Windows 10: iPhone shown as Unspecified in Devices and Printers

I have a problem with my iPhone 5s/iOS 9.2.1 in Windows 10 Pro x64 Build 10586.71, as shown in the pictures:

Although everything works OK, i.e.
• iTunes v.12.3.2.35 recognizes it, backs it up and syncs it
• I can see its content from Windows Explorer
• and in Device Manager has the latest drivers for both Apple iPhone & Apple Mobile Device USB Driver

the iPhone is shown in “Devices and Printers” under Unspecified Devices.







Is there any way to fix that?

Any suggestion is welcomed... except from in-place-upgrade - that goes to my dear friend Shawn Brink, he knows why! *Smile

Dimitri

:)

 

HP printer shown as working in Device manager but not on-line when try to pronter

I have recently updated to Windows 10. My HP C4480 scanner/printer is shown as working in Device manager but doesn't exist in Devices and Printers. Hence can't print or scan. Two unspecified device are shown in Devices and Printers which I can't remove.

When I unplug the printer from the USB port one of the unspecified devices disappears.

I have tried to install a printer manually but that does not work either.

So I am completely stuck. Help

Pete

 

Unable to remove a printer gone in "Unspecified" group

Michael Gall Thank you for your suggestions. However in this case neither suggestion works. The issue
with the first suggestion is the device is appearing under "unspecified device" and is unmanageable in any way shape or form. We are unable to remove it configure basic printer properties (Print 2 sided, etc.).

The second suggestion is basic printer installation. The issue after installing the printer it appears under "unspecified device".

The issue is WHY do printers appear under "unspecified device"?

 

Hi Dimitri,

Not sure if this is a help but my iPhone 6/iOS 9.2.1 shows in 'Devices & Printers' as well as 'This PC' identically to your 2 screenshots.....perhaps that is intentional?

I guess this jars on you (it does with me*Sad). I would like to see it suitably listed as say 'Portable Devices' or 'Mobile Devices' and displayed with appropriate custom icons*Smile

If it transpires that this is correct, perhaps the forum Gurus could suggest how we might customise Windows 10 to display them in a more 'visibly appealing' format......

Any thoughts guys???

 

Hi PC Pilot,
Since none of the forum gurus (and I've seen quite a few of them, in here) hasn't replied yet.... then the problem is more difficult and complicated than just a Win 10 customization.
We'll see. If you do come up with any suggestion, please share it.

 

Hi ddelo,

Happy to share any developments......

I am just in the process of adapting the Severn Forums Tutorial (here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...tom-icons.html) to see if it works so far as displaying custom icons in Windows 10. Incidentally the Windows 10 Driver Development Kit can be found here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=526733 ........The Device Metadata Authoring Wizard is located in the Windows 10 Driver Kit (WDK).

Will give it a try as I have some suitable custom icons....

Watch this space!!

 

Hi ddelo,

I have been doing some experimenting and now have customised icons for both my iPhone and the Apple Mobile Device Driver and both are in the main (rather than the unspecified) section with the former also displaying in 'This PC' which it would appear would resolve your issue.


This is how I achieved it.......*Smile

In order to display a custom iPhone icon in the 'Devices & Printers' and 'This PC' folders of Windows 10 it is necessary to create an appropriate Metadata Package containing the desired icon. In order to achieve this it is first necessary to prepare a number of things in advance.

1. Create a Restore Point **IMPORTANT**

2. Your chosen iPhone 5S icon(s). (NB. This MUST include at least the following icon categories in order for the metadata package to accept it)

256x256 32bit + Alpha, 48x48: 32bit + Alpha, 32x32: 32bit + Alpha, 24x24: 32bit + Alpha & 16x16: 32bit + Alpha
48x48: 8bit 256, 32x32: 8bit 256, 24x24: 8bit 256, 16x16: 8bit 256,
48x48: 4bit 16, 32x32: 4bit 16, 24x24: 4bit 16, 16x16: 4bit 16

