Lesson 2:?Configuring and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices

Device Manager is one of the tools you use to manage and troubleshoot devices. This lesson also introduces the System Information snap-in, how to use it, and how it helps you manage your system.

After this lesson, you will be able to

• Use Device Manager to configure and troubleshoot devices
• Use System Information to manage devices

Estimated lesson time: 60 minutes

Using Device Manager

Device Manager provides you with a graphical view of the hardware installed on your computer and helps you manage and troubleshoot it. You can use Device Manager to disable, uninstall, and update device drivers. Device Manager also helps you determine if the hardware on your computer is working properly. It lists devices with problems, and each device that is flagged is displayed with the corresponding status information.

Configuring and Troubleshooting Devices

When you change device configurations manually, Device Manager can help you avoid problems by allowing you to identify free resources and assign a device to that resource, disable devices to free resources, and reallocate resources used by devices to free a required resource. You must be logged on as a member of the Administrators group to change resource settings. Even if you are logged on as Administrator, if your computer is connected to a network, policy settings on the network might prevent you from changing resources.

Windows XP Professional automatically identifies Plug and Play devices and arbitrates their resource requests. However, the resource allocation among Plug and Play devices is not permanent. If another Plug and Play device requests a resource that has already been allocated, Windows XP Professional again arbitrates the requests to satisfy all of them.

You should not change resource settings for a Plug and Play device manually because Windows XP Professional will then be unable to arbitrate the assigned resources if requested by another Plug and Play device. In Device Manager, Plug and Play devices have a Resources tab in their Properties dialog box. To free the resource settings you manually assigned and allow Windows XP Professional to again arbitrate the resources, select the Use Automatic Settings check box in the Resources tab.

You can use the following procedure to configure or troubleshoot a device using Device Manager:

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

   The Computer Management console opens, as shown in Figure 11.5.

   

   Figure 11.5??The Computer Management console
2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager.
3. In the Details pane, double-click the device type, and then double-click the device you want to configure.

   The device Properties dialog box appears (where device is a specific device; see Figure 11.6).

   

   Figure 11.6??Netelligent 10/100TX PCI UTP Controller Properties dialog box

   The tabs available in the device Properties dialog box vary depending on the device selected, but might include some of the ones listed in Table 11.3.

   Table 11.3??Device Properties Dialog Box Tabs
4. To configure a device, click the appropriate tab. To troubleshoot, in the General tab, click Troubleshooter.

Viewing Hidden Devices

By default, Device Manager does not display all devices. Some devices, like non-Plug and Play devices and devices that are not currently connected to the computer (phantom devices), are hidden.

To view any hidden non-Plug and Play devices, on the Device Manager View menu, click Show Hidden Devices.

To view phantom devices, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and then click Run. In the Open text box, type cmd and click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
3. Press Enter.
4. Start Device Manager.
5. At the command prompt, type start devmgmt.msc.

Practice:?Using Device Manager

In this practice, you use Device Manager to review the devices on your system and their status. You also use Device Manager to simulate troubleshooting an unterminated Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) chain.

To use Device Manager

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

   The Computer Management console opens.

2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager.
3. In the details pane, double-click Disk Drives, and then double-click one of the drives listed.

   The Properties dialog box for that drive appears and in the General tab, the Device Status field indicates if there are any problems with the drive.

4. Click Troubleshoot. (Normally you would only do this if a problem was indicated with this device.)

   Windows XP Professional displays the Help And Support Center window with the Drives And Network Adapters Troubleshooter displayed. Troubleshooter steps you through a series of questions to help you resolve your problem.

5. Click I Am Having A Problem With A Hard Disk Drive Or Floppy Disk Drive, and then click Next.
6. Click Yes, I Am Having A Problem With A SCSI Device, and then click Next.

   You are asked, "Is Your Hardware On The HCL?"

7. Click Yes, My Hardware Is On The HCL.

   You are asked, "Does Your Drive Work When All The SCSI Components Have The Power They Need?"

8. Click No, My Drive Does Not Work, and then click Next.

   You are asked, "Does This Information Help You To Solve The Problem?"

