Fast way to remove all from device manager/ENUM key (Win9x/ME ONLY)

[Carl Price]

I was reading the posts this morning and Reboot answered GLC about a fast way to remove devices from device manager. I thought it should be repeated here so everyone might see it.

GLC, actually there IS a fast way.
Open regedit, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum
Remove all entries.

Reboot, thanks and if you know any more of these gems we all could use the education.

[Edited by Carl Price on 02-16-2001 at 04:10 PM]

[glc]

Does this actually work? I think I tried this once and wound up reinstalling Windows......

[Carl Price]

I have only tried it once and it worked like a charm. I just removed the whole key "enum". When windows rebooted only "computer" showed up in device manager. I went to control panel and clicked on "add new hardware" and let windows sort thru everything again.

Having said that, I want everyone to realize that I tried this on a machine which had just received a new install of Windows. I did this as a test and as I said it worked like a charm

[Edited by Carl Price on 02-17-2001 at 02:34 PM]

[Floppyman]

Can you guys tell me where this is in win2k? There is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/enum...thanks.

[WJWheels]

My wife's mobo blew a couple weeks ago. I used this method when I moved her 10gig hdd to a different pc. It worked like a charm.

[MrDon]

Oh great! I have the hard drive out and did not remove the enum. What do I do now?

[Carl Price]

Put it in your machine and boot into safe mode and delete it from there. Then reboot.

[MrDon]

When taking out the devices using enum. I assume you remove all of the items listed under enum and not the enum listing.

[HAL9000]

Right, just the entries.

[Carl Price]

Actually, It's quicker to just delete the enum key. Windows will make another one.

[HAL9000]

Alrighty then! I stand corrected.

[glc]

I've had to do this a lot recently - and here's a few tips.

Before starting, make sure the Windows "cab" files are on the hard drive, plus any drivers that are not included with Windows (video, sound, modem, etc.) and expand them into a folder if appropriate.

Yes, you can just delete the whole "enum" key. When you reboot, absolutely nothing will be found by itself. It will be in 640x480 16 color, and give you a display properties error. Cancel and close that and go to "add new hardware" and let it search. Reboot when prompted (this will happen several times) until you no longer get the prompts. If it prompts you to insert the Windows CD, point it to the cab files. If it asks for a manufacturer's driver disk, point it to the appropriate folder. Don't worry if a driver install fails, you can always go back later and reinstall that particular device from scratch. If you have a VIA based board, now is the time to install the "4 in 1" drivers.

Now, go into device manager. You will probably have some yellow flags. You will probably have 2 items that are flagged with unflagged duplicates - the keyboard and the DMA controller. Remove the entry that is NOT flagged. If you have 2 display adapters, one will be flagged - usually the "standard VGA" will not be flagged and the actual adapter will be flagged. Remove the unflagged standard VGA. By now you should have CD support, so any other devices that are flagged can be reinstalled using the appropriate CD if necessary.

[reboot]

Very nice addition GLC!

[MadMax]

There is a registry tweak to eliminate being prompted for Windows CD.

My Computer\HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

Right click on "SourcePath" and select "Modify". Edit "Value Data" to path of where cabs are stored.

[glc]

If you do your initial Windows install by copying the cabs to the hard drive and installing from there, the key will already be set.

[Carl Price]

I've been using the "delete ENUM" trick a lot in the past month, and I have worked out some procedures, the best of all being this. If you found you have made a mistake deleting ENUM you can get it back just like it was by restoring a previous booting copy of the registry. Use the command "scanreg /restore" and use the last previous registry that booted the machine. Enum will be back. I had a brain fart and deleted the wrong machine yesterday and this restored it.

[reboot]

I knew that, but never thought to include it in the instructions.
I never guessed that someone would actually delete the ENUM on the WRONG machine! :eek: :D

[Carl Price]

Guess you've never worked on four machines at once then.:) :D

[Billnodeal]

Hey Carl Price! Yes I did the same thing on the 3 junks I'm working on now. I put the wrong hdd in & deleted enum. but did not have the cab files on the hdd. i learned a quick lesson there! lots of fun to make more work for yourself is'nt it?

[Werewolfdaddy]

Just been to regedit for the first time; man, that is a serious long list. My pci card is having a little bit of trouble(it's probably this computer) but I talked to the tech guy and he said that I maybe having trouble with the integrated agp not being properly disabled through device manager. I could disable it through here, right? He was talking about doing a safe mode start and disable it there.

[glc]

Your onboard AGP has to be disabled in BIOS or by a jumper - THEN you can boot into safe mode and remove it from device manager. Don't even mess with the registry to do this particular thing.

[Werewolfdaddy]

I have to send this thing back as soon as the new one gets here. I thought I would play around on it to get a feel for a few things. To tell the truth, I really don't have that much time right now to play around on it, though.

[Werewolfdaddy]

It is with deep,sincere gratitude, that I want to say thanks to all of you. In one way or another, you have all helped me. This spring, I begin taking computer tech classes at the University of Tennessee; I am an english major, but I love computers as much as writing. Heck, you never know, this time next year, I may be writing for a tech magazine. Well, I can dream.

[southrk]

where is the enum key on win2000 pro? i cant find it.

[glc]

southrk - you can't really follow this procedure with Win2K - a reinstall is the best recommendation here unless someone else has a better idea. Win2K handles hardware enumeration differently.

[kentfoxx]

I think I will "ghost" my hd and not take any chances. By the way, does anyone have an opinion on the new amd xp processors. just bought the 1700 and will be installing 512k of ddr2700 ram with a gforce2 ti 64meg vid card.

[robo555]

WindowsXP doesn't have that key :(

Anyone know where this magic key is located in WinXP?

[glc]

You should not do this with 2000 and XP. This procedure is intended for use with 95/98/ME.

[puggs]

With 2000/XP, just use hardware control panel and choose Uninstall Hardware. When it gives a list of devices, click show hidden and then you can remove the ones for those parts that you no longer have in your system.

[Hpro]

Machine Laptop Inspiron 3200 - of Dell computer - customer was fed up with XP and liked to have Win98SE installed - ok no problem - but also no restore disk

Anyway easy task easy money - hehe cheated again on me - Fdisk - Format Setup - just to miss about just all the drivers - but thanks to Floppyman and of course GLC - I found them on the 100to click time Dell website and downloaded them - installed and OH everything smooth neat and clean - restarted after the sound drivers (Crystal onboard sound) had been installed just to find out the computer would hang itself when entering Explorer - meaning Desktop..
I tried to get this working but it just wouldn't work - again looked around for drivers but there wasn't any other drivers available to Download - but he diagnotics utility instead - Ok made the requested floppy disk inserted it waited for almost 2 hours just to find out that there were no problems on that computer from hard ware.. - REINSTALL windows - and the same again - Now I got upset - FDISK FORMAT Setup again and still it wouldn't stop to hang - consulted GLC on the #pc-mech IRC channel this late afternoon and we checked everything there and it still would hang - then I had a thought - copied all the cab files to the hard drive - sayd goodbye to GLC - he had to be up to I gues almost 3 am and then deleted the ENUM FOLDER complete - restarted used the Add new Hardware wizard to detect the hardware again and installed all the drivers as it was asked by the wizard = restarted and SEE It works beautiful..! no more hangs..

This just to prove again that sometimes even you install on a CLEAN HARD DRIVE from the CDROM some of the files may not being copied correctly which of course then brings up problems - so if anyone has problems like this - then do not hesitate - delete the enum key in the registry - copy the cab's to the hard drive and use the add hardware wizard - and I'm sure most of the problems are or can be solved..

hope this helps to make computing easier for anyone out there who has problems..
Thanks for reading..

