Each hardware device listed in Device Manager must be enabled before Windows can use it. Once enabled, a Windows can assign system resources to the device.
Windows enables all hardware that it recognizes by default. A device is that is not enabled will be marked by a black arrow in Device Manager.
The detailed steps involved in enabling a device in Device Manager vary depending on which Windows operating system you're using:
- How to Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows 7
- How to Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows Vista
- How to Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows XP
Note: A device that is not enabled will also generate a Code 22 error in Device Manager.
Important: If a yellow exclamation point appears after enabling a device, you should troubleshoot that issue separately. A yellow exclamation point is a different kind of warning about a possible issue with your hardware or its configuration.