9. Click No, My Device Still Does Not Work, and then click Next.

   You are asked, "Does Rolling Back To A Previous Driver Solve The Problem?"

10. Click No, I Still Have A Problem.

    You are asked, "Does Reinstalling Or Updating Your Driver Solve The Problem?"

11. Click No, I Still Have A Problem.

    You are asked, "Does Your Drive Work When You Replace Any Faulty Cables Or Adapters?"

12. Click No, My Drive Does Not Work.

    You are asked, "Does Your Drive Work When You Terminate The SCSI Chain?"

13. Click Yes, Terminating The SCSI Chain Solves The Problem, and then click Next.

    Had an unterminated SCSI chain been the problem you were trying to solve, you would have just fixed it.

14. Close Help And Support Center, close the Properties dialog box for the selected disk drive, and close Computer Management.

Installing, Configuring, Managing, and Troubleshooting Fax Support

Windows XP Professional can provide complete fax facilities from your computer. It provides you with the capability to send and receive faxes with a locally attached fax device, or with a remote fax device connected on your network. You can track and monitor fax activity as well. However, the Fax component of Windows XP Professional is not installed by default, so you must install it.

You can use the following procedure to install the Fax component:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add Or Remove Programs.
2. In the Add Or Remove Programs window, click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. In the Windows Components Wizard, select Fax Services, and then click Next.

   The Configuring Components page appears while the Windows Components Wizard examines the components, copies the necessary files, and configures the Fax Service.

4. When the Completing The Windows Components Wizard page appears, read the page, and then click Finish.
5. Close the Add Or Remove Programs window.
6. In Control Panel, click Printers And Other Hardware.
7. In the Printers And Other Hardware window, click Printers And Faxes.

   Notice the Fax icon.

If you have a fax device, such as a fax modem, installed when you install the Fax Service, Control Panel has a Fax icon. The Fax icon is used to add, monitor, and troubleshoot fax devices, including fax modems and fax printers.

You can use the following procedure to configure the Fax component:

1. In the Printers And Faxes window, double-click the Fax icon.

   Windows XP Professional displays the Welcome To The Fax Configuration Wizard page. The Fax Configuration Wizard helps you configure your computer to send and receive faxes.

2. Click Next.

   The Fax Configuration Wizard displays the Sender Information page, which allows you to enter information in the following text boxes: Your Full Name, Fax Number, E-Mail Address, Title, Company, Office Location, Department, Home Phone, Work Phone, Address, and Billing Code.

3. Type the appropriate information in the text boxes and click Next.
4. On the Completing The Fax Configuration Wizard page, click Finish.

   Windows XP Professional displays the Fax Console.

Managing and Troubleshooting Fax Support

Windows XP Professional provides the Fax Console to help you manage and troubleshoot faxes.

To manage and troubleshoot faxes, complete the following steps:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and point to Accessories.
2. Point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Fax Console.

Windows XP Professional displays the Fax Console (see Figure 11.7).

Figure 11.7??The Fax Console

The Outbox contains all faxes waiting to be sent, or in the process of being sent, whether the faxes were sent using a locally attached fax device or a network fax device. You can right-click any fax in the details pane, and then press Delete or click Delete on the File menu to delete the fax. When you right-click a fax in the details pane, you can also click Pause to prevent it from being sent, or click Resume to place a fax that you paused back in the queue to be sent. If a fax fails, you can right-click the fax in the details pane and click Restart to attempt to resend the fax. Finally, when you right-click a fax in the details pane, you can click Save As to save a copy of the fax, Mail To to mail a copy of the fax to someone, or Print to print a copy of the fax.

The Incoming box allows you to manage incoming faxes in the same manner that the Outgoing box helps you manage outgoing faxes. You can click the Incoming box, and then right-click a fax in the details pane to delete, pause, resume, save, mail to someone, and print the fax. You can also click Properties to view the properties of an incoming fax.

Table 11.4 discusses some common troubleshooting scenarios.

