, Version 5.1.2.2600.21,..., The system model is the Motherboard! Thanks alot Matt, JIM

 

This crazy old Unknown Device!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mickzer, Thanks for the suggestion, I tried it and I don't know exactly what I am looking for, Can you explain what I should do or what I am looking for? Thanks alot, JIM

 

The main chipset drivers are here:
http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=420&OSID=1&CatID=1070
the second listing Retro chipset VIA 4in1 drivers. Check the system information again after you install them, it may have changed.

P4M266-8233 does not tell us the motherboard manufacturer. Two manufacturers that use that number are MSI and DFI. Try Everest after the chipset drivers are installed. Look through the Everest information for any information regarding the unknown devices. Run the Add Hardware wizard for the unknown devices again and see if a general description is given, for example, it may say "audio controller" or "ethernet controller ".

If the identifier programs cannot tell you what the unknowns are, you will need to open the case and read the manufacturer name on the motherboard.
Remove any add-in PCI cards unless you know that they are working correctly and are not the unknown devices.

Matt

 

This Unknown Device is killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Matt, I downloaded the chipset drivers and installed them. Everything went well, I really thought it would take care of the problem, but when I tried it the Unknown Curse (Device) WAS STILL THERE! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I went on Everest and did my best to figure out how things work on that site! I can't figure out how to download anything i need from there. What am I missing! It can't be that hard or am I that stupid! In reguards to the Motherboard I was told by the previous owner that he is almost positive it was a MSI board. The board is a Magic-Install Motherboard! this was on the old cracked cd he had, I don't know if it will help or not! S/NO : 020909C2 For Intel/VIA/ALI Chipset M/B. Please tell me what to do next, I am all ears and I know we are getting close. Thanks for hanging in there, Jim

 

Thanks for the input Pete.

If it does happen to be an MSI m/b there are at least two versions:
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=P4MAM-L
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=P4MAM-V
The MSI model number is MS-6787 (MS-6787-060), you can search at MSI using that number.

MSI have an identification system called Live Update:
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=html&name=liveupdate_step
You could run it, but I stress to avoid getting any BIOS upgrades. You can get the drivers, utilities and manuals if it identifies the motherboard correctly. If you are getting errors, doing a Windows based BIOS upgrade could be fatal for the m/b. If you ever need to do the BIOS upgrade use the DOS method.

Here is the main downloads page:
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadindex
where you find downloads manually. I would still cross-check that the motherboard is identified correctly and the best way would be to read the information printed on the board.

Those m/b's have built-in graphics (AGP) or can use add-in graphics. If it is using add-in graphics, don't install the drivers and software for the built-in type.

Let's hope it is one of those MSI models.

Matt
PS: I saw a photo of the Magic Install disk, it just means it installs the drivers "magically ", MSI tend to have disks like those (without any specific details, probably so they can be used by OEM computer manufacturers).

 

This Unknown Device scares me! Boo! ...........

Hi Matt, I really appreciate all your help, but I think all the info you just sent me is way above my skill. I logged into all of them and the one biggest thing I got was that the Bios were involved in everything, way to much for me. All this scares me, I had a bios problem once,that was enough. Tell me, do you think downloading and installing all the updates from microsoft could fix this. I didn't install all the updates when I reinstalled WindowsXP, and SP2. Is there any kind of program or download that I could buy that would fix this. Everything is working perfectly except for these wizards popping up whenever they feel like it. It really makes it hard to do anything. What exactly would I want to get or download if I decide to go into those websites? I am getting sort of overwhelmed here. Any Idea's that you haven't thought of yet? Let me know about installing the updates. Thanks so much Matt, Jim

 

Used to scare me too, but not any more

I do all in my power to avoid getting driver downloads from Windows Updates. Even the most hardened Windows fans say to avoid them. I have ended up reformatting after the incorrect drivers were installed from there. I expect you have used "search online" in the Add Hardware wizard for the drivers and it failed, that will mean Microsoft is unable to identify it.

Did the MSI "Live Update Online" say which motherboard you had? If it worked (although you didn't download) we can get the drivers manually.

Any success so far with Everest? There is a menu in Everest to make a hardware summary.

Have you found any description of the unknown controller/hardware that needs the drivers? Look in Control Panel -> System -> Hardware tab -> Device Manager, you will find the unknown hardware listed there. Is it listed under a heading, like Sound or Network Adapters?

Don't forget what I said about opening the case. Don't be scared of opening the case, just disconnect the power first. You need to clean the dust out of the case on a regular basis anyway or the system will fail from overheating. If there is an add-in card/s in the PCI slots, that may be the source of the unknown hardware.

Run through what we have suggested so far and see if you can get any further with any of them.

Matt