University of Wisconsin Knowledgebase

The Device Manager in Windows Vista can resolve problems involving hardware and associated drivers.

To access Device Manager, go to Start | Control Panel | System and Maintenance | System | Device Manager (Device Manager is located under "Tasks" in the left hand column of the "System" menu). A list of hardware will display like the one shown below.

Hardware is sorted by type (e.g. modems and wireless cards are displayed under "Network adapters"). Locate the hardware that is giving you problems. There are three common problems that can occur at this stage:

• Hardware you expect to find is not listed
• A yellow exclamation mark appears next to your hardware
• A red X appears next to your hardware

Hardware you expect to find is not listed

If you cannot find the hardware you expect to find, it is likely the hardware is installed incorrectly. You should power down your computer and locate the physical hardware on your computer. Verify it is installed correctly, and restart your computer. Once you have restarted your computer, Windows should automatically recognize the hardware and go through an installation process. You may be asked to provide drivers during this installation.

If you verify that the hardware is installed correctly but still does not appear in Device Manager, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.

A yellow exclamation mark appears next to your hardware

A yellow exclamation mark next to your hardware means the device is recognized by Windows but is not working properly. This usually indicates a driver problem. Update your drivers by following the directions below.

1. Right-click on the hardware and choose Properties.
2. Click on the Driver tab.
3. Click on Update Driver....
4. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Windows will automatically look for updated drivers for your hardware. If unable to find any, you will need to go the hardware manufacturer's website and download new drivers.

If you need help with installing new drivers, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.

A red X appears next to your hardware

A red X indicates that the hardware is disabled. Right-click on the hardware and click Enable. Your hardware should no longer have a red X.

If you are still having problems with hardware after you enabled it, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.