Device Manager Not Working

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 a 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 another Win 7 laptop on my home network which doesn't have this issue.

This is an intermittent problem. Sometimes if I power everything down... modem, router and all computers.... the problem clears itself. Sometimes it doesn't.

Have cleaned registry (CCleaner & Advance System Care) and run various other malware and virus removal software. This has been happening for several months. There don't seem to be any other issues. Programs, Internet and system speed all appear normal.

Any ideas as to why I intermittently lose access to the printers and Device Manager?

 

This is What microsoft suggest to do.

I would suggest you to boot the computer in Safe Mode and check if the issue still persist.
Safe Mode:
htt://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode
I would also suggest you to perform a System File Checker to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files.
1. Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
sfc /scannow
The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces
incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

 

A theory (for what that's worth) and that's all, but I have CCleaner, and I won't touch the registry cleaner. I've scanned several times and taken a look at what it turns up, but I don't use it. A few months ago I unistalled some .dlls using an uninstaller program which advised me to. They were part of the Windows Installer, and I had a big mess on my hands. I got through it in a couple of hours, but that was only because I didn't lose the internet connection. I lost active X controls in many programs though. Some videos wouldn't play and macros wouldn't run in Office 2007.

I thought it through and determined that dependencies are established when a program is installed and that records in .dlls (dynmic link libraries) must be necessary for functions to work on the different levels of programs and Windows. Anyway, I reinstalled Windows Installer and ran a repair installation, and it was 80% fixed. I still had to reinstall some programs like Flash and Shockwave and others that use Active X.

CCleaner removes .dll files and Active X components. Take a look at the list after a scan sometime. I have concluded that some of those are likely important. The cleaning in Windows seems out of line too...

I'd describe what I believe is happening with CCleaner somewhat like fighting some people because they might have said something about you. I don't know, but I suspect that CCleaner could be causing many problems...maybe even yours.

I use CCleaner to remove temporary internet files and that's as far as I go. I have Comodo System Utilities, but I use it mostly to look into the registry to see what turns up in its scans. When I know somehow that it won't hurt anything, I use CSU to clean the registry using the lightest setting.

2 cents isn't much, but it's all I've got...:confused

If you Google restore Device Manager, you may find some good info on that. I've seen that one someplace recently I think...

 

Tried all of the above to no avail. Then I tried the following:

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 runs properly.

 

Hmm

Next step i would guess is to go to the malware forums.

To see if your system is truly clean of virus and malware.

Ok First step is to read this--->http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=195272

Then Read threw this next---->http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Then go to malware forums--->http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

Make sure you follow the Read and run fully other wise they will not help you.And try not to bump it only herts you.If they say your system is clean then we will continue on.

 

Yes it is.

 

Thank you in advance for your help. While following all the links and sub links of your last post, it appeared I needed to first make a post in the malware forum. I download the tools mentioned in the links, but didn't execute them. I then created a post in the malware forum... basically restating what I did in this forum... and explaining the steps I followed. The post was quickly moved back to this forum as a new post... subject line - Device Manager Is Empty.

I'm a bit at wits end. Maybe I'll just need to live with it, because everything else seems to work on this laptop and it's my primary laptop. If I need to print, I'll have to access it from my other small (10") laptop in the network. I'm not convinced I have a virus or malware issue... but do believe something went south in the registry. Probably at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum... but I'm denied access to make changes... even as "Run as administrator."

Any other ideas?