Open Device Manager

You can open Device Manager in any of the following ways:

• Using the Windows interface
  
  
• Using a command line
  
  
• Using Computer Management
  
  
• From a remote computer
  
  

Using the Windows interface

The following procedure allows you to open Device Manager through the Windows user interface.

To open Device Manager by using the Windows interface

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Hardware and Sound.

3. Click Device Manager. One of the following occurs:

   • If you are logged on as the built-in Administrator account, Device Manager opens.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a user that is a member of the Administrators group, then the User Account Control dialog box appears, and you must clickContinue to open Device Manager.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a standard user, a message appears indicating that you cannot make any changes to the devices. Click OK to open Device Manager in read-only mode.
     
     

Using a command line

The following procedure allows you to open Device Manager from any command prompt.

To open Device Manager by using the command line

• At a command prompt, in the Start Search box, or in the Run box, type the following command:

  mmc devmgmt.msc

  One of the following occurs:

  • If you are logged on as the built-in Administrator account, Device Manager opens.
    
    
  • If you are logged on as a user that is a member of the Administrators group, then the User Account Control dialog box appears, and you must clickContinue to open Device Manager.
    
    
  • If you are logged on as a standard user, a message appears indicating that you cannot make any changes to the devices. Click OK to open Device Manager in read-only mode.
    
    

Using Computer Management

The following procedures allow you to open Computer Management, which includes Device Manager as one of its components.

Note
This procedure works only on Windows Vista. On Windows Server 2008, these steps start the Server Manager program. To start Computer Manager on Windows Server 2008, use the steps in the next procedure by using the command prompt.

To open Computer Management by using the Windows interface

1. Click Start, then right-click Computer, and then click Manage.

   One of the following occurs:

   • If you are logged on as the built-in Administrator account, Computer Management opens.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a user that is a member of the Administrators group, then the User Account Control dialog box appears, and you must clickContinue to open Computer Management.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a standard user, Computer Management opens.
     
     

2. Click Device Manager in the navigation pane.

   One of the following occurs:

   • If you are an administrator, Device Manager appears in the details pane.
     
     
   • If you are a standard user, a message appears indicating that you cannot make any changes to the devices. Click OK to open Device Manager in read-only mode in the details pane.
     
     

To open Computer Management by using the command line

1. At a command prompt, in the Start Search box, or the Run box, type the command:

   mmc compmgmt.msc

   One of the following occurs:

   • If you are logged on as the built-in Administrator account, Computer Management opens.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a user that is a member of the Administrators group, then the User Account Control dialog box appears, and you must clickContinue to open Computer Management.
     
     
   • If you are logged on as a standard user, Computer Management opens.
     
     

2. Click Device Manager in the navigation pane.

   One of the following occurs:

   • If you are an administrator, Device Manager appears in the details pane.
     
     
   • If you are a standard user, a message appears indicating that you cannot make any changes to the devices. Click OK to open Device Manager in read-only mode in the details pane.
     
     

From a remote computer

To open Device Manager on a remote computer

1. Open Computer Management using either of the procedures in the previous section.

2. On the Action menu, click Connect to another computer.

3. In the Select Computer dialog box, do one of the following:

   • In the Another computer text box, type the name of the computer to access, and then click OK.
     
     
   • Click Browse, and then click Advanced to find the computer you want. Click OK when you have selected the correct computer.
     
     

   If the connection is successful, the name of the computer appears in parentheses next to the Computer Management label in the upper left.

   Note
   Access to Device Manager on a remote computer in this manner is "read-only." You cannot make any changes to devices or their settings.