How to Check a Computer Diagnostic

Unlike shiny, sparkling, new stainless-steel appliances, sometimes less than fresh is good enough. In the case of checking your computer for hardware malfunctions, the Device Manager is the equivalent of reliable old Betsy--that Model T that still keeps chugging right along. It might smell funny, but at least you know it works. You can count on the Device Manager to omit the frills and thrills, yet tell you what you need to know about your computer's hardware. It's the diagnostic checking tool that so far has stood the test of time and hopefully will never fade away.

Instructions

1. Click on "Start" and select "Administrative Tools." Next, select "Computer Management and then choose "Device Driver."

2. View the list of installed hardware on the right side of the display screen. Next, click on an expansion node (the plus sign beside the main hardware category) to show the list of installed hardware under that main category. If you see an "X" to the left of the short title description, right-click on the selected hardware. If there is an "Enable Driver" option and you want to use the device, click on it to activate the hardware component. For other troubleshooting options, proceed to Step 3.

3. 

   Select "Properties" and go to the "Driver" tab. Choose the "Update Driver" option. If a problem is still present after the driver has been updated, go back to the Driver tab and select the "Rollback Driver" option. (Note: In this case, you may need to "Rollback Driver" twice in order to get the hardware back to an operational state.)

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, going through all of the installed hardware and, if desired, taking action on those with an "X" beside them.

5. If, after installing or otherwise modifying any hardware component, you still experience difficulties with it, disable it by following Step 1, and then right-click on the component and select the "Disable" option.

Tips & Warnings

• You can scan for all of the system hardware changes by clicking on the computer system icon at the top of the hardware tree in the Device Manager; however, it may take longer to scan the entire system. The above directions allow you to quickly zoom in on hardware that has malfunctioned or is disabled, because after you click on an expansion node, the red "X" stands out to bring your focus to the affected device.

• As a follow-up to Step 2, before you take action on a disabled device you may want to determine if you really need to enable it. If it is competing for system resources, it could pose a conflict with another hardware component. For example, a wireless network connection does not need to be activated unless it is being used. And while it is not being used, another connection may need to utilize the system's resources.

Resources

• Go to Microsoft and Support to learn how Device Manager helps troubleshoot computer issues.