Copyright: Monday, July 09, 2001 08:13:44


Displays a tree view of the devices on your local computer or the remote computer you are managing, as well as a list of resources that have been allocated to those devices.


Displays only a tree view of the devices on your local computer or the remote computer you are managing.

A tree view of the resources that are allocated to the devices will not be available if you choose this option.


Displays only the resources that have been allocated to the devices on your local computer or the remote computer you are managing.

A tree view of the devices will not be available if you choose this option.


Displays the type of device you have selected.


Displays the manufacturer of the device you have selected.


Displays the hardware revision number (if known) for the device you have selected. This information is provided by the device manufacturer and might not be available or relevant.


Displays the status of the device you have selected. If the device has a problem, the type of problem and a suggested solution are displayed here.

You might also see a problem code and a number (for example, Code 10). If you call a support line, this number can help you determine and diagnose the problem.

You might also see a command button labeled Reinstall Driver, Restart Computer, or Troubleshooter. Reinstall Driver starts the Hardware Update Wizard, Restart Computer closes all open programs and restarts your computer, and Troubleshooter starts the Hardware Troubleshooter.


Specifies whether the device is enabled. You should disable a device only when the device is causing a problem on your system.


Displays the device driver files that have been installed for the selected device. Click a device driver (if there is more than one listed) to see information about a specific device driver. You can also click Update Driver on the Driver tab to start the Hardware Upgrade Wizard, which will upgrade the device drivers for the selected device.


Displays the name of the company that provided the default device drivers for this device.


Displays the name of the company that provided the device driver you selected.


Displays the date of the device drivers for this device.


Displays the version for the default device drivers for this device.


Displays the file version for the device driver you have selected.


Displays copyright information for the device driver you have selected.


Click to change or update the device driver for the device you have selected. This will start the Hardware Update Wizard.


Specifies that you want to manage devices on the computer you are currently using.

You must be a member of the Administrators group to change device properties and settings. If you are not a member of the Administrators group, you will have a read-only view of the devices on your computer.


Provides a space for you to type the name of the remote computer you want to manage; for example, \\hansgruber1.

You will have a read-only view of devices on the remote computer; you cannot change its device properties and settings.


Click to browse the network for the remote computer you want to manage.

You will have a read-only view of devices on the remote computer; you cannot change its device properties and settings.


Lists the hardware configurations in which the selected device is enabled.


Removes this device from all hardware configurations on this computer.


Removes this device from a specific hardware configuration. You must designate the hardware configuration in the Configuration box.


Specifies the hardware configuration from which you want to remove the selected device. You must select Remove from specific configuration before you can designate a hardware configuration.


Specifies that you want to manage devices on a remote computer. A remote computer is any computer currently connected to the network, except the computer you are currently logged on to.

You will have a read-only view of devices on the remote computer; you cannot change its device properties and settings.


Prints a summary of the devices that are installed on your computer or the remote computer you are managing.


Prints a report for the device or the hardware type you have selected.


Prints a report for each device or hardware type that is installed on your computer or the remote computer you are managing. Also prints a summary report of the devices that are installed on your computer or the remote computer you are managing.


Contains options for specifying the type of hardware report you want. Hardware reports contain information about the devices that are installed on your computer or the remote computer you are managing.


Click to do one of the following:

Restart your computer if Restart is displayed. You must do this if you have changed any hardware settings and you want those changes to take effect immediately.

Upgrade the device drivers for this device if Reinstall Driver is displayed. This will start the Hardware Update Wizard, which takes you systematically through the upgrade process.

Start the Hardware Troubleshooter if Troubleshooter is displayed. You should do this if there is a hardware conflict or a problem listed under Device status on the General tab.


Lists the properties that you can configure for the currently selected network adapter. To change property settings, click a property, and then make the appropriate changes at the right.

These properties are device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine the correct property settings.


This option is device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine the correct setting.


This option is device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine the correct setting.


The information required is device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine what to type here.


This setting is device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine the correct value.


This property setting is device dependent. Read the device manufacturer's instruction manual to determine what to select here.


Sets the maximum rate, in bits per second (bps), that you want data to be transmitted through this port. Usually, this is set to the maximum rate supported by the computer or device with which you are communicating.


Changes the number of data bits you want to use for each character that is transmitted and received. The computer or device you are communicating with must have the same setting that you choose here. Most characters are transmitted in seven or eight data bits.


Changes the type of error checking you want to use for the selected port. The computer or device you are communicating with must have the same setting that you choose here. You must choose one of the following:

None means that no parity bit will be added to the data bits sent from this port. This will disable error checking.

Even means that a parity bit is set to 1 if it is needed to make the number of 1's in the data bits even. This will enable error checking.

Odd means that a parity bit is added if it is needed to make the number of 1's in the data bits odd. This will enable error checking.

Mark means that a parity bit is added, but it is always set to 0.

Space means that a parity bit is added, but it is always set to 1.


Changes the time between each character being transmitted (where time is measured in bits per second).


Changes how the flow of data is controlled. Xon/Xoff, sometimes called software handshaking, is the standard software method of controlling data flow between two modems. Hardware flow control, sometimes called hardware handshaking, is the standard method of controlling data flow between a computer and a serial device.


Displays the Advanced Settings dialog box, which lets you change first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer settings. These settings are applicable only to ports and devices that use a 16550 buffered universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART). This UART is used in most modems and ports.


Restores the following properties to these default settings:

Bits per second - 9600

Data bits - 8

Parity - None

Stop bits - 1

Flow control - None


Uses the first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffers by default in a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) chipset. UART is the main component in a serial port that contains buffers where incoming information can be stored until it is transferred to your computer, and outgoing information can be stored until it is transferred to a communications device (such as a modem). Most ports and devices use this chipset.

FIFO buffer support for the 16550 UART chip in the serial port properties improves the performance of high-speed modems. If you are experiencing data loss, over-run errors, or other connection problems, you can try lowering the FIFO buffer settings, or you can clear the option.


Adjusts the size of the receive buffer. Typically, larger buffer sizes will increase the rate at which you receive data.


Adjusts the size of the transmit buffer. Typically, larger buffer sizes will increase the rate at which you transmit data.


Changes the port number that is assigned to the port. For example, if you have three modems connected to COM1, COM2 and COM3, and you want them all to use COM3, change this setting to COM3 for ports COM1 and COM2. This will force each modem to use COM3.


Specifies how you want the operating system to detect devices that are attached to serial ports. Manually requires that you plug the device into the port and then use Device Manager to scan for hardware changes. Using a timed setting, such as Every 5 seconds, tells the operating system to scan the port every five seconds for new hardware. When the hardware is detected and installed, it stops probing the port.


Restores the following properties to these default settings:

Receive Buffer - High (maximum)

Transmit Buffer - High (maximum)

COM Port Number -The original port name


Displays the device resources currently assigned to the selected device, and the settings for each resource. There are four types of device resources: input/output (I/O) port, direct memory access (DMA) channel, interrupt request (IRQ) line, and memory address. If a device uses a resource, the resource must be assigned a unique value (setting) for the device.

Changing resource settings improperly can disable your hardware and cause your computer to malfunction or to be inoperable. Resource settings should be changed only by users who have expert knowledge of computer hardware and device resources.


Lists the hardware configurations in which the currently selected device is enabled. If you choose a hardware configuration other than the default, and you change any resource settings, resource conflicts might occur when you use the default hardware configuration. Resource conflicts can disable your hardware and cause your computer to malfunction or to be inoperable.


Displays the Edit dialog box, which you can use to change the value of the device resource that you selected in Resource settings.

If the Edit dialog box is not available, the resource settings for the currently selected device cannot be changed. You might be able to change the resource settings for this device, however, by choosing a different hardware configuration. If you do this, you should disable the device in the other hardware configurations where it is used.


Indicates that you want the operating system to determine available resource settings for the currently selected device. This check box is available only if you have selected a Plug and Play device. If this check box is available, you should check it unless you are manually changing resource settings.


Lists any conflicts among the device resources shown in Resource settings. If you see a conflict listed here, and you do not know how to resolve it, click the General tab, and then click Troubleshooter.


Describes the parent device, if applicable, that is associated with the currently selected device.


Specifies that you will assign device resources manually. There are four types of device resources: input/output (I/O) port, direct memory access (DMA) channel, interrupt request (IRQ) line, and memory address.

If this button is present, it usually means that the operating system cannot determine the appropriate resource settings for this device, or it cannot determine which device resources this device is using. You can change resource settings manually; however, changing resource settings improperly can disable your hardware and cause your computer to malfunction or to be inoperable. Resource settings should be changed only by users who have expert knowledge of computer hardware and device resources.


Displays the current value for the device resource you have selected, and provides a space for you to change the current value of the device resource. You must not choose a value that conflicts with another device’s resource setting. If you choose a value that is already being used by another device, the conflict will be listed in Conflict information.


Indicates whether the resource setting you have chosen in Value conflicts with any other resource settings. If it does, you will see a list of conflicting devices, and you must change the value you selected in Value.


Changes how often the operating system determines the position of your mouse. If you want to increase the resolution of your mouse or increase the speed at which your mouse is tracked, you should increase this value.

Increasing this value will make your mouse more sensitive; decreasing this value will make your mouse less sensitive.


Changes how the operating system detects and enables the wheel on your mouse. There are three options:

Detection disabled - The operating system will not try to detect or enable a mouse wheel. Choose this option if you do not want to use your mouse wheel.

Look for wheel - The operating system will try to detect whether you have a mouse wheel on your mouse. If it determines that there is a wheel, it will enable the wheel. Not every mouse supports this feature. If you choose this option, and your mouse does not work, choose Assume wheel is present.

Assume wheel is present - The operating system will attempt to enable your mouse wheel without first detecting whether you have a mouse wheel. If your mouse wheel is not functioning, you should choose this option.


Changes the size of the input buffer that stores information about your mouse location. Increase this number if your mouse behaves erratically.


Enables or disables fast initialization, which increases or decreases the time it takes the operating system to start up. If your mouse is behaving erratically (moving in random directions or acting as though you have clicked buttons when you have not), clear this check box.


Restores the following properties to these default settings:

Sample rate - 100 reports per second

Wheel detection - Assume wheel is present

Input buffer length - 100 packets

Fast initialization - enabled


Displays the physical location of the device you have selected. The physical location can include things such as the bus number or the small computer system interface (SCSI) identifier (ID).


Displays the current region selected on the DVD drive. This region is often preset by the DVD-ROM provider. When you choose a region in the DVD Region Settings list, the appropriate global region number (from 1 to 5) is displayed.

Warning: You are only allowed to change this region up to five times.


Specifies the new region selected on the DVD drive. This should be the region in which you currently reside. When you choose a region in the DVD Region Settings list, the appropriate global region number (from 1 to 5) is displayed.

Warning: You are only allowed to change this region up to five times.


Many publishers imprint their DVDs with a region code to control the geographic regions in which they can be played: For example, a disc encoded to play in Region 2 will not play on a DVD drive configured for Region 1. The region code is often displayed on the DVD package as a number on a world globe.

To configure your DVD drive to play discs from another region, select a geographic area from the list. Typically, however, you should select the geographic area in which you reside and not change the region setting again.

You can change the region setting only a limited number of times. When the Changes remaining indicator equals 1, and you select a new region, Windows displays an alert. If you proceed, you can play DVDs from that region only.

You cannot change the region setting for some DVD hardware and software decoders.


Specifies how the operating system searches for device 0 assigned to the integrated device electronics (IDE) channel. By default, the system tries to detect a device 0 when you start your computer. If no device 0 is attached, select None to increase the speed of the start process.

