Empty Device Manager

[davis]

When I tried Jazz's fix, I ended the following error mssg, "registry editor could not set security in the key currently selected, or some of the subkeys". I went back and noticed that the word 'Reset' was different on my PC. Mine says REPLACE permission on all child......... I am curious if that is why I got the error mssg. The device manager is still empty. grrrrrrr thanks in advance for anyone's help.

[kobefly]

I have EXACTLY the same problem, did you or anyone else find a solution to this?

[kmsilver]

I've been having the same problem on a machine runing Win2kPro. I believe this started after a nasty spyware removal. I used several programs, notably SpyBot, AdAware, PestPatrol and SpySweeper, to rid the pest. Now, aside from the Device Manager (DM) being blank, my modem is no longer recognized and I can't check DM to see what's wrong with it. Everything else seems to be functioning perfectly.

I tried the regedt32 method of repairing the DM issue, but I, too, received the "Registry Editor could not set security in the key currently selected, or some of its subkeys" message.

Any help would be appreciated!

[Hexdump]

I am having the same problem on a customers machine. I found that if you start windows in safe mode the device manager works like it is supposed to, you can also set permissions in the registry without getting the error, but when you start again in regular mode the device manager is blank again. I decided to try a repair install over the existing windows and now I am stuck when it tries to install devices, it just hangs there. The install logs show the error as "setup encountered an error while trying to set system security". I am still battling this and I will post if I get it solved, and I will also be watching this thread for other suggestions.

[davis]

No luck so far! I've tried everything I can think of and now am getting lots of pop-ups cuz my pop-up blocker isn't working...AND no scanner or camera functions. What a bloody mess!

[Miz]

Copied from the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It:

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Plug and Play.
If you receive a Configuration Manager message, click OK.
3. In the Startup Type list, click Automatic, and then click OK.
4. Close Services.
5. Restart the computer.

[Hexdump]

I found a corrupt registry key at [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\Legacy_QL1 DAP]. I had a bit of trouble trying to remove it, so instead I decided to try using a backup of the system file as follows:

ren c:\windows\system32\config\system system.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

This has allowed my installation to continue, and bring me back to windows with a working device manager.

[davelewin]

Originally Posted by davis

When I tried Jazz's fix, I ended the following error mssg, "registry editor could not set security in the key currently selected, or some of the subkeys". I went back and noticed that the word 'Reset' was different on my PC. Mine says REPLACE permission on all child......... I am curious if that is why I got the error mssg. The device manager is still empty. grrrrrrr thanks in advance for anyone's help.

I have just had the same problem with nothing appearing in the device manager. I fixed this by starting in safe mode and then doing a system restore. The restore works in safe mode but not on ordinary boot. Hope this helps if you haven't already fixed it
Regards

Dave

[davelewin]

Originally Posted by davis

No luck so far! I've tried everything I can think of and now am getting lots of pop-ups cuz my pop-up blocker isn't working...AND no scanner or camera functions. What a bloody mess!

I have just had the same problem with nothing appearing in the device manager. I fixed this by starting in safe mode and then doing a system restore. The restore works in safe mode but not on ordinary boot. Hope this helps if you haven't already fixed it
Regards

Dave

[mahdiislam]

Originally Posted by Jazz
Try the following obtained from Annoyances.org, as per the following link, as it is a long thread. Naturally, backup the registry prior to making the change/s: -

re: Empty Device Manager

"The issue is security permissions in the registry. I cannot tell how they are lost
but I can tell you how to fix it short of having to re-install Windows!

You must use regedt32.exe in Windows 2000/XP (as I have not seen this problem posted
for any other operating system). Be very carefull making changes in the regisrty!

You must be logged on as a local administrator to perform this task:

1. Go to "Start", "Run", and enter "regedt32"
2. Maximize the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" window.
3. Scroll down to "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum"
4. With "Enum" selected click the "Security", "Permissions" menu.

Note: At this point you will probably notice there are no permissions on this key.

5. Click "Add".
6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM".
7. Select "Everyone" and check "Read" ONLY!
8. Select "SYSTEM" and check "Full Control".
9. Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.
10. On the Advanced window check "Reset permissions on all child objects..."
11. Click "OK"
12. On the warning window click "Yes"
13. Close REGEDT32

You should now be able to see everything in Device Manager, Network Places Properties,
and Printers."

Got this from a different thread, hope it helps

[kmsilver]

I found this reply on another post, and it worked for me....

dragonreese
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
I believe the ContextPlus is a part of the Apropos spyware module and you were lucky enough to have an automatic uninstaller for it. There are a lot of people going through this issue right now and this is my post from a few other forums.

I have worked on this problem of a corrupted Device Manager, missing Network Connections, slow response times from Windows Explorer and Windows reactivation BS for about 10 hours and this has finally fixed the issue. I previously scanned the system with Spybot S&D, Lavasoft AdAware and Webroot Spy Sweeper but nothing picked up on Apropos.

To make sure that this file is available I have uploaded it to my own server and you can download it below. I also have an AproposUninstaller.exe from Symantec on there, but I did not have to try that since the AproposFix.exe worked. I am taking no credit for it, but I just want to make sure it is available to the next person that goes through this ****.

Step 1.
=====
Download one (or both) of the files to remove Apropos to your Desktop.
http://www.reesecomputing.com/downl.../AproposFix.exe
http://www.reesecomputing.com/downl...Uninstaller.exe

Step 2.
=====
Restart your computer and enter Safe Mode by pressing F8 on the keyboard repeatedly AFTER your BIOS loads and BEFORE Windows starts to load.

Step 3.
=====
Log into the account where the files you downloaded are on the Desktop. It should be an account with Administor privledges.

Step 4.
=====
//For AproposFix.exe:
Double click on AproposFix.exe and extract the files to your Desktop. Open that folder and double click on Run This.bat and follow the instructions. Restart the computer once you are prompted.

//For AproposUninstaller.exe:
Double click on AproposUninstaller.exe to open the removal tool. Click on the Start button when you are ready to start scanning. Follow the instructions within the removal tool.

Step 5.
=====
Once you are back in Windows running in normal mode with a working Device Manager, etc. get yourself online and download FireFox and download Microsoft AntiSpyware to help you stay protected against spyware.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en

You should still also use Spybot S&D and Lavasoft Adware.
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-1

[GameMaster90]

Omg are you serious? This exact problem happended to me a 2 weeks ago, after I ran TuneUp 2006. I posted it on a forum, but no one helped me, so that is why I did a clean install of Windows, and now I can't continue because the disk is scratched. Argh.

[nzo]

Originally Posted by kmsilver

I found this reply on another post, and it worked for me....

dragonreese
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
I believe the ContextPlus is a part of the Apropos spyware module and you were lucky enough to have an automatic uninstaller for it. There are a lot of people going through this issue right now and this is my post from a few other forums.

I have worked on this problem of a corrupted Device Manager, missing Network Connections, slow response times from Windows Explorer and Windows reactivation BS for about 10 hours and this has finally fixed the issue. I previously scanned the system with Spybot S&D, Lavasoft AdAware and Webroot Spy Sweeper but nothing picked up on Apropos.

To make sure that this file is available I have uploaded it to my own server and you can download it below. I also have an AproposUninstaller.exe from Symantec on there, but I did not have to try that since the AproposFix.exe worked. I am taking no credit for it, but I just want to make sure it is available to the next person that goes through this ****.

Step 1.
=====
Download one (or both) of the files to remove Apropos to your Desktop.
http://www.reesecomputing.com/downl.../AproposFix.exe
http://www.reesecomputing.com/downl...Uninstaller.exe

Step 2.
=====
Restart your computer and enter Safe Mode by pressing F8 on the keyboard repeatedly AFTER your BIOS loads and BEFORE Windows starts to load.

Step 3.
=====
Log into the account where the files you downloaded are on the Desktop. It should be an account with Administor privledges.

Step 4.
=====
//For AproposFix.exe:
Double click on AproposFix.exe and extract the files to your Desktop. Open that folder and double click on Run This.bat and follow the instructions. Restart the computer once you are prompted.

//For AproposUninstaller.exe:
Double click on AproposUninstaller.exe to open the removal tool. Click on the Start button when you are ready to start scanning. Follow the instructions within the removal tool.

Step 5.
=====
Once you are back in Windows running in normal mode with a working Device Manager, etc. get yourself online and download FireFox and download Microsoft AntiSpyware to help you stay protected against spyware.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en

You should still also use Spybot S&D and Lavasoft Adware.
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-1

This is the fix that finally worked for me.

[korrupt420]

Originally Posted by davis

When I tried Jazz's fix, I ended the following error mssg, "registry editor could not set security in the key currently selected, or some of the subkeys". I went back and noticed that the word 'Reset' was different on my PC. Mine says REPLACE permission on all child......... I am curious if that is why I got the error mssg. The device manager is still empty. grrrrrrr thanks in advance for anyone's help.

Exact same error. This virus has made my graphics drivers go nuts. I can't play any half life 1 mods (CS), but thank god hl2 works.

Anyways, a fix for this would be nice. Errors popup whenver I try to run that Run This.bat thing.

[korrupt420]

Anybody?