Troubleshooting "Unknown Device" Displayed in Device Manager

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista

Occasionally, Device Manager contains an entry for a device named Unknown Device. These troubleshooting topics assist in evaluating why that status is applied to a device and how to correct it.

• The Device Does Not Have a Device Driver

• The Device Has an Unrecognized Device ID

• The Device is a Virtual Device Created by Software