Devices disappear in device manager after a reboot in XP

I have installed Win XP SP2 in my Home PC. Post installation, I have installed the graphics, sound and other drivers for the peripherals connected to my system. However, after every reboot, every installed device in the device manager disappears and they appear in the unknown hardware group.No matter how many times I install the drivers, they disappear after every reboot.I have reinstalled the OS several times but no use.
In addition, the system restore does not work. Any changes that I make in the registry is not persistent either (even they revert back after a reboot!!).
It is so frustating!! :-(
Anybody has any ideas?

System Config:
______________________________
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4600
Intel DG33FB motherboard
4GB RAM
40GB IDE Hdd
Nvidia 8600GT 512MB Graphics card
USB CD rom.

Blank Device Manager is one of those perennial problems,for which there is no one answer. Sometimes logical systems just get too complex. There is a compilation of solutions HERE (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1134095035). I prefer this one,myself -

Solution 1

Click start, select run, type services.msc in the run box, hit your enter key.

Look in the list of services for Plug and Play. If plug and play is turned off, device manager won't list any devices and of course, most of your devices like a printer connected to USB wont work.
Go to MSCONFIG and turn everything on in the "Services" Tab
Re-boot the system if necessary and then check the device manager to see if everything is showing now.


Solution 2

If this has not helped the next fix deals with the registry, this issue seems to be related to missing permissions in the registry.

You must use regedit.exe in Windows XP (regedt32.exe for Windows 2000) AND be logged on as the local administrator to perform this task:

1. Go to Start, Run, and enter regedt32 and select OK
2. Maximize the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE window.
3. Scroll down to SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum
4. With Enum selected click the Security option from the Top of the screen then the Permissions menu.

Note: At this point you will probably notice there are no permissions on this key.

5. Click Add
6. Add the group "Everyone" and the user "SYSTEM"
7. Select Everyone and check only the Read box (Select "Full control" if Read option does not help)
8. Select SYSTEM and check Full Control
9. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.
10. On the Advanced window check Reset permissions on all child objects
11. Click OK
12. On the warning window click Yes
13. Close REGEDIT

I hope this information helps and remember to back up your registery before attempting to run this fix, I would hate to hear you had a problem and could not recover from it.

Similar Threads : Device manager shows nothing..help

Hi Nitesh, thanks a lot for such a quick and ellaborate response. :-)
Actually, I did come across the link that you have provided but it did not work for me. :-(. When I tried to change permission control settings in the registry, it accepted the changes but did not save them. I could not see the changes after a reboot.
I feel lost!

Is your Plug and Play service turned off (disabled)?

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click Plug and Play.

If you receive a Configuration Manager message, click OK.

3. In the Startup Type list, click Automatic, and then click OK.
4. Close Services.
5. Reboot

Plug and Play is a core operating system service, and therefore, it is best to not disable it. It runs in normal mode and in safe mode.

My plug&play services are running. No problems with that.
Thanks again!

I reinstalled my OS by connecting a IDE CDrom drive instead of an external USB CD drive. This problem is not there anymore. Little weird though................