Device Manager Is Empty

Runnig Win 7 on a laptop.

Device Manager shows nothing.... and neither does Devices and Printers. Except for not being able to print, the laptop is functioning properly. My printers are actually connected to another Desktop PC on a home network. I can see the printers under Network, and open files on the Desktop from this laptop. I also have a second Win 7 laptop on my home network which doesn't have this issue.

This is an intermittent problem. Sometimes if I power down the modem and router the problem clears itself. Sometimes it doesn't. Lately, this solution doesn't work at all.

I have cleaned the registry (CCleaner & IObit Advance System Care) and run various other malware and virus removal software (Malwarebytes & Spybot). This has been happening for several months. There don't seem to be any other issues... Programs, Internet and system speed all appear normal. I also tried the following suggestion I received:

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.
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
The only problem.... after step 12, I received an error message stating the changes couldn't be saved.... and access was denied. I ran this as an Administrator... in both regular and save mode.

Any other suggestions, besides re-installing Win 7... which I don't think I would attempt because everything else appears to run properly?

Thanks

 

Yes... Plug and Play was started and set to Automatic