The Windows Device Manager allows you to visualize the status of all the various hardware components of your personal computer or laptop. The Device Manager maintains a list of all active hardware devices, sorted by category.

Locating the Device Manager

One of the easiest ways to access the Device Manager is to right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop and choose the “Properties” item from the menu. Then, choose the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button.

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Viewing the Device List

The main view offered by the Device Manager is a list of all of the hardware components installed in your computer. This list is organized into various catagories, and each computer will have a unique list depending upon which devices are installed. Examples from two different computers are shown below.

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