A suitable JPEG or PNG image can be used to create suitable Windows icons with an icon creation program such as 'Axialis IconWorkshop'

3. A copy of the Windows 10 Drivers Kit available from here <Download and install the Windows ADK>. NB. This download contains the latest 'Device Metadata Authoring Wizard' which is required to create the new custom icon package in 'Devices & Printers' and 'This PC'

4. Hardware information sourced from the Apple iPhone and Apple Mobile Device Driver 'Properties' dialogue (right click the icons in 'Devices & Printers' select 'Properties' and then 'Hardware' tab. On the 'Hardware' dialogue select 'Properties' and go to the 'Details' tab. In the 'Details' dialogue go the the 'Property' dropdown and then choose 'Hardware IDs'. Make an ACURATE note of the items displayed in the 'Values' box as these will be required later.

5. Basic information stored in the 'General' settings of your Apple iPhone. To add useful data to your icon package.

6. Create a Restore Point!!! In case you missed my earlier advice!!

I started with the icons and used Axialis IconWorkshop to create suitable custom icons for both my iPhone 6 and the Apple Mobile device driver (for this I used the 'Generic' Windows Cell Phone icon but used Axialis IconWorkshop to provide the additional categories required as in 1. above). The iPhone 6 icon was reworked from a Generic Image using Photoshop and then prepared in Axialis IconWorkshop to achieve the required sizes.

Next I downloaded and installed the 'Windows 10 Drivers Kit'. Once installed navigate to the directory of the installed product (X=Your Drive)

X:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\x64 (for 64 Bit Windows 10) or X:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\x86 (for 32 Bit Windows 10) and highlight the file "DeviceMetadataWizard.exe" right click and choose 'send to' and then 'Desktop (create shortcut)' which will place an easily accessible shortcut on your desktop whilst working on the metadata package. This can simply be deleted when your project is complete.

You are now ready to create your 'Device Metadata Package', remember that one is required for EACH device i.e. One for Apple iPhone and another for Apple Mobile Device Driver. The required entries for both are detailed below so please be careful to separate them ...

Open the 'Device Metadata Authoring Wizard' using the shortcut created earlier. A dialogue box with three choices will appear. From this dialogue select 'New Device Metadata' to commence the creation process. I will deal with each stage (new dialogue) step by step.

1. 'Package Type' here, select the radio button for 'Device only Metadata' proceed to 'next' step.

2. 'Device Categories' For this I decided upon the following categories, NB. The chosen 'primary category' radio button (indicated by *) must be selected before proceeding to the next step:

For Apple iPhone: Communication.Phone * + Communication.Phone.Cell + Component.Controller.USB

For Apple Mobile Device Driver: Component.Controller.USB * + Communication.Phone.Cell + Other

3. 'Locales' As I am based in the UK I selected "English (United Kingdom) en-GB" as the 'primary' locale (*). In your case select a locale appropriate to where you reside (and installed Windows??). In your case for example this may be "Greek (Greece) el-GR". Make your choice and select using the radio button and proceed to 'next' step.

4. 'Device Info' here you will find 5 text boxes 'Model Name', 'Manufacturer', 'Model Number', 'Description 1' & 'Description 2' finally there is a button to 'browse' to the location where you saved the icons created earlier. To complete the text entries you will need to access your iPhone (5S?). In iOS 9.2.1, go to 'Settings' then 'General' and then 'About'. Record the 'Model' Number and together with your device colour & capacity complete the text entries as shown below (NB. First Line for Apple iPhone, 2nd Line for Apple Mobile Device Driver):

Model Name: Apple iPhone 5S Manufacturer: Apple Model Number: (e.g.) ME4XX X/X Description 1: (e.g.) 64 GB Description 2: e.g. Space Grey

Model Name: Apple Mobile Device - USB Driver Manufacturer: Apple Model Number: usbaapl64.sys Description 1: USB Description 2: Device Driver

Once the appropriate text is entered in the five boxes select 'browse' and navigate to your chosen icon and select. Proceed to 'next' step.