This field might be disabled if the operating system has already detected an IDE device assigned to the IDE channel. This prevents you from inadvertently selecting None, which would disable the IDE device.


Specifies the current transfer mode assigned to the device 0 on the integrated device electronics (IDE) channel.


Specifies the transfer protocol, either direct memory access (DMA) or programmed input/output (PIO), that the detected device should use. By default, the operating system uses the best mode for the device detected.

For DVD-ROM devices, you should select DMA if available because many software decoders require DMA in order to work.


Tells the operating system to search for the device 1 assigned to the integrated device electronics (IDE) channel. By default, the operating system tries to detect a controlled device when you start your computer. If no device 1 is attached, select None to speed up the start process.

This field might be disabled if the operating system already detected an IDE device assigned to the IDE channel. This prevents you from inadvertently selecting None, which would disable the IDE device.


Specifies the current transfer mode assigned to the device 1 on the integrated device electronics (IDE) channel.


Specifies the transfer protocol, either direct memory access (DMA) or programmed input/output (PIO), that the detected device should use. By default, the operating system uses the best mode for the device detected.


Specifies the operating system to come out of a low power state to service the event that occurs. For example, an incoming modem call will alert the system to service the call even if it is in hibernation.

If this option does not work, it might be because your hardware does not support this capability. Contact your hardware manufacturer for more information.


Specifies whether the operating system turns off the selected device if that device is able to be turned off. If the device is busy doing something, however, (servicing a call, for example), the operating system will not shut down the device. The operating system will try to shut down every possible device only when it is hibernating. Some devices must stay on at all times. If you need the device to stay on at all times, do not check this box.


Specifies the computer to come out of a low power state only when the device receives certain types of network traffic, which are typically sent by a network administrator. When you select this check box, the only network traffic that causes the device to bring the operating system out of a low power state is traffic sent by a network administrator. Clear the check box to allow all network traffic to cause the device to bring the computer out of a low power state. As a rule, if the computer provides services to other computers, you should clear the check box so that other computers can bring it out of a low power state.


Lists the available Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines on your adapter. The numbers range from 1 to 4, and are provided by your telephone company.


Lists the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) channels available on the ISDN line of your adapter.


Provides a space for you to type the phone number for the channel or terminal you selected. This number is provided by your telephone company. If your telephone company provided only one phone number, select channel or terminal 1 for that line, and then type the phone number under Phone Number.


Lists the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) logical terminals available on the ISDN line of your adapter.


Provides a space for you to type the sub-address number. The sub-address number is provided by your telephone company. If your telephone company provided only one sub-address number, select logical terminal 1 for that line, and type the sub-address number.


Provides a space for you to type the Service Profile Identifier (SPID) number. The SPID is provided by your telephone company. If your telephone company provided only one SPID number, select channel 1 for that line, and then type the SPID number. A SPID number is 14 digits.


Provides a space for you to type the telephone number you want to add to the list of multi-subscriber numbers. Multi-subscribers are a collection of telephone numbers that have access to a single Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line. The multi-subscriber number is provided by your telephone company.


Click to add the multi-subscriber number you typed to the Multi-subscriber numbers list.


Lists the multi-subscriber numbers you added for the selected Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line.


Deletes the selected multi-subscriber number from the Multi-subscriber numbers list.


Choose the switch type or D-channel you want to configure. The switch type or D-channel for an adapter is provided by your telephone company. You can choose only one switch type or D-channel at a time per adapter.


Click to configure the selected switch type or D-channel. The configuration dialog box that appears depends on the switch type or D-channel you chose.


Click to choose not to inform the user of errors occurring on the Universal Serial Bus. These suppressed error messages pertain to power, device errors and lack of bandwidth. It is recommended that this box remain cleared for all users so that the errors appear and can be fixed.


Click to have the parallel port driver not use any interrupt signal assigned to it. If a Plug and Play search reports that the parallel port does not require an interrupt resource, it tells the driver to give up the interrupt resource so that it can be used by some other device. This is the case for most Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) computers.


