What are the "greyed out" devices in Device Manager?


Into_Oblivion1 said:
Despite it got a clean Windows 11 install?
First time I turned on the laptop, it had a fresh Windows install (creating an account, choosing language etc.)
Click to expand...


It might have been a generic Windows Device or if Windows came preinstalled... then it could be some OEM device that they used when setting up the computer.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8737 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2AMD Ryzen 7 3700XG.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8737 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 5302)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1

  • At a glance

    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
Ghot said:
It might have been a generic Windows Device or if Windows came preinstalled... then it could be some OEM device that they used when setting up the computer.
Click to expand...
So I can conclude, that the "greyed out" devices, are from before I received the laptop?

Thank you
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
I've got a haunted desktop like that!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 proAMD Ryzen 7 5700XG.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM...ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 4060 White Edition
OS
Windows 11 pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
custom build
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Motherboard
AMD ROG STRIX B550-F
Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 32GB (2x16GB)
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 4060 White Edition
Sound Card
on-board
Monitor(s) Displays
SAMSUNG 32-Inch Odyssey G50D Series
Screen Resolution
2560 x 1440
Hard Drives
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB, ssd INTEL SSD 730 series 240 GB, and Samsung 840 Evo ssd 500 GB.
PSU
CORSAIR - RMe Series 1000W 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
Case
Antec 900 Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Computer Gaming Case
Cooling
ID-COOLING SE-214-XT Black CPU Cooler All-Black Layout
Keyboard
Logitech 520
Mouse
Logitech 310
Browser
Google Chrome
Antivirus
Windows Defender
So I can conclude, that the "greyed out" devices, are from before I received the laptop? Agree?

Thank you
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
No.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
When for example virual devices are not in use, they can show as not connected.
Same goes for wireless or bluetooth if a laptop has a button to shut them off for example.

| When they origin from?
Look at install date?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Tester said:
Same goes for wireless or bluetooth if a laptop has a button to shut them off for example.
Click to expand...
Physical button?
Same as if they were disconnected / taken out of the laptop?

Tester said:
| When they origin from?
Look at install date?
Click to expand...
It only shows date of driver in properties - that is not the same as installation date?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Into_Oblivion1 said:
Physical button?
Same as if they were disconnected / taken out of the laptop?


It only shows date of driver in properties - that is not the same as installation date?
Click to expand...

Could anyone help me further with above requets?

Thank you
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Into_Oblivion1 said:
Physical button?
Same as if they were disconnected / taken out of the laptop?
Click to expand...
Yes i have had laptops with a button, that would disconnect the wifi/bluetooth device.
Into_Oblivion1 said:
It only shows date of driver in properties - that is not the same as installation date?
Click to expand...
Install application: System Informer. Then after starting that, use Tab Devices:
Then right click an item "Show disconnected devices"

Then at the right side you can see the Install Date. If you selected propertie of the item, you can see more details.

For example, last week i plugged in 2 usb 500gb harddisks, that i never worked with.
Yesterday a phone that i did some work on.
Today did some work on two tablets.
1745339733367.webp
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
I think any Windows installation that's been around for more than a day or two has a bunch of the hidden devices. I never gave it much though unless I was having a problem. Why the sudden zeal to track them down?

Many times it's because the device is powered off or not connected. Take the following example. All the TV's represented are currently not powered up.

1745345312207.webp
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8737Intel Core i5 1450064GB DDR4GeForce RTX 4060
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8737
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8655Intel Core i5 1440032GB DDR5Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Nimo N171 17" Laptop, (Intel i3-1215U, 16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    Acemagic Vista Mini PC V1 (Intel N150, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    HP ENVY h8-1540t, (24GB RAM, 2TB SSD, 2TB HDD, Win11 Pro)
If people have something to hide on a removable device like usb stick, that is hidden somewhere on the property. Then you need to make sure that your remove the refrences to that device on your pc. Otherwise after Forensics has analysed your computer, you get a list of devices they want to be handed over as well. As for other reasons, just for the cleanup i guess?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    11 Homei7 13650HX16GB DDR5GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    30Mbit/s up, 500Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
    Antivirus
    What's an antivirus?

  • At a glance

    11 Homei5 1135G716GB DDR4Intel Iris Xe
    Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    30Mbit/s up, 500Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
Tester said:
Install application: System Informer. Then after starting that, use Tab Devices:
Then right click an item "Show disconnected devices"
Click to expand...
Is there no internal function, log etc. in Windows, that can show something similar/the same? The installation date of the "device"?

Tester said:
When for example virtual devices are not in use, they can show as not connected.
Click to expand...
So if a virtual device is suddenly used, then it can switch from "ghost" to active and enabled?
What could trigger this effect?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Tester said:
If people have something to hide on a removable device like usb stick, that is hidden somewhere on the property. Then you need to make sure that your remove the refrences to that device on your pc. Otherwise after Forensics has analysed your computer, you get a list of devices they want to be handed over as well. As for other reasons, just for the cleanup i guess?
Click to expand...
I am intererested in all of this, to make sure, that all the devices and "ghost" devices are from before I received the laptop and turned it on for the first time OOBE.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
So your not happy with your new laptop.... then take it back to the shop and get another!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel Alder lake i7 12700K32 Gb Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 XMP2EVGA 3070ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming & Intel Arc
OS
Windows 11 Pro 25H2
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
My Self
CPU
Intel Alder lake i7 12700K
Motherboard
Asus z690 Gaming WiFi D4, Bios Ver 4505
Memory
32 Gb Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 XMP2
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA 3070ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming & Intel Arc
Sound Card
Via Display port
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell AW2723DF
Screen Resolution
2560 x 1440 @ 280Hz G-Sync mode
Hard Drives
WD Black SN850 1Tb NVME (Boot Drive)
WD BLACK SN850X + Heatsink 1Tb NVME
Samsung 870 Qvo 1Tb SSD,
Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-219L
WD Black SN850x NVME 2Tb x3
PSU
Corsair RM850
Case
Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Tempered Glass
Cooling
Be Quiet Shadow Rock 3
Keyboard
Logitech G Pro
Mouse
Logitech G903, Lightspeed + Powerplay Mat
Internet Speed
900Mb/900Mb Fritz!Box 7590ax v2
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
MS Defender
Other Info
Logitech C930e webcam
Synology DS218 play 2 x 4Tb Synology HAT3300-4T
Into_Oblivion1 said:
I am intererested in all of this, to make sure, that all the devices and "ghost" devices are from before I received the laptop and turned it on for the first time OOBE.
Click to expand...
The default drivers are obviously there for some devices that are not in your laptop configuration. It's simple, the grayed out drivers are for devices not connected, it's really as simple as that. They could be default devices that are in the basic Windows build, or perhaps the OEM customized generic build.
Into_Oblivion1 said:
Is there no internal function, log etc. in Windows, that can show something similar/the same? The installation date of the "device"?
Click to expand...
Not to my knowledge.
Into_Oblivion1 said:
So if a virtual device is suddenly used, then it can switch from "ghost" to active and enabled?
What could trigger this effect?
Click to expand...
Connecting the missing device.

There can be a host of reasons that ghost entries show up, a few examples...

Here's one that is obviously the manufacturer's MB drivers renaming the motherboard, the old one is now an orphan.
1746900840606.webp

Here's one that is not currently in use, the RDC is not in use right now.
1746900896090.webp

Here's a bunch of them from setting up Windows, the Generic Monitor ones are left over from tinkering with monitors and changing interfaces.
1746900988032.webp

Let's have some disk drives. I have three internal drives, they're the only thing connected right now. However, I've had a host of different types of external drives connected as you can see.
1746901132705.webp

Truthfully, IMO you're obsessing over nothing, this happens in every Windows installation, and as you run and use different devices, the list will surely grow!
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8737Intel Core i5 1450064GB DDR4GeForce RTX 4060
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8737
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8655Intel Core i5 1440032GB DDR5Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Nimo N171 17" Laptop, (Intel i3-1215U, 16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    Acemagic Vista Mini PC V1 (Intel N150, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    HP ENVY h8-1540t, (24GB RAM, 2TB SSD, 2TB HDD, Win11 Pro)

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Could anyone please help me with my questions in #39?

Thank you
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Useful to uninstall "hidden devices" in Device Manager ??
Replies
5
Views
11K
FreeBooter
FreeBooter

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom