Question: How Do I Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows?
Disabling a hardware device listed in Device Manager is useful if you'd like Windows to ignore the piece hardware. Most users that choose to disable a device do so because they suspect that the hardware is causing some kind of problem.
Once disabled, a Windows will no longer assign system resources to the device and no software on your computer will be able to use the device.
Answer: You can disable a device from the device's Properties in Device Manager.
The detailed steps involved in disabling a device in Device Manager vary depending on which Windows operating system you're using:
- How to Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows 7
- How to Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows Vista
- How to Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows XP
Note: After disabling a device, it will be marked by a black arrow in Device Manager. A disabled device will also generate a Code 22 error in Device Manager.
Note: Enabling a device in Device Manager is just as easy as disabling it.