Click to have the parallel port driver refuse any interrupt signal assigned to it. It will do this even if a Plug and Play search reports that the parallel port requires an interrupt resource so that the interrupt resource can be used by some other device. This is the default behavior.


Click to have the parallel port driver accept and use any interrupt signal assigned to it. This option disables the parallel port driver interrupt resource filtering. Select this option only if one of the following two situations applies: (1) The computer has broken hardware, BIOS, or legacy drivers that prevent the computer from working properly unless the parallel port has an interrupt resource; or (2) the user has installed a high-speed parallel port device and a driver that is known to be able to use an interrupt, AND the user does not have any legacy sound or network devices that require the interrupt to work properly.


Changes the name of the port number that the operating system automatically assigns to the port. The user should not change this unless an earlier driver requires this because changing this might break other earlier drivers that are currently working properly.


Choose the port number from the list of available ports.


Select to allow older Plug and Play parallel devices, such as older compression drives, to be detected. Clear the check box if the devices you have attached have already been detected.


Hubs are self-powered or bus-powered. Self-powered hubs supply maximum power to devices; bus-powered provide minimal power. Devices requiring a lot of power should be plugged into self-powered hubs. This tab gives your current hub information.


Indicates the amount of current available from each of the hub ports. This is determined by whether the hub is bus-powered or self-powered, and is expressed in milliamps for each port.


Displays the devices directly attached to the hub, and their corresponding power requirements (as reported by the device) from the ports to which they are attached. The power consumed is expressed as a percentage of the power available from the port to which they are attached.


Displays the devices that are currently attached directly to the hub, and their corresponding power requirements (as reported by the device) from the ports to which they are attached.


Click to refresh the list of devices attached to the hub. If you attach another device to the hub, the device will not appear on the list of devices until you have refreshed the list.


Displays a visual representation of the current bandwidth on the bus. When a device is selected from the Bandwidth Consuming Devices list, the Bandwidth indicator bar displays a separate indicator for each device in the list.


Displays devices that require bandwidth from the selected controller. When a device is selected, the corresponding bandwidth indicator in the Bandwidth indicator bar is selected to highlight the bandwidth requirements of that device.


Click to query and display the updated bus information. This is relevant if there is a shift in the amount of bandwidth devices are using.


Click to start the Hardware Troubleshooter.


Click to display or change information about the device.


Displays a list of devices, which includes the manufacturer’s name and the type of device.


Click to view details about a particular device driver.


Click to uninstall the drivers associated with the selected device.


Lists categories of multimedia device drivers. To view all of the device drivers in a category, double-click the category name.


Specifies that programs use this device driver.


Prevents your programs from using this device driver. The driver remains on your disk, but it is no longer loaded into memory when you start your computer.


Prevents your programs from using this device driver. Unless one of your programs specifically requests it, this device will not be used.


Removes the selected device driver from your hard disk.


Click to change settings for this device driver. If this button is unavailable, the driver does not have any settings you can change.


Changes the priority of this audio codec. When audio codecs are equally capable of compression, they are used in the order of the priority assigned to them.


Displays information about this audio codec. The manufacturer provides this information.


Lists the instruments that are currently installed on your computer. To add a new instrument, click Add New Instrument.


Displays the name of the selected instrument.


Displays which musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) port on your sound card this instrument is plugged into.


Click if the definition file you want to use does not appear in Instrument definition, and you have the definition file you want to use on a disk.


Displays the name of the selected instrument's definition file, and, if applicable, any individual definition names within that file. The definition file contains information about how your computer communicates with the selected instrument. If the definition file you want to use does not appear in Instrument definition, click Browse to locate it.


Select to allow the drive to do write-back caching. This can improve write performance, but it will increase the chance of disk corruption if the system is not shut down properly.


Select to allow the user to collect and view disk performance data for use with performance monitoring tools, such as System Monitor, and for capacity planning. A very small performance reduction is incurred when collecting this data.