[PardeGT]

Will the delete enum trick work if you are going to use a different motherboard upon reinstall? Probably a whole different setup - mobo, cpu and ram.

I know it would be better to do a clean install but a friend in another state asked me and doesn't really want to try and move/rebuild all his files etc but wants to update his pentium 200mmx.

Is it worth a try? :confused:

Thanks

[glc]

Yes, this is exactly where you want to use this procedure as long as it's Win9x/ME.

[PardeGT]

Thanks glc. I told someone in a different forum to use this trick when doing so. Another member responded and said they had had several problems doing such and it only really works correctly when replacing with the exact same motherboard. I'm glad to hear otherwise.

[bdunn]

If you are hesitatnt about removing the enum key export it first so you have a backup. Worst case and the new system fails you can boot back in safemode and import it back in using regedit.

[Carl Price]

Originally posted by bdunn
If you are hesitatnt about removing the enum key export it first so you have a backup. Worst case and the new system fails you can boot back in safemode and import it back in using regedit.

No need for that! Just boot to dos and restore a previous registry.

[Rancher]

Originally posted by puggs
With 2000/XP, just use hardware control panel and choose Uninstall Hardware. When it gives a list of devices, click show hidden and then you can remove the ones for those parts that you no longer have in your system. I ain't got no "hardware control panel" in my xp dude! can ya try & clear this up a bit? Add/remove software or Add Hardware is all i got & there ain't no hidden option :(

[bdunn]

Originally posted by Carl Price


No need for that! Just boot to dos and restore a previous registry.

That works well in WinME and Win98 but in 95 there isnt always a backup registry to import.

[Jaak]

Hi folks

the enum trick does work.

but...
when motherboard is way different

one can avoid trouble by also manually deleting VMM32.vxd

this is a compilation of drivers setup creates at first setup, and subsequent setups / hardware changes will only add drivers into subdirs.
this means that the machine specific drivers can be awful wrong, even when enum (hardware key) is deleted from registry.
(or when an option switch to acomplish same is used)

another consideration
the INF folder.
this contains lots of hardware info.
if the drive migrates to another machine, there can be driver install problems.

One can copy (its rare, but sometimes one does better to move it) content of this folder

Kind regards, Jaak

[Hpro]

No it will make your computer unusable - and you need to setup windows again..
VMM32 is a critical Windows File you should not delete it and if you do read my line above...

The frist Setup for Win9X is named SYSTEM.1st and it found the root folder on your computer .!

[Jaak]

Hi

I know that deleting VMM32.vxd makes your computer unusable, but having wrong hardware drivers in this compiled driver (which is what it is) can make it unusable too.

so, in the case of a migrated hard drive, (other type Mobo, CPU) this is when you can remove it, because a dirty setup does not replace it, see.. (something to do with machine.inf and such as well, if I have that right...)

Hmmm, I had not thought about system.1st
what's it exactly hold/DO?
(i just looked in mine, looks like it has data on registry keys)

if there is one thing one should absolutely do before migrating drive, or replacing/upgrading mobo in an existing system, is make backups of all crucial data and such things as email / adressbooks, favourites, ISP settings...

[Hpro]

Deleting the enum key all of it - will let windows think that it has a new computer - so it will redetect all the hardware and there will be no dirty hardwae and windows will install all the DEFAULT drivers for it - all in all it is like a new installation without the program section - everything else will be left in place and all your third party programs will still work as the motherboard never had been changed at all.

As for System.1st - it's the first hardware and also machine detection of your Windows setup - this is only the SYSTEM.DAT - no USER.DAT (Rgeistry) so if renaming that to the accurate name then if would be like after the first restart of the computer while setup windows..
Just to make it clear - Windows Registry consist 4 files not two as many think - and each day those 4 files will also be backed up automatically and they are..
1.System.Dat
2.User.Dat
3.System.Ini
4Win.Ini

Either one of them or Vmm32 is missing and you are in for reinstall..
Hth

[topnode]

Is this sure to work like a charm in ME too?

[HAL9000]

Yup

[Charger]

Another Enum success story! Man does it feel good to see all of your existing programs still there after a complete overhaul.:D

[mike breck]

The "Inf" folder

Regarding Jaak's comments about the Inf folder.

I have read suggestions from quite a few sources now that prior to deleting the Enum key, it is a good idea to remove as many drivers as possible and then boot into Safe Mode and delete the Inf\Other folder (C:\Windows\Inf\Other).

This is purported to minimise any possible driver conflicts on the new system.

It makes sense to me as removing the .inf file for old graphics cards is recommended procedure.

However, I do accept that no one on PC Mech has yet reported problems after using ENUM that might or seems to be related to driver conflicts.

Having said that, it does no harm to report other people's views and method's of using the Enum key trick - and it may be something to keep in mind if unexplicable conflicts occur - particularly if you are using different Hardware on the new system.

[Carl Price]

This trick has again saved my a$$. This morning I had a machine in the shop that had a flagged scsi controller. This machine had a Jaz drive, a cdrom reader, a cdrom writer and a 4.2 gig harddrive attached to this card and it had conflicts. I deleted enum and reinstalled the drivers. It still had conflicts. I deleted enum again and removed all the extra cards (modem, SCSI, sound, etc.) leaving nothing but the video card. I let it find everything again and quit asking for reboots. After installing the video driver, I replaced the cards one at a time and added the drivers. This worked out all the conflicts. The point is deleting the enum key leaves you with a clean sheet. You just have to replace the drivers as if it was a clean install.

[HAL9000]

I agree Carl. I've been using that little trick in my shop for some time now and it saves a lot of time and hassle.

[glc]

I have discovered a way to do something similar to this for Windows 2000, I'll start a new thread.

[bell_kicks]

How do you actually get a comand prompt when booting from cold into windows but not actually going into windows itself and doing ENUM before going into windows???????

[reboot]

You can't. You have to be in windows to run regedit to delete the key...well there is a way to edit the reg in DOS, but I've purposely forgotten it because of WAY too much user error.
If you've already done the hardware install/change, and didn't delete the enum key first, then boot to SAFE MODE on your FIRST boot, delete the enum key, and THEN restart normally. It has the same effect as the original procedure.
I have actually used this on MANY win9x machines with hardware being fussy, especially in Win95. Deleting the ENUM key forces a new detection of all hardware, and completely rewrites the VMM32 file anyhow. A great way to resolve IRQ conflicts.

[Jp1095]

For this trick do you kill all the folders under enum or just the files in enum, I only see one file, but there are about a thousand folders.

[glc]

You kill the entire ENUM key - highlight it in the left pane and hit Delete.

[ghost_of_war]

OK, let me just get this all straight before I go do something rash and hate all of you and myself for doing it later if it fails. :)

I am going to replace my cheapass PCChips motherboard and 800MHz Athlon with a new completely different motherboard and AMD XP 1800+ CPU. I want to swap everything else over into the new mobo/cpu combo. Before actually removing the old parts, I use the ENUM trick, right?

Then, once I reboot, I may need to manually install drivers, which is fine, but I want to make sure this is all OK to do. I am using and will be using Windows ME...

[reboot]

The LAST thing you do, before shutting down the old system, is remove the ENUM key.
Exit the registry, shutdown, and start pulling parts.

[ghost_of_war]

Excellent, thank you...

[BRANDAN]

yes, this was just what i was looking for i remeber seeing this like last year but it was link to a website that told how to do it but this will do fine
thanx

[cdnref]

What is the ENUM key thing......don't laugh I'm trying to learn.

[glc]

I'm not laughing, but if you would review all the posts in this thread it should answer that question for you.

It's the hardware enumeration key in the registry, it contains data about all the hardware in your machine. When you move a hard drive from a Win9x/ME machine into a totally different machine, this procedure is a very clean way to force Windows to re-enumerate all the hardware without all the old data hanging around to bloat the registry and cause conflicts. It's kinda like reinstalling Windows without losing your programs and data.

[Alex123]

I have a question regarding an alternate method for the enum trick.

Would not do the trick saving the current configuration, then replacing the hardware that is going to be changed and at start up, If I am not mistaking, should appear a message asking you if you want to use current configuration or the one you named when saving it, prior to change your hardware?

I am just thinking of that possibility, then if you take current configuration, it should start looking for all of this new hardware (mobo, or whatever you put in there), then, install corresponding drivers.
Do you think that would work?

Or I am just dreaming here :)

[cdnref]

Is that how they out the old HDD into a *new* PC? if so bitchn'

Will it work for XP? or just 9x/ME?

[glc]

JUST 9x/ME. Have you reread all the posts in this thread yet?

[Alex123]

Originally posted by Alex123
I have a question regarding an alternate method for the enum trick.

Would not do the trick saving the current configuration, then replacing the hardware that is going to be changed and at start up, If I am not mistaking, should appear a message asking you if you want to use current configuration or the one you named when saving it, prior to change your hardware?

I am just thinking of that possibility, then if you take current configuration, it should start looking for all of this new hardware (mobo, or whatever you put in there), then, install corresponding drivers.
Do you think that would work?

Or I am just dreaming here :)


Do you people think it might work this way as well?

[glc]

Saw it the first time - I dunno. Care to try it and report back?

[Alex123]

We used to do this at school. We were a gropu of 6 students and everyone had a removable rack, the purpose of it was to move the hard drive from computer to computer, I think what we had to do was to rename the current configuration to something diferent than "original configuration, then when we put the hard drive in other pc, it would ask if you want to load the "renamed configuration" or the "original configuration".

At the moment I don't have where to test this, but I am wondering if someone here remember of doing this before, altough I doubt it, because if glc doesn't know, probably I dreamed it :) ;)

[Carl Price]

I've recently downloaded a program called win driver expert (do a google search) which saves the drivers for you in a folder of their own. It allows you to change harddrives easily. It is also great for any task (over the top install, changing the registry, etc.)when the original driver disk has been lost or misplaced. Run it before you change the harddrive and delete enum, then you can reload your drivers easily on the new harddrive. Following is a short post of the readme.txt for this program.

User's Manual for WinDriver Expert v1.10

[Introduction]

WinDriver Expert is FREEWARE, provides you the easy and fast detection and backup of the entire hardware device drivers currently on your system. Just one or two mouse button clicks, you will have all your hardware devices retracted and backuped to any folder you want. Also a INF device script installer is included.

When you reinstall or upgrade your Windows system, you will find the backuped drivers very useful.

The software is most applicable to those who has lost one or more Driver Disk or Driver CD-ROM for a certain hardware, as long as the hardware device fuctions correctly on your current system.

[How to use]

Click 'Fast Collect' button, then select a certain device that you want to backup its driver, then click 'Make' button, then select a destination folder/path/directory, then click 'Start' button.

OR simply click 'Fast Collect' button, then click 'Make All' button, and you will have all your hardware devices retracted and backuped.

[License Agreement]

The software is provided as it is. The author, Jacques ZHANG, does not garantee any data lost or demage in any form that may occur to your computer.

The software can be distributed freely, as long as it is not binded with other software or packaged with other things, and most important of all, is not modified!

[Contact the author]

E-mail: applyforjob@etang.com
Language: English, French or simplified Chinese.

[calvinhobbes]

With 2000/XP, just use hardware control panel and choose Uninstall Hardware. When it gives a list of devices, click show hidden and then you can remove the ones for those parts that you no longer have in your system.


does this really work? can I use it to put in a new motherboard and keep my old hardrive with windows xp and not have to reinstall?

[glc]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?&threadid=100373

You still need to have your XP CD available, and it must be a generic one, not a restore CD. You may have to do a repair reinstall.

[NicRic]

I imagine this would work to remove double entries in device manager ? In other words ,can you remove certain listing ,or is it all or nothing . Iam askig this ? B/4 actually going to REGEDIT and viewing that entry , if its listed two times in device manger ,would it also be listed twice in the registry ?
Thanks NicRic
_______________________________________________________________
The only thing worst then bush being selected the frist time ,would be for him to be actually elected this time !

[glc]

If you have double entries in device manager, remove them both in safe mode and the proper one will be reinstalled on reboot. The 2 exceptions have been listed earlier - keyboard and DMA controller - you remove the unflagged one to make room for the flagged one to take the proper resources.

[atu]

Can you guys tell me where this is in win2k? There is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/enum...thanks.
There is a shareware program called regalyzer, by the same people who make SpyBot S&D, that will open the registry and allow for easy editing. Beware when editing the registry that you do not delete the wrong key or you will have to try to boot to Last Known Good Configuration, F8 on POST, or reinstall.

[HAL9000]

This trick doesn't work with Win2K... best bet there is to do a repair installation.

[atu]

Not a trick, program allows instant access to registry

[glc]

So does Regedit and Regedt32.

This thread is not about editing a Win2K registry. You do NOT want to remove the Enum key in Win2k.

[Familyman]

Thanks for the great tip. I used it to load Windows ME on an old Toshiba Libretto.

In the device manager there are several duplicates with yellow flags, the Toshiba AccuPoint mouse, Direct memory access controller, Numeric data processor, Programmable interrupt controller, System CMOS/real time clock and System timer. I don't have Toshiba Win ME drivers for these items. Would it be OK to removed the flagged duplicates from device manager? Will they just come back again if I remove them?

Thanks

[HAL9000]

Actually, try removing the UNflagged ones. Usually the flagged ones are the proper ones and they end up conflicting with the unflagged ones.

[Familyman]

OK, I'll do that.

I found some Win 95 and 98 drivers for the Libretto. Will they work with Win ME?

[riskmanager]

Hi Guys,

I read through this thread and think my problem is the ENUM key, but I may have screwed up. I recently got a new machine w/ WinXP. I removed HD from my old HD (Win98) to try and set up a dual boot in the new box. Old machine mobo is dead, I already tried getting it up again.

When I stuck it in the new machine and reset the BIO's HD order and ran Win98, it worked the first time. But it saw all the new hardware and spent about 15 minutes redoing all the hardware, then when I went to restart...the machine keeps freezing in the Win98 startup screen. I'm assuming there is alot of hardware conflicts going on.

I read that there is a way to go back to the old registry via scan reg/restore. But how do I get into C prompt prior to Win98 start up screen. Or even safe mode? On the old machine F8 at the Dell screen did the trick and brought me to a menu w/ safe mode/Cprompt/etc., but on this machine, it hasn't worked. "delete" at startup brings me to the BIOs. Any help is much appreciated.

[sgtspector]

You have to hit the key after the post is finished but before windows starts loading. Sound tricky? It is. If you hit f5 also it will take you right to the command prompt option without the menu. Just try alternately hitting f5 and f8 one should work.

[glc]

It would also help if you disconnected ALL peripherals and USB devices - use a PS/2 keyboard and mouse - and reinstall the peripherals after the fact.

[riskmanager]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't have a chance to try last night, but I should be able to tonight. Will report back on how it goes.

[glc]

If you have any further problems, please start a new thread in the Win9x forum rather than posting back here, and catch us up to date with everything you have done so far.

[john1947]

I am installing a new Mobo and CPU and don't whant to loose date on my hard drives I read the article on deleting the Enum key in Regedit but when I went to do this I got this message can anyone help: Cannot delete Enum: Error while deleting key.

Iam running Windows XP Pro:mad: :mad:

[Panama Red]

The enum trick only works for 98 and ME. There's another sticky thread on moving a hard drive in Win2K and XP.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=43654

[Vunu]

Great information