Identify Unknown Devices in Windows

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In this article you will learn how to identify unknown devices in a Microsoft Windows operating system. There is no need to download any programs/tools to detect what drivers you need. Before you start please close all programs and tasks to avoid any complications.

Steps

  1. Locate the Device Manager control panel. Device Manager is used to control attached hardware to your computer. If the operating system does not have a driver for your hardware installed the device will not function. You can find the Device Manager control panel by right-clicking My Computer and selecting properties. Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
  2. Highlight the unknown device. Select the device which is not identified. Windows places all unknown devices in a group labeled other devices. Do not try to configure a device that is properly installed. A solid yellow question mark icon indicates the device is unknown to Windows.
  3. Find the vendor and device IDs. In the properties of the unknown device there is a tab labeled details. In this tab you will find a drop down list with Hardware IDs. VEN_XXXX is the vendor ID and DEV_XXXX is the device ID. The four characters after VEN and DEV are unique identifiers. These identifiers will help you identify your unknown device.
  4. Find out hardware name and model. There are many websites you can use to find out the name and model of your unknown device. You can do an online search for hardware ID databases to find this information.
  5. Search online for drivers. Use a search engine to find the drivers for your device. There are many harmful websites trying to charge you money or make you download malicious software for drivers. This can be avoided by searching for drivers on your manufacturer’s website. If you cannot find your driver online, email the manufacturer for help with drivers.
  6. Install appropriate driver. If you are using Windows XP, use a Windows XP driver. Do not attempt to install a Linux or Mac driver on your Windows machine. There are specific drivers for each operating system. Although some drivers may be universal, check with the manufacturer to see compatibility.
  7. Restart your computer. This is a critical step. When prompted to restart your computer, select yes. This is highly recommended to avoid problems with your driver's installation. Check in Device Manager to see if your device is installed and working properly after you restart.

Tips

  • Always remember to backup your drivers. This can save you from a headache.
  • You can slipstream drivers into a copy of your operating system's installation disk by using special software. This makes installing an operating system less troublesome. Use a search engine to find information on how to slipstream drivers.

Warnings

  • Installing the wrong driver may result in damaging your computer. If you have any doubts following the steps above, stop and seek professional services for configuring your computer.
  • Do not pay for any drivers you may find online. A small fee may be charged by your hardware's manufacturer to mail you drivers on a CD. This is very rare as most drivers are available online for free.

Things You'll Need

  • Access to a computer with an Internet connection

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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