Windows 10: Any ideas on how to “find” a driver without device manager?

So without much foresight, I went on a rampage trying to fix my Bluetooth toggle being gone.

My adapter would only show under device manager if I was showing hidden devices.

I removed the adapter without removing the driver thinking a restart would replace it.

I was wrong. Now I have no Bluetooth adapter in device manager, and no way to remove the driver (that I know of)

I’m not sure if it was a recent windows update, or perhaps a driver install that borked it, but no idea how to continue my process of elimination at this point.

As you can imagine - exceptionally frustrating wasting time on this sort of thing *Tongue

:)

 

Cant find graphics card on device manager!

Hi Anthony,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

To assist you better, please share the information:

• What is the make and model of your computer?
• Do you get any error message while playing or to launch a game?

I suggest you to unhide the hidden drivers in Device Manager by following the steps provided below and check if the Graphic card driver is visible:

• Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
• Click on View and click on Show Hidden Devices.

Hope this helps. Get back to us with the requested information and we'll be glad to assist you.

 

USB microphone show up under "Other Devices" in the Device Manager

Hi Luke,

We suggest that you update the device driver. You can do that by following these steps:

• 
  Select the Start button, type Device Manager, and select
  it from the list of results.
  
• 
  Expand the category where your device is located, then right-click on the name of your device, and select Update Driver Software.
  
• 
  Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
  

If Windows doesn't find a new driver, you can try looking for one on the device manufacturer's website and follow their instructions.

If updating the device driver doesn't work, we suggest that you reinstall the driver:

• 
  Open Device Manager.
  
• 
  Right-click on the name of the device.
  
• 
  Select Uninstall.
  
• 
  Restart your PC and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.
  

Let us know how it goes.

Regards.

 

Device Manager Un-Hiding Hidden Devices


When you connect a plug and play device, Windows Plug and Play manager detects it, finds and installs the driver. Device Manager lists the device with a solid icon.

The driver is only removed when you uninstall the device, not simply by disconnecting the device. When the device is disconnected, its driver is still installed. By default, Device Manager only displays connected devices. When you show hidden devices, note the Bluetooth icon you see is semi-transparent (not opaque). That indicates a "non-present" device. Sometimes also called a "ghost" device. The driver is still installed but the device is not currently detected (i.e. not connected).

Device can be disconnected when

• Device unplugged (e.g. removing a USB device)
• Turning a device OFF
• Disabling the device in BIOS (then windows won't detect it) or
• Device failure

So

• Check BIOS as suggested
• Check board connections
• Can b/t be turned off by a switch? or keyboard combination?

Also possible the b/t h/w failed