How to Manage Devices in Windows 2000

ID: Q199276

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

Windows 2000 does not include a Devices tool in Control Panel as in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to start and stop devices. Instead, you can view and manage all hardware and software device drivers using the Computer Management console, or you can administer hardware devices and their drivers using the Device Manager console.

MORE INFORMATION

To use the Computer Manager or Device Manager console:

Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

Double-click System Tools.

Click Device Manager to:

Troubleshoot devices.

Disable or uninstall devices.

View driver details or update drivers.

View or change resources assigned to devices.

You can also double-click System Information, double-click Software Environment, and then double-click Drivers. This displays the name, description, type, state, and status for each driver. You cannot administer drivers from this view.

If you want to disable a non-hardware-specific driver, click Show Hidden Devices on the View menu in Device Manager. You can find and disable under "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" some of the same items that appear in the Devices tool in Control Panel in Windows NT 4.0. If the device is not listed you must use Registry Editor (Regedt32) to disable the device. For additional information about this method, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q165748 How to Disable a Service or Device That Prevents NT from Booting

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbhw
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto