Device Manager Link Broken In System

Yeah

It's been broken since the first Beta I tested.

I now have Vista Home Premium with SP1 installed, (techNet RC release), and
it still doesn't work. Kinda annoying. Also does not work on friends Ultimate
Version.

When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand Corner of
the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general

Hi,

Click Start_Run and type: devmgmt.msc /s
Does it open? and if so does UAC prompt you before opening?

--
All the best,
SG

ALEX NICHOL
(1935-2005)
http://www.aumha.org/alex.htm
You will never be forgotten my friend

"PsychoRich" <PsychoRich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D77AEBBA-9D56-412B-A057-0D0EA6A625F6@microsoft.com...
> Yeah
>
> It's been broken since the first Beta I tested.
>
> I now have Vista Home Premium with SP1 installed, (techNet RC release),
> and
> it still doesn't work. Kinda annoying. Also does not work on friends
> Ultimate
> Version.
>
> When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
> ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand Corner of
> the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general

I regret to inform you that it does, and always has, worked on my system.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


"PsychoRich" <PsychoRich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D77AEBBA-9D56-412B-A057-0D0EA6A625F6@microsoft.com...
> Yeah
>
> It's been broken since the first Beta I tested.
>
> I now have Vista Home Premium with SP1 installed, (techNet RC release),
> and
> it still doesn't work. Kinda annoying. Also does not work on friends
> Ultimate
> Version.
>
> When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
> ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand Corner of
> the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

> I regret to inform you that it does, and always has, worked on my system.
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>
>
> "PsychoRich" <PsychoRich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:D77AEBBA-9D56-412B-A057-0D0EA6A625F6@microsoft.com...
> > Yeah
> >
> > It's been broken since the first Beta I tested.
> >
> > I now have Vista Home Premium with SP1 installed, (techNet RC release),
> > and
> > it still doesn't work. Kinda annoying. Also does not work on friends
> > Ultimate
> > Version.
> >
> > When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
> > ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand Corner of
> > the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.
> >
> > ----------------
> > This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> > suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> > Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> > this
> > link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> > click "I Agree" in the message pane.
> >
> > http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general
>
> --------------------------------------------
It used to work at the begining,but after one reinstall and SP1 installed
,Don't know which one to blame,or both,it is not working now!Not to mention I
couldn't boot Windows at all after SP1....

Hello,

>When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" >it opens the
>ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the >Upper Lefthand
Corner of
>the window leads to Device Manager. It does not >work, and never has.

I've had this problem and solved it after reading this link:
'Vista Device Manager link broken by notepad alternative, JujuEdit'
(http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=361952)

The article says to carefully check what registry entries you have in
the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree

compare the keys you see on your computer with those from another clean
installation of Vista.

I've found a difference in the ContextMenuHandlers tree, I had a
registry key referring to a file named CopyPathExt.dll and after I
removed the registry key , the Device Manager link began to work
again!!

Attached is an image of the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree after removing the
CopyPathExt.dll mentioned above.


+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: CleanDevmgmt.jpg |
|Download: http://www.tabletquestions.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=112|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
mateia

[mateia]

Hello,

>When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
>ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand Corner of
>the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.

I've had this problem and solved it after reading this link:

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=361952


The article says to carefully check what registry entries you have in the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree

compare the keys you see on your computer with those from another clean installation of Vista.

I've found a difference in the ContextMenuHandlers tree, I had a registry key referring to a file named CopyPathExt.dll and after I removed the registry key, the Device Manager link in the System dialog box has begun to work again!!

Attached is an image of the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree after removing the CopyPathExt.dll mentioned above.

Addendum:

It could be any other shell extension causing the problem. You may use the ShellExView tool to determine the culprit. See "Method 2" in the following page.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

"mateia" <mateia.39xd7d@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message news:mateia.39xd7d@DoNotSpam.com...

Hello,

>When you click "System Propeties" in "My Computer" it opens the
>ControlPanel/System window; the first link in the Upper Lefthand
Corner of
>the window leads to Device Manager. It does not work, and never has.

I've had this problem and solved it after reading this link:

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=361952


The article says to carefully check what registry entries you have in
the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree

compare the keys you see on your computer with those from another clean
installation of Vista.

I've found a difference in the ContextMenuHandlers tree, I had a
registry key referring to a file named CopyPathExt.dll and after I
removed the registry key, the Device Manager link in the System dialog
box has begun to work again!!

Attached is an image of the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers tree after removing the
CopyPathExt.dll mentioned above.


+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: CleanDevmgmt.png |
|Download: http://forums.techarena.in/attachment.php?attachmentid=6763|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
mateia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mateia's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/50270.htm
View this thread: Device Manager Link Broken In System

http://forums.techarena.in

[mateia]

Hello Ramesh ,

- I will check if the bug is still present in Vista SP1. If it still is, why can't Microsoft fix the bug forever ?

Hi mateia,

It's not a bug in the Operating System afaik, and I can't replicate the problem here in my Vista SP1 systems. This is just another third-party shell extension problem.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

"mateia" <mateia.3a12je@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message news:mateia.3a12je@DoNotSpam.com...

Hello Ramesh ,

- I will check if the bug is still present in Vista SP1. If it still
is, why can't Microsoft fix the bug forever ?


--
mateia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mateia's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/50270.htm
View this thread: Device Manager Link Broken In System

http://forums.techarena.in

[romano]

Hi to everybody with this particular problem.
Apart from the device manager not opening I also had problems with opening certain applications from the start menu. I tried shellexview as suggested in other forums to no avail.

I have finally solved my problem by deleting this context menu handler
{FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3- 5BB86A2BAA7B} which seems to belong to Virgin Broadband PC guard.
The full path here: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3- 5BB86A2BAA7B} = C:\Program Files\Zero Knowledge\Freedom\AVContextR.dll ...

I'm sure I don't need to remind anybody to back up first but I don't know yet what repercussions I might get by deleting this value. If i get any I will post back
Hope this has been some help

[romano]

Previous Post.

Hi to everybody with this particular problem.
Apart from the device manager not opening I also had problems with opening certain applications from the start menu. I tried shellexview as suggested in other forums to no avail.

I have finally solved my problem by deleting this context menu handler
{FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3- 5BB86A2BAA7B} which seems to belong to Virgin Broadband PC guard.
The full path here: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3- 5BB86A2BAA7B} = C:\Program Files\Zero Knowledge\Freedom\AVContextR.dll ...

I'm sure I don't need to remind anybody to back up first but I don't know yet what repercussions I might get by deleting this value. If i get any I will post back
Hope this has been some help

Just to update this post I have since found no reference to the above files on my laptop.It seems that the context menu handler was left over from a previous version of PC Guard.

After some research I have found that Zero Knowldge have ceased to exist.
Here is a bit more info I have come across.

AVContextR.dll file information
The process Freedom belongs to the software Freedom by Zero-Knowledge Systems Inc (www.zeroknowledge.com).

Description: File AVContextR.dll is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files". The file size on Windows XP is 73728 bytes.
A .dll file (Dynamic Link Library) is a special type of Windows program containing functions that other programs can call.
This .dll file can be injected to all running processes and can change or manipulate their behavior.
The program is not visible. You can uninstall this program in the control panel. There is no detailed description of this service.
It can change the behavior of other programs or manipulate other programs. It is not a Windows system file. Therefore the technical security rating is 52% dangerous.

If anybody has any extra info please post.

Thanks for the update. I'm wondering why ShellExView did not disable the
extension.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog


"romano" <romano.3hmrbc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:romano.3hmrbc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> Previous Post.
>
> Hi to everybody with this particular problem.
> Apart from the device manager not opening I also had problems with
> opening certain applications from the start menu. I tried shellexview as
> suggested in other forums to no avail.
>
> I have finally solved my problem by deleting this context menu handler
> {FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3- 5BB86A2BAA7B} which seems to belong to Virgin
> Broadband PC guard.
> The full path here:
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{FFFFE5C1-34AF-4d4d-B3D3-
> 5BB86A2BAA7B} = C:\Program Files\Zero Knowledge\Freedom\AVContextR.dll
> ..
>
> I'm sure I don't need to remind anybody to back up first but I don't
> know yet what repercussions I might get by deleting this value. If i get
> any I will post back
> Hope this has been some help
>
> Just to update this post I have since found no reference to the above
> files on my laptop.It seems that the context menu handler was left over
> from a previous version of PC Guard.
>
> After some research I have found that Zero Knowldge have ceased to
> exist.
> Here is a bit more info I have come across.
>
> AVContextR.dll file information
> The process Freedom belongs to the software Freedom by Zero-Knowledge
> Systems Inc (www.zeroknowledge.com).
>
> Description: File AVContextR.dll is located in a subfolder of
> "C:\Program Files". The file size on Windows XP is 73728 bytes.
> A .dll file (Dynamic Link Library) is a special type of Windows program
> containing functions that other programs can call.
> This .dll file can be injected to all running processes and can change
> or manipulate their behavior.
> The program is not visible. You can uninstall this program in the
> control panel. There is no detailed description of this service.
> It can change the behavior of other programs or manipulate other
> programs. It is not a Windows system file. Therefore the technical
> security rating is 52% dangerous.
>
> If anybody has any extra info please post.
>
>
> --
> romano
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> romano's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/romano.htm
> View this thread: Device Manager Link Broken In System
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>

[howster2010]

Fileencrypt inder HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers also prevents device manager opening from within vista control panel. delete it out and its working again.

[howster2010]

Perhaps the best way to access device manager is to create a shortcut on ur desktop and/or add it to ur start menu

In your desktop, right click | New | Shortcut
In Create Shortcut dialogue box enter devmgmt.msc and click Next
Enter a description like Device Manager and click Finish.
That's it