What is Device Manager, and how can I use it in my IT environment?

Device Manager is part of the Microsoft Management Console and is used for monitoring and managing any attached hardware, troubleshooting, and gaining better visibility and control. With Device Manager, you can gain a centralized view of all hardware recognized by Microsoft on your computer.

If you’re looking to gain a more comprehensive view of all hardware, software, updates and patch management needs – you’re looking for a smart, all-in-one RMM – just like Atera. Keep reading to learn about how to use Device Manager, and what Atera could add to the mix.

What do I use Device Manager for?

Device Manager has been around since 1995, providing a single centralized view of all the hardware attached to your machine. This information is categorized into sections, such as disk drives, HID devices, keyboards, modems, network adapters, processors, system devices, and USB drives. Check out this full list of the categories used by Device Manager, and a bit about what goes in each one. Device Manager is free and comes standard with Windows. You don’t need to download anything extra; you can give it a try and see how it works for you.

To access Device Manager, simply press the Windows key + X, and the Power Users Task Menu will pop up from the bottom of your screen. Choose the item labeled Device Manager, and the screen will automatically display the list of categories for you to explore.

There are other ways to access Device Manager as well, such as using the Control Panel, checking under Devices and Printers in Windows 10 and Windows 8, and using the System toolbar in Windows 7. It’s also found under Administrative Tools. Like all applications, there is also a simple Command Prompt command for opening Device Manager. In this case, the command is “devmgmt.msc.”. Just enter this into Command Prompt, and Device Manager will open automatically.

When there is a problem with any of your devices, you can see it using Device Manager and determine exactly what’s wrong with each device. In some versions, a yellow exclamation mark indicates that Windows has found an error, and error codes provide more details about the problem. If you see a black arrow by any device, it means it has been disabled, possibly by a user or due to an error. By double-clicking on any device, you can view details such as driver information, error messages, or power management.

How do I read the error codes on Device Manager?

Each of the numerical error codes on Device Manager has a different meaning, and will be accompanied by a message that explains the error in more detail. For example, when error 3 shows, you will also see the message “The driver for this device may be corrupted, or the system may be running low on memory.” You can find a full list of error codes here.

What are the main advantages to using Device Manager?

Most people use Device Manager as one of their first steps when encountering a problem. For instance, if a network adapter isn’t behaving as expected, they can check Device Manager to see if any issues have been flagged. It’s a no-risk first step to see if Windows has any additional information that can aid in troubleshooting.

It’s also easy to use, providing a centralized place from which all the hardware attached to the system can be configured and monitored. Remember, it will only show you Windows-recognized hardware that has been installed on the system. For example, an older hard drive or USB may not be recognized by Windows, and devices need to be connected.

IT professionals within IT departments and MSPs can use Device Manager to change hardware configurations, manage hardware like drivers and printers, and enable or disable hardware as needed. If there are any issues with your hardware, Device Manager is often an easy way to find and resolve them.

Let Atera take the idea of Device Manager to the next level

With Atera, you can gain a centralized view of not only Windows-approved hardware but all hardware and software in your IT environment, across an entire customer network.

Instead of needing to check the Device Manager, you’ll be automatically alerted to any issues from the Atera dashboard, and you can use Atera agents to monitor all devices and to view their status at any time. From within the Agent Console you can see a whole lot of information about each device, including hardware alerts, disk alerts, availability and performance alerts. These are also synced with patch management and updates, so that in a single click you can ensure all devices are up to date and secure.

With incisive visibility and control, you can track which technicians are working on which devices, customize alerts for the right staff members, and prioritize tasks according to the customer’s needs or IT use case.

Atera also allows you to access commands and applications that will manage the device directly – the same commands you use every day, like PowerShell and Command Prompt, File Transfer, HelpDesk Agent, and Task Manager, all from within Atera. It’s more than just information at your fingertips – it’s control, providing the simplest way to manage your Windows environment without any blind spots or gaps.

And here’s one of our favorite IT jokes about PowerShell: “Why did the PowerShell script cross the road? To automate the chicken’s tasks, of course!”

Conclusion

Device Manager offers a valuable starting point for managing and troubleshooting hardware in a Windows environment, providing a centralized view and easy access to essential details. However, for a more comprehensive approach that extends beyond Windows-recognized hardware, Atera elevates the management experience by integrating all your IT resources into one powerful platform.

With Atera, you gain not only enhanced visibility and control but also streamlined operations through automatic alerts, detailed device information, and seamless integration with patch management. This holistic approach ensures that your IT environment remains efficient, secure, and fully optimized.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a single device or overseeing an entire network, Atera empowers you to handle it all with ease. Discover how Atera can transform your IT management today and take your operations to the next level. For more information or to request a demo, visit our website and see how Atera can make a difference in your IT environment.