Show Hidden Devices in Windows

When a device is NOT connected to windows computer you can not see it in device manager

This can be a pain when you want to remove old drivers for a device that is not working.

People also do not realise that installing the same device in a different USB port installs new device instance.

This is why when you have NO  Serial ports but when you install one it sets up as COM9 as you have 8 hidden com ports in  device manager.

to see hidden devices you need to set environment variable "devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices"   equal to 1

you could do at command prompt  (run as admin)

Type:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
devmgmt. msc



 or if you want it permanent then add to a system environment variable

In device manager   go to VIEW  and select  SHOW hidden devices.

you can then see them grey...  and you can edit and remove them

Also good for removing old devices when you upgrade a motherboard or graphic card