Remove "Ghost Devices" from Device Manager...

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

Over time, attaching and then removing things like USB sticks, Controllers, Phones, Mice, Keyboards, etc.,
will leave you with a lot of Ghost Devices in Device Manager.

When you open Device Manager and choose: View > Show Hidden Devices, you will see them as "greyed out" devices.

They are harmless, but after a while they tend to make a mess of Device Manager.
This can be a problem when you're troubleshooting, for example.

Anyway, here's the fast, easy way to remove them with just a few clicks.

Go here and download Device Cleanup Tool v1.2.1... Windows Tools

1. Run the x64 Tool... as Admin.
2. It will show all the ghost devices (greyed out items).
3. Click on Devices > Select all
4. Click on Devices > Remove selected.

That's it.
You've just removed ALL the ghost entries in Device Manager.

Generic pic of Device Cleanup Tool showing "ghost entries"...

Thanks to @Ed Tittel for finding this.

@Brink If this is already somewhere else... feel free to delete this topic.

Try3 · Sep 30, 2023

I think that calling them "ghost devices" is rather melodramatic & is unnecessary given that they are already known as Hidden devices or even more simply as disconnected devices.

Why not simply avoid displaying Hidden devices unless & until there is some point in doing so?
Hidden devices are merely devices that have been connected at some time but are not connected now.

All the best,
Denis

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

Try3 said:
I think that calling them "ghost devices" is rather melodramatic & is unnecessary given that they are already known as Hidden devices or even more simply as disconnected devices.

Why not simply avoid displaying Hidden devices unless & until there is some point in doing so?
Hidden devices are merely devices that have been connected at some time but are not connected now.

All the best,
Denis

Actually that's not quite accurate.
There are Hidden Devices, and there are Ghost Devices.

The difference being that the Ghost Devices will be greyed out.

For example...
In my Device Manager I show three devices under the "Software Devices" heading.
But when I choose "Show hidden Devices", I show four devices under the same heading. (none greyed out)

There are other examples, but this is just the first one I found.

So... BOO !!

Firas · Sep 30, 2023

Ghot said:
Over time, attaching and then removing things like USB sticks, Controllers, Phones, Mice, Keyboards, etc.,
will leave you with a lot of Ghost Devices in Device Manager.

When you open Device Manager and choose: View > Show Hidden Devices, you will see them as "greyed out" devices.

They are harmless, but after a while they tend to make a mess of Device Manager.
This can be a problem when you're troubleshooting, for example.

Anyway, here's the fast, easy way to remove them with just a few clicks.

Go here and download Device Cleanup Tool v1.2.1... Windows Tools

1. Run the x64 Tool... as Admin.
2. It will show all the ghost devices (greyed out items).
3. Click on Devices > Select all
4. Click on Devices > Remove selected.

That's it.
You've just removed ALL the ghost entries in Device Manager.

Generic pic of Device Cleanup Tool showing "ghost entries"...

View attachment 72601

Thanks to @Ed Tittel for finding this.

@Brink If this is already somewhere else... feel free to delete this topic.

Thank you, man. I just wanted to ask a quick question.
Is this a one-time deal?

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

Firas said:
Thank you, man. I just wanted to ask a quick question.
Is this a one-time deal?

I'm not sure I understand the question.
The program is free.

But over time, the Ghost Devices will re-appear as you connect and then disconnect peripherals.
The Device Cleanup Tool program is portable, so you you can stick it anywhere for re-use at some other time.

Firas · Sep 30, 2023

Ghot said:
I'm not sure I understand the question.
The program is free.

But over time, the Ghost Devices will re-appear as you connect and then disconnect peripherals.
The Device Cleanup Tool program is portable, so you you can stick it anywhere for re-use at some other time.

ok that's what i was asking do i need to redo it again?
ok man thanks

Try3 · Sep 30, 2023

Ghot said:
In my Device Manager I show three devices under the "Software Devices" heading.
But when I choose "Show hidden Devices", I show four devices under the same heading. (none greyed out)

Mike,

Thanks.
I have misunderstood this topic for twenty years or more.
Since some of the Hidden devices are not greyed out, there must be a device property Hidden that is set or unset by, say, the driver.
I'm rather astounded.

I'll log off & take some medication [Bailey's],
Denis

Firas · Sep 30, 2023

Try3 said:
misunderstood this topic for twenty years

Firas · Sep 30, 2023

I would like to point out that the Driver booster does the same thing.

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

Try3 said:
Since some of the Hidden devices are not greyed out, there must be a device property Hidden that is set or unset by, say, the driver.

That would be my guess as well.
I did have to double check though, after reading your post.

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

Firas said:
I would like to point out that the Driver booster does the same thing.

Yes, but...

A lot of times, driver updaters cause serious problems.
A lot of folks tend to avoid them for that reason.

mackie · Sep 30, 2023

Wow. You've got a lot of ghosts there Ghot. Good one. Thanks.

Ghot · Sep 30, 2023

mackie said:
Wow. You've got a lot of ghosts there Ghot. Good one. Thanks.

That's not a pic from MY comp. It's just a generic pic.
If I had had that many I'd think my comp was... haunted.

I don't have the energy to connect and disconnect that much stuff.