Inspecting a device's status

Where status appears

The General tab of a device's properties includes a Device status box. A healthy device reads that it is working properly. When something is off, the message names the condition and often includes a code number that Microsoft documents.

In the main Device Manager tree, a small warning symbol or a down-pointing arrow on a device icon gives the same information at a glance. The arrow means the device has been disabled, which may be deliberate.

Steps

Reading the status changes nothing; avoid the Disable and Uninstall options while you look.

1. 01
   Open Device Manager and look for any icons with symbols over them.
2. 02
   Double-click a device to open Properties.
3. 03
   Stay on the General tab and read the Device status box.
4. 04
   Note any code number mentioned in the message.
5. 05
   Close the window with Cancel.

Interpreting messages

Messages about a driver not being installed often accompany a device under Other devices. Messages about insufficient resources or a device being stopped are more specific and worth recording exactly. The code number is the most precise thing to search for in reference documentation.

A device that reports working properly can still behave oddly in an application, because status only reflects whether the driver loaded and started. It does not test every feature.

Good to know

Some devices show a status message only while connected; disconnected ones, visible when hidden devices are shown, report that they are not connected, which is expected.

If you want to keep a record, copy the exact status sentence and code into a note with the date. Exact wording is more useful than a paraphrase, because reference documentation is organised around these specific messages and numbers.