Windows Device Manager

Devices found in the Device Manager

Devices that I found in the Device Manager include:

Audio inputs and outputs
Batteries
Biometric devices
Bluetooth
Cameras
Computer
ControlVault Device
Disk drives
Display adapters
DVD/CD-ROM drives
Firmware
IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
Imaging devices	Seems to contain drivers for scanners or integrated cameras
Human Interface Devices
Keyboards
Memory technology devices
Mice and other pointing devices
Monitors
Network adapters
Ports (COM & LPT)
Print queues
Printers
Processors
Security devices
Sensors
Smart card readers
Software devices
Sound, video and game controllers
Storage controllers
System devices
Universal Serial Bus controllers
USB Connector Managers
WSD Print Provider

Note that the Device Manager shows different devices depending on the computer and available devices.

Starting the Device Manager

Via Power User Menu

The keyboard shortcut windows+x opens the Power User Menu which allows to choose Device Manager (key m).

Command Line

The device manager can be started in a command line (cmd.exe, PowerShell) by just typing devmgmt.msc.

It can also be started via mmc.exe, via control.exe or using rundll32.exe:

C:\> devmgmt.msc
C:\> mmc devmgmt.msc
C:\> control /name microsoft.deviceManager
C:\> control hdwwiz.cpl
C:\> rundll32 devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute

Windows key

With Windows-key, then typing device manager.

Updating drivers

A typical functionality for which the Device Manager might be used is to update drivers (as usual using Mouse and left/right clicks):

Disable Webcam

The device manager allows to disable a webcam.

The webcam is found either under Imaging Devices -> Integrated Camera or Cameras -> Integrated Webcam

Environment variable _devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices

Setting the environment variable _devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices to 1 before starting the device manager will cause the device manager to show inactive devices as well.