5. 'Hardware Info' here you will use the upper 'Hardware ID's' box by selecting 'Add New ID'. This is were the Hardware Information recorded earlier is to be used hence the earlier reference to ACCURACY!! Please note that the recorded ID MUST be prefaced with "DOID". Below (as an example) is the entry I used in respect of my iPhone 6. NB. The line following it is that for the "Apple Mobile Device Driver"

Apple iPhone 6: DOID:USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8&REV_0702&MI_00 **Please note you need to use the appropriate entry for 'YOUR' iPhone here**

Apple Mobile Device Driver: DOID:USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8&REV_0702 **Please note you need to use the appropriate entry for 'YOUR' iPhone here**

Once you have added the appropriate ID for EITHER the 'Apple iPhone' OR 'Apple Mobile Device Driver' depending upon which package you are creating proceed to the 'next' step.

6. 'Windows Info' here all that is to consider is whether you wish to see the device when disconnected or not (which is the default). Leave or check the 'Show the device when disconnected' check box as desired and proceed to the 'next' (final) step.

7. 'Finish' here I suggest that you use the 'browse' button to navigate to a suitable 'personal' folder into which to store a copy of the package should you require in future such as in the event of a clean reinstall. Don't forget to put a check in the 'copy the device metadata package to the metadata store on the local computer' check box as without it your changes will not display. A command window will appear identifying that the package has been added.

Now you can check the 'Devices & Printers' folder to see the changes to the icons and from the 'unspecified' section refreshing and if necessary rebooting to verify.

I hope that you can follow this tutorial and achieve similar results to me....

 

Quick correction to the Windows 10 Drivers Kit link which should be http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=526733 please ignore earlier link.....

 

Dear PC Pilot.

Thanks a lot for your detailed tutorial, but it seems that our timing is amazing.
I just finished my experiments with the results as seen in the picture.





As it's a little late in Athens right now, I'll send you more details tomorrow. *Smile

Take care and have a good night. Dimitri

 

Hi again PC Pilot.

Just to add a few things to your tutorial.

As you stated, before doing anything I created a RESTORE POINT.
Although after finishing the packages creation and restoring, the only thing that was deleted was the installed Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard, while, as expected, the new Metadata Packages remained intact in the folder they were installed C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore.

Software used:
1. For icon creation: Photoshop (for the png image) and IcoFX (for creating the icon).
2. For Metadata Package creation: Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard from Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard - Windows 10 hardware dev
The Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard, as stated in the original Sevenforums tutorial (Devices and Printers - Change Device Icons with Custom Icons - Windows 7 Help Forums), adds a context menu item for each device “Create metadata package” and I started from there.

Metadata Package Parameters entered in the Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard:

Apple iPhone
Category: Communication.Phone.Cell (I didn't see the need for more categories)
Hardware IDs:USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8&REV_0602&MI_00USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8&MI_00
Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
Category: Component.Controller.USB (I didn't see the need for more categories)
Hardware IDs: USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8&REV_0602USB\VID_05AC&PID_12A8
Besides the above, everything else you mentioned in your detailed tutorial I can confirm (for anybody who wants to do the same thing) is extremely accurate.

Thanks again for your help. *Smile
Dimitri

 

Hi again Ddelo (Dimitri),

Excellent work, glad you achieved a satisfactory result!! Sounds as if we both achieved our objective by the same route as well......

Here is a screen shot of my final result with customised enhancements to my Devices & Printers removing the previously bland generic icons....





Just a couple of further observations for anyone contemplating the same customisation, I did encounter some issues with some of my other devices (most notably the 4 keyboards & 3 mice - a mix of USB, PS2 & Bluetooth!) using the full set of Hardware ID's shown in the 'values' box (and hence my reference to accuracy!!).

By experiment I discovered that by selecting a completely unique ID all worked as intended however (especially with the keyboards/mice) it was apparent that a number of these were shared with other devices and so multiples of the wrong icons appeared on non-related devices.....nightmare!!

