What are the "greyed out" devices in Device Manager?


Into_Oblivion1 said:
Despite it got a clean Windows 11 install?
First time I turned on the laptop, it had a fresh Windows install (creating an account, choosing language etc.)
Click to expand...


It might have been a generic Windows Device or if Windows came preinstalled... then it could be some OEM device that they used when setting up the computer.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26100.3775 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦24H2 ♦♦♦non-Insider
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 5002)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
Ghot said:
It might have been a generic Windows Device or if Windows came preinstalled... then it could be some OEM device that they used when setting up the computer.
Click to expand...
So I can conclude, that the "greyed out" devices, are from before I received the laptop?

Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
I've got a haunted desktop like that!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom build
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics 3.80
    Motherboard
    AMD ROG STRIX B550-F
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 32GB (2x16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated
    Sound Card
    on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell s2425hs
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB ssd INTEL SSD 730 series 240 GB. and Samsung 840 Evo ssd 500 GB.
    PSU
    CORSAIR - RMe Series 1000W 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
    Case
    COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced
    Cooling
    AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech 520
    Mouse
    Logitech 310
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender
So I can conclude, that the "greyed out" devices, are from before I received the laptop? Agree?

Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
When for example virual devices are not in use, they can show as not connected.
Same goes for wireless or bluetooth if a laptop has a button to shut them off for example.

| When they origin from?
Look at install date?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Tester said:
Same goes for wireless or bluetooth if a laptop has a button to shut them off for example.
Click to expand...
Physical button?
Same as if they were disconnected / taken out of the laptop?

Tester said:
| When they origin from?
Look at install date?
Click to expand...
It only shows date of driver in properties - that is not the same as installation date?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
Into_Oblivion1 said:
Physical button?
Same as if they were disconnected / taken out of the laptop?
Click to expand...
Yes i have had laptops with a button, that would disconnect the wifi/bluetooth device.
Into_Oblivion1 said:
It only shows date of driver in properties - that is not the same as installation date?
Click to expand...
Install application: System Informer. Then after starting that, use Tab Devices:
Then right click an item "Show disconnected devices"

Then at the right side you can see the Install Date. If you selected propertie of the item, you can see more details.

For example, last week i plugged in 2 usb 500gb harddisks, that i never worked with.
Yesterday a phone that i did some work on.
Today did some work on two tablets.
1745339733367.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I think any Windows installation that's been around for more than a day or two has a bunch of the hidden devices. I never gave it much though unless I was having a problem. Why the sudden zeal to track them down?

Many times it's because the device is powered off or not connected. Take the following example. All the TV's represented are currently not powered up.

1745345312207.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
If people have something to hide on a removable device like usb stick, that is hidden somewhere on the property. Then you need to make sure that your remove the refrences to that device on your pc. Otherwise after Forensics has analysed your computer, you get a list of devices they want to be handed over as well. As for other reasons, just for the cleanup i guess?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Explorer can't find external drive, but it is in device manager
2
Replies
25
Views
597
Scannerman
Scannerman
Windows 11 Recognizes my New (Second) SSD in File Explorer, Disk Management but Not in Device Manager Under Disk Drives
Replies
4
Views
306
hsehestedt
hsehestedt
Solved Duplicate entries in Device Manager
Replies
3
Views
706
Jim1
J
Useful to uninstall "hidden devices" in Device Manager ??
Replies
5
Views
6K
FreeBooter
FreeBooter
Bluetooth audio device not showing up in device manager
Replies
3
Views
1K
zebal
zebal

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom