How to use Device Manager to configure devices in Windows Server 2003

Article ID: 323423 - View products that this article applies to.
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SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to use Device Manager to configure the hardware devices that are installed on your Windows Server 2003-based computer.

Device Manager displays a graphical view of the hardware that is installed on your computer. Use this tool when you want to view and manage hardware devices and their drivers. You must be logged on to the computer as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to add or remove devices or to configure device properties in Device Manager.

When you install a Plug and Play device, Windows automatically configures the device so that it works correctly with the other devices that are installed on the computer. During the configuration process, Windows assigns a unique set of system resource settings to the device. The following list describes the four types of resources that a device can use:
  • Interrupt request (IRQ) line numbers
  • Direct memory access (DMA) channels
  • Input/output (I/O) port addresses
  • Memory address ranges
Each resource that is assigned to a device is given a unique value. Occasionally, a device conflict may occur if two devices require the same resources. If this conflict occurs, you can manually configure the device to assign unique resources to each device. In some situations, depending on the device drivers and the computer, two devices can share a resource (for example, interrupts on Peripheral Component Interconnect [PCI] devices).

When you install a non-Plug and Play device, Windows does not automatically configure resource settings for the device. Depending on the type of device, you may have to manually configure these settings. Before you do so, either contact the hardware manufacturer or see the documentation that is included with the device for more information.

Typically, Windows identifies devices and their resource requests, and then automatically allocates the resource settings for your hardware. In most situations, you do not have to modify resource settings for your hardware. Do not change resource settings for a Plug and Play device unless it is necessary. When you manually configure a resource, the setting is fixed. Therefore, Windows cannot modify resource assignments if that is required, and Windows cannot assign that resource to another device.

How to Configure a Device in Device Manager

To configure a device in Device Manager, follow these steps.

Important Use caution when you configure resource settings for a device. If you configure resources incorrectly, you can disable your hardware, and you can cause your computer to stop working. Change resource settings only when you are sure that the settings that you want to use are unique and do not conflict with settings for other devices, or when a hardware manufacturer has provided you with specific resource settings for a device.
  1. Log on to your computer as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group.
  2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
  3. Under System Tools in the console tree, click Device Manager.

    The devices that are installed on your computer are listed in the right pane.
  4. Double-click the type of device that you want to configure -- for example, Ports (COM & LPT).
  5. Right-click the device that you want to configure, and then click Properties.
  6. Click the Resources tab.
  7. Click to clear the Use automatic settings check box.

    Note The Use automatic settings check box is unavailable and appears dimmed, both on devices for which there are no other settings to configure and on devices that are controlled by Plug and Play resources and which do not require user modification.
  8. In the Settings based on box, click the hardware configuration that you want to modify -- for example, Basic configuration 0000.
  9. Under Resource type in the Resource settings box, click the type of resource that you want to modify -- for example, Interrupt Request.
  10. Click Change Setting.
  11. In the Edit Resource dialog box, type the value that you want for the resource, and then click OK.
  12. Repeat steps 8 through 11 to configure the resource settings that you want for the device.
  13. Quit Device Manager.

How to View Resource Settings in Device Manager

To view a list of resources and the devices that are using them by type or by connection, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
  2. Under System Tools in the console tree, click Device Manager.

    The devices that are installed on your computer are listed in the right pane. The default view lists devices by type.
  3. Use one of the following methods:
    • To view a list of resources by type, click Resources by type on the View menu.

      -or-
    • To view a list of resources by connection type, click Resources by connection on the View menu.

Troubleshooting

Use Device Manager to Search for Device Conflicts

A device conflict occurs when the same resources are allocated to two or more devices. Use Device Manager to search for device conflicts. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
  2. Under System Tools in the console tree, click Device Manager.

    The devices that are installed on your computer are listed in the right pane.
  3. Double-click the type of device that you want to test -- for example, Sound, video and game controllers.
  4. Right-click the device that you want to test for conflicts, and then click Properties.
  5. Click the Resources tab.

    Any conflicts that exist for the device are listed under Conflicting device list.

Windows Hardware Troubleshooter

Use the Windows Hardware Troubleshooter to help you troubleshoot and resolve a hardware conflict or other hardware-related issues. To start the Hardware Troubleshooter, follow these steps:
  1. Log on to your computer as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group.
  2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
  3. Under System Tools in the console tree, click Device Manager.

    The devices that are installed on your computer are listed in the right pane.
  4. Double-click the type of device that you want to troubleshoot -- for example, Modems.
  5. Right-click the device that you want to troubleshoot, and then click Properties.
  6. Click the General tab.
  7. Click Troubleshoot.

REFERENCES

For additional information about how to modify resource settings in Device Manager, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
269491
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269491/ )
Unable to change a resource setting in Device Manager
252420
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/252420/ )
General description of IRQ sharing in Windows 2000
275180
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/275180/ )
Windows 2000 claims IRQ-6 settings even if floppy disk controllers are not present
For additional information about how to manage devices by using Device Manager, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
199276
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/199276/ )
How to manage devices in Windows
\
244601
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244601/ )
How to troubleshoot unknown devices listed in Device Manager
125174
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/125174/ )
Explanation of error codes generated by Device Manager
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Properties

Article ID: 323423 - Last Review: December 3, 2007 - Revision: 6.5
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition
Keywords: 
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