Not available for this release.


Select to disable tagged queuing. Tagged queuing allows a small computer system interface (SCSI) device to handle multiple operations, like tape rewind and scan, simultaneously. This results in a significant performance increase. A SCSI device usually disables tagged queuing automatically if tagged queuing cannot handle an operation, but sometimes the device still tries to perform an operation. In this case, you must disable tagged queuing manually.


Select to disable synchronous transfers. Synchronous transfers provide a method for a small computer system interface (SCSI) device and the host controller to negotiate a bus transfer speed higher than 1 megabit per second (Mbps). In some cases, however, the higher transfer speeds can cause device instability (particularly with lower-quality removable disk devices and CD-ROMs). This can result in false errors or interruptions in data transfers. In this case, you must disable synchronous transfers manually.


Specifies that Windows will set the steering of interrupt request (IRQ) lines. All check boxes are selected by default. If this causes problems, systematically clear one check box at a time to determine whether that solves the problem.

If you select the Use IRQ Steering check box, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus devices behave more like Plug and Play devices. If you clear the Use IRQ Steering check box, the basic input/output system (BIOS) sets IRQ steering.

IRQ steering is determined by one of two routing tables. Windows searches for one of the two selected routing tables in the order listed, and then uses the first one it finds.

Do not change the default settings for IRQ steering unless there is a problem with a PCI device. If a PCI device is not working properly, uncheck the Get IRQ table from Real Mode PCI BIOS 2.1 call check box, and then restart Windows.


Specifies that this is the first interrupt request (IRQ) routing table that Windows tries to use for IRQ steering.

If there is a problem with a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) device, clear the Get IRQ table using MS Specification table check box, and then restart Windows.


Specifies that this is the second interrupt request (IRQ) routing table that Windows tries to use for IRQ steering.


Restores the default settings.


Displays the interrupt request (IRQ) routing status, the table used for IRQ steering, and information about any problems or errors Windows detects.


Displays the name of the company that digitally signed the device driver. The digital signature ensures that this driver has met a certain level of testing, and that the file has not been altered or overwritten by any other installation program since it was signed.


Displays the name of the company that digitally signed the device driver. The digital signature ensures that this driver has met a certain level of testing, and that the file has not been altered or overwritten by any other installation program since it was signed.


Displays the name of the device.


Displays the name that appears in the Device Manager details pane.


Shows the status of a device, as follows:

Started. The service is running.

Starting. The service is starting but has not yet fully started.

Stopped. The service is not running.

Stopping. The service is stopping but has not yet fully stopped.

Paused. The service is paused.

Pausing. The service is pausing but has not yet fully paused.

Resuming. The service is resuming after being paused.

(Unknown). The status of the service is unknown. This could occur when a remote connection has been broken.


Starts a device that is stopped.


Stops a device that is running. If there are any dependent services, you will be prompted to stop those services as well.


Shows the startup type for a driver:

Automatic. The driver starts automatically when the system starts.

Boot. The driver is started by the operating system loader.

Demand. The driver is started on demand.

System. The driver is started during operating-system initialization.

Disabled. Prevents the service from being started by the system, a user, or any dependent service.


Click to reinstall the previous version of the driver.


Displays a list of manufacturers that provide drivers for the device.


Displays the drivers from which you can select for the device.


Displays only the hardware drivers that are specifically designed to work with the device you have selected.


Displays all hardware drivers of the device class you have selected. Be careful not to select a driver that is not designed to work with your device. A warning will appear if you select a driver that is not compatible with your device.


Displays only the hardware drivers that are similar to the device you have selected. This includes all drivers that are specifically designed for the device, in addition to drivers that are just similar and might also work with the device. Be careful not to select a driver that is not designed to work with your device.


Click to display a list of device drivers that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. From this list, select the appropriate driver for your device.


Click to install a device driver from a CD-ROM or floppy disk, or from a network share.