This is the reason why I used a 'single' ID rather than both (which is obviously OK for a lone iPhone) as you did. Not sure if any problems regarding shared ID's might arise if one were to add another iPhone or even an iPad or iPod to the mix!! Perhaps anyone with multiple Apple devices might care to experiment and report back.

You correctly report that any restore action does not affect files in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore\(your locale) folder, perhaps I shoud add that following my 'experimental failures' I found it necessary to delete the faulty entries from the metadatastore folder for my (en-GB) locale and also those same files found in my personal folder location (as per final step) before performing the restore. In fact in my case I deleted all of the files in the metadatastore (just for my locale) and personal folders starting afresh each time. This at least ensures that no errors are carried forward as your work progresses and in my case I learned a little more each time!

I suspect you are correct in respect of the category(ies) selected. I took the categories in part from those found on the original hardware profile however, in my case I simply found that whilst using 'Communication.Phone' as the primary this worked whereas the 'Communication.Phone.Cell' as primary did not.....on reflection I think that in my case it was likely that I ommitted the very final step i.e. not putting a check in the 'copy the device metadata package to the metadata store on the local computer' check box..... inept I know but had been experimenting on the other devices for some hours at that point!!

One final point worthy of discussion is that of using the 'Device Metadata Authoring Wizard' to edit those entries created if minor text changes or even a different (better) icon became available. In this case, from the dialogue box with the three choices select 'Edit Device Metadata' and browse to the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceMetadataStore\(your locale) folder and select the appropriate package from the list.

A useful tip here is that if you cannot recall the date/time of the package creation (here it helps to consult the files stored in your personal folders....you did create a new folder for each device didn't you??!!) simply open at random until you see the correct device/icon displayed remembering to 'cancel' the incorrect ones confirming 'Yes' each time to avoid spoiling existing packages!

Hope this helps someone undertaking this form of customisation in Windows 10



(NB. All results by experiment not knowledge!!)

 

Dear PC Pilot,

I'm glad you achieved the result expected. *Wink
Regarding the issue you mention with the shared ID's I also believe that needs more testing with similar devices.

And a final note. Once someone creates the package required, this package can be opened with 7-zip and if text changes are needed to be done, they can be done in the appropriate xml file and then repackage everything with 7-zip (just store in zip format and then rename the extension to "devicemetadata-ms").

Dimitri

 

hey guys - i appreciate the tutorial here. Im pretty tech savvy but more on the hardware and networking end than software. I stumbled through this a bit though and managed to get it working (admittedly partially by trial and error lol).

Worst part is I now have half a dozen icons to do!

Anyhow, before I carry on, one small issue im having which I want to check of the list.

All the icons for my iphone have changed EXCEPT the one in file explorers navigation (left) pane.

That still shows the generic gray box. Is this because its tied to the "apple mobile device usb driver" or did I mess something up with the metadata store?

If it is in fact tied to the iphone icon and its not showing here - what did i mess up/how can i fix it?

If it is in fact tied to the mobile usb driver icon, any way I can make it show the iphone there instead of whatever Icon i come up with for the mobile usb driver?

That is all!

Thanks again

 

Hi klepp0906,

Sorry it has taken me a while to answer your post.....have only just got back to my PC and so before today have been unable to check how mine responds in comparison.

I note that if I have an explorer window open before connection the iPhone appears as a generic tablet type device ON CONNECTION (i.e. whilst the device drivers are (re)loaded) however, once this is subsequently refreshed OR a new explorer window opened the iPhone correctly displays the icon unlike appears to be the case in your situation.

This is just a pure guess but I would verify the .ico image sizes as it is important to have the correct range of sizes that windows uses for each of its various display locations. Perhaps the .ico image is missing the correct image size (or it is in some way corrupt?) to display that size of icon (i.e. in the left hand (navigation) pane of the explorer window?? That is where I would start in retracing the steps covered in the tutorial earlier in the thread.....

Hope this helps, let me know how you get on!!

Regards

 

thank you very much for the clear and concise reply! I'm gonna give it another stab tonight and ill let ya know how it goes!