Table 11.4??Common Troubleshooting Scenarios

Sending a Fax

Windows XP Professional makes it simple for you to use your computer to send faxes.

You can use the following procedure to send a fax:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and point to Accessories.
2. Point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Send A Fax.

   Windows XP Professional displays the Welcome To The Send Fax Wizard page, which indicates that if you want to fax a document, you create or open the document in a Windows-based application and print it to a fax printer.

3. Click Next.

   The Send Fax Wizard displays the Recipient Information page, which allows you to enter the name and number of the person to whom you want to send a fax.

   To send the fax to multiple recipients, enter the first person's name and phone number and then click Add. Enter the information for each recipient and click Add until all recipients have been entered.
4. Enter the appropriate information, and then click Next.

   The Send Fax Wizard displays the Preparing The Cover Page page, which allows you to select a cover page template. You can also enter a subject line, a note, and sender information.

   Either the Subject Line or Note text boxes must be filled in to proceed.
5. Enter the appropriate information and then click Next.

   The Send Fax Wizard displays the Schedule page, which allows you to choose from the following options to send the fax: Now, When Discount Rates Apply, or A Specific Time In The Next 24 Hours. It also allows you to specify a priority of High, Normal, or Low.

6. Select the appropriate settings, and then click Next.

   The Send Fax Wizard displays the Completing The Send Fax Wizard page.

7. Review the information displayed on the Completing The Send Fax Wizard page and, if it is correct, click Finish to send the fax.

Managing and Troubleshooting I/O Devices

The list of devices that can be installed is too long to include here. The following paragraphs include some of the most common devices and how they are installed, configured, and managed.

Scanners and Cameras

Most digital cameras, scanners, and other imaging devices are Plug and Play devices and Windows XP Professional installs them automatically when you connect them to your computer. If your imaging device is not installed automatically when you connect it, or if it does not support Plug and Play, use the Scanner And Camera Installation Wizard. To open this wizard, in Control Panel, click Printers And Other Hardware, and then click Scanners And Cameras. In the Scanners And Cameras window, double-click Add An Imaging Device to start the Scanners And Camera Installation Wizard. Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to install your digital camera, scanner, or other imaging device.

In Device Manager, select the appropriate device, and then click Properties. The standard color profile for Integrated Color Management (ICM 2.0) is RGB, but you can add, remove, or select an alternate color profile for a device. To change the color profile, click the Color Management tab on the device Properties dialog box. If you are having problems with your scanner or camera, click Troubleshoot in the Scanners And Cameras Properties dialog box.

Mouse Devices

Click the Mouse icon in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to configure and troubleshoot your mouse. The Buttons tab (see Figure 11.8) allows you to configure your mouse for a left-handed or right-handed user. It also allows you to set a single mouse click as select or open and to control the double-click speed.

Figure 11.8??The Buttons tab of the Mouse Properties dialog box

The Pointers tab allows you to select or create a custom scheme for your pointer. The Pointer Options tab allows you to adjust the speed and acceleration of your pointer and to set the Snap To Default option, which moves the pointer automatically to the default button in dialog boxes. The last tab is the Hardware tab, which allows you to access the troubleshooter if you are having problems with your mouse. The Hardware tab also has a Properties button that allows you to do an advanced configuration for your mouse. This includes uninstalling or updating your driver, viewing or changing the resources allocated to your mouse, and increasing or decreasing the sensitivity of your mouse by varying the sample rate, which changes how often Windows XP Professional determines the position of your mouse.

Modems

Click Phone And Modem Options in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to install, configure, or troubleshoot your modem. To install a new modem, in the Modems tab, click Add. The Add Hardware Wizard then starts to step you through the installation process. To configure an installed modem, click the Modems tab, select the modem from the list of installed modems, and click Properties. Click the appropriate tab for the configuration changes you wish to make; for example, click the Modem tab to set the maximum port speed and whether or not to wait for a dial tone before dialing. The Diagnostics tab allows you to query the modem and to view the modem log. If you need additional help in troubleshooting the modem, the General tab allows you to access the troubleshooter.

There are two other tabs on the Phone And Modem Options dialog box: the Dialing Rules tab and the Advanced tab. The Dialing Rules tab lists all the locations you have configured on the computer. Click Add on this tab to add a new location or click Edit to edit an existing location. The Advanced tab shows the telephony providers installed on this computer. It also allows you to add or remove telephony providers and to configure those already installed.

Game Controllers

Click Game Controllers in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to install, configure, or troubleshoot your game controller. Attach the game controller to the computer (for example, if it is a universal serial bus [USB] game controller, attach it to a USB port). If it does not install properly, in Device Manager, look under Human Interface Devices. If the controller is not listed, then check to make sure that USB is enabled in the BIOS. When prompted during system startup, enter BIOS setup and enable USB. If USB is enabled in BIOS, contact the maker or vendor for your computer and obtain the current version of BIOS.

To configure the controller, select a device, then click Properties. To troubleshoot a device, select it and then click Troubleshoot.

IrDA and Wireless Devices

Most internal Infrared Data Association (IrDA) devices should be installed by Windows XP Professional Setup, or when you start Windows XP Professional after adding one of these devices. If you attach an IrDA transceiver to a serial port, you must install it using the Add Hardware Wizard. In Control Panel, click Printers And Other Hardware, and then click Add Hardware to start the Add Hardware Wizard. Click Next to close the Welcome To The Add Hardware Wizard page. Select Yes I Have Already Connected The Hardware, and then click Next. Select Add A New Hardware Device and then click Next, and follow the directions on your screen.

To configure an IrDA device, in Control Panel click Wireless Link. In the Hardware tab, click the device you want to configure and then click Properties. The Properties dialog box shows the status of the device, driver files, and any power management settings.

Keyboards

Click Keyboard in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to configure or troubleshoot a keyboard. In the Speed tab, you can configure the character repeat delay and the character repeat rate. You can also control the cursor blink rate. The Hardware tab shows you the device properties for the installed keyboard and allows you to access the troubleshooter if you are having problems with your keyboard. You can also install a device driver, roll back to a previous device driver, or uninstall a device driver.

Lesson Review

The following questions will help you determine whether you have learned enough to move on to the next lesson. If you have difficulty answering these questions, review the material in this lesson before beginning the next lesson. The answers are in Appendix A, "Questions and Answers."

1. Windows XP Professional automatically identifies Plug and Play devices and arbitrates their resource requests; the resource allocation among these devices is ___________________________ (permanent/not permanent).
2. How can you free any resource settings that you manually assigned to a Plug and Play device?
3. Which of the following devices are not shown by default in Device Manager? (Choose all that apply.)
   1. Devices sharing an IRQ
   2. Phantom devices
   3. Plug and Play devices
   4. Non-Plug and Play devices
4. You get a call on the help desk from a user upset because he cannot send faxes from Outlook Express. What should you tell the user?
5. You get a call on the help desk from a user wondering why there is no Wireless Link icon in Control Panel on her desktop computer like the one on her laptop computer. What should you tell the user?

Lesson Summary

• Device Manager provides you with a graphical view of the hardware installed on your computer and helps you manage and troubleshoot it.
• Device Manager lists devices with problems, and each device that is flagged is displayed with the corresponding status information.
• By default, Device Manager does not display non-Plug and Play devices and devices that are not currently connected to the computer (phantom devices).
• Most imaging devices are installed automatically when you connect them, but if your device is not, Windows XP Professional provides the Scanner and Camera Installation Wizard to help you install it.
• Use the Mouse option in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to configure and troubleshoot your mouse.
• Use the Phone And Modem Options option in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to install, configure, or troubleshoot your modem.
• Use the Game Controllers option in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to install, configure, or troubleshoot your game controller.
• Use the Add Hardware Wizard to install an IrDA transceiver you attach to a serial port.
• The Wireless Link icon that you use to configure an infrared device does not appear in Control Panel until you have installed an infrared device on your computer.
• Use the Keyboard option in the Printers And Other Hardware window of Control Panel to configure or troubleshoot a keyboard.