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

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26100.4061 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦24H2 ♦♦♦non-Insider
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    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
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    Hard Drives
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    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
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    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
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    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
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    Firefox 3.x ??
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    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

System One

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom build
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics 3.80
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    AMD ROG STRIX B550-F
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    G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 32GB (2x16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated
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    on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG 32-Inch Odyssey G50D Series
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    Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB ssd INTEL SSD 730 series 240 GB. and Samsung 840 Evo ssd 500 GB.
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    CORSAIR - RMe Series 1000W 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
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    Antec 900 Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Computer Gaming Case
    Cooling
    AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech 520
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    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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • 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

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    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)
    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 Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    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
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
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

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • 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
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • 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
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • 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

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    My Self
    CPU
    Intel Alder lake i7 12700K
    Motherboard
    Asus z690 Gaming WiFi D4, Bios Ver 4001
    Memory
    32 Gb Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 XMP2
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    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
    Samsung 980 Pro with heatsink 1Tb NVME
    Samsung 870 Qvo 1Tb SSD,
    Seagate ST2000DM001 2Tb
    Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-219L
    WD Black SN850x NVME 2Tb x2
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    Corsair RM850
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    Phanteks Enthoo Pro M Tempered Glass
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    Be Quiet Shadow Rock 3
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    Logitech G903, Lightspeed + Powerplay Mat
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    Logitech C930e webcam
    Synology DS218 play 2 x 4Tb WD Red WD40EFAX
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

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    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)
    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 Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    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
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
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