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Open Device Manager

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

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Device Manager can be started in several ways. This topic provides two procedures you can use to start Device Manager on Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008, both from the Windows interface and from a command line.

Any user account can be used to complete this procedure. However, only members of the Administrators group can make changes to the devices.

Opening Device Manager

You can use the following methods to open Device Manager:

  • 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 by using 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 appears, and you must click Continue 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. On Properties pages that would normally allow an administrator to make changes, there is now a Change settings button at the bottom of the page. When you click that button, you are prompted for a user name and password with permissions to modify the device.

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 appears, and you must click Continue 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. On Properties pages that would normally allow an administrator to make changes, there is now a Change settings button at the bottom of the page. When you click that button , you are prompted for a user name and password with permissions to modify the device.

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, the User Account Control dialog appears, and you must click Continue to open Computer Management.

    • If you are logged on as a standard user, you are prompted for a user name and password with permissions to open the Computer Management tool.

  2. Click Device Manager in the navigation 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 following 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, the User Account Control dialog appears, and you must click Continue 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. On Properties pages that would normally allow an administrator to make changes, there is now a Change settings button at the bottom of the page. When you click that button , you are prompted for a user name and password with permissions to modify the device.

From a remote computer

To open Device Manager on a remote computer

  1. Open Computer Management by using either of the Using Computer Management.

  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 parenthesis 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.
To access a computer remotely, you must enable the appropriate network port exceptions in your firewall software. For Windows Firewall, enable the Remote Administration option on the Exceptions tab.

Additional references

Device Management and Installation Troubleshooting Guide

Additional Resources