Can't get into Device Manager

[LeadBullet]

I was trying to get into my Device Manager, but each time I click the button for it, I get this popup error box.

[Cerberus_e]

have you already tried restarting computer?
that solves 90% of the problems with windows

[LeadBullet]

I just tried and it did nothing.

Not that I expected it to though because I had just turned my computer on when I tried to get into it.

[JimboC]

Try searching your hard drive for 'devmgmt.msc'. That's the name of the Device Manager program. It should be in c:\Windows\System32.

If it's there, make sure you have full access to the file. If you don't have access to the file and are a system administrator, you can take ownership of the file in the Advanced section. After taking ownership you can five yourself full access to the file.

EDIT: Just had another thought. Try going to the Run command and see if you can run it from there. Maybe somehow the button got dorked and is looking for the wrong file.

[LeadBullet]

I tried both things, and neither found it.

[NutWrench]

Did you try loading an earlier Restore point?

If that doesn't work, try running the system file checker. "Start-->Run-->SFC /SCANNOW" You'll need your Windows XP CD

[LeadBullet]

NutWrench said:
If that doesn't work, try running the system file checker. "Start-->Run-->SFC /SCANNOW" You'll need your Windows XP CD



Well, I don't have it. Not the one it wants anyway. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tinyted.gif

It keeps asking for a "Service Pack 2" CD, and my CD is just the plain Windows XP with no service packs.

I wonder if some Spyware thing nuked it when I uninstalled it. I've searched for the file and its nowhere in my /windows/ folder and I never mess around in my windows folder unless I'm adding a font or something.

[JimboC]

If you have WinXP SP2, you can run that with a -X after it to extract the files to a folder. From there you should be able to either extract the files you need or use that as the installation folder.

You can also create your own WinXP CD ROM with Service Pack 2 Slipsteamed (integrated) into the original disc. Here's a link (http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp) on how to do using Nero 6.x and ISOBuster (which is free). If that's no good for you, Googling Slipstream WinXP SP2 should provide you with a ton of links giving you alternative instructions. I used these instructions on my Retail Upgrade CD at home and at the office with our Open License CD and it works great. After doing this, you can use the new CD any time you reinstall Windows and you'll have SP2 already installed. It's even bootable, just like the original CD.

[NutWrench]

Here we go. Try this

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/micr...945e60a08cdc881 (http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/browse_thread/thread/a8ac7f12c0752d23/0945e60a08cdc881?q=)