Checking the Status of a Device

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When you first open Device Manager, it lists each class of device as an expandable outline entry subordinate to a main entry for your computer itself, which is identified by its network name. You can expand a class entry by double-clicking it or clicking once on its associated plus sign. Expanding the class entry reveals subentries for each item in the class. So, for example, if your system has two modems, expanding the Modems entry reveals a subentry for each modem.

Devices that aren't working properly are easy to spot in Device Manager's initial display. First, their class headings are expanded. Second, the device entries themselves are marked with distinctive symbols. Device Manager uses either a yellow exclamation point or a red X to highlight problem devices. The exclamation point typically denotes a device that is incorrectly configured or is missing one or more device drivers. But it can also identify a device that was once working properly but isn't now physically attached to the system. (In Figure 25-1, for example, the Microsoft PS/2 Mouse has been replaced by a Microsoft USB IntelliMouse, but the user neglected to uninstall the PS/2 Mouse. Because the PS/2 mouse has been physically disconnected from the system, Device Manager flags it with an exclamation point.) A red X icon denotes a device that Windows 2000 has disabled because of a conflict in resource assignments.

If the entry for a device isn't flagged with an exclamation point or an X, you can assume that it has been installed successfully and is working properly. But you can assure yourself of its nonproblematic status by double-clicking its entry to display its properties dialog box and reading the information in the Device Status area of the General tab. Figure 25-2 shows the properties dialog box for a device that is functioning properly.

Figure 25-2. The General tab of a device's properties dialog box tells whether the device is functioning properly.