How to use Registry Editor to identify an unknown PCI device (298837)

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Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

When you install Microsoft Windows, the Add New Hardware Wizard may search for drivers for an unknown device. When Windows searches for the best driver for the device and it is unable to find one, you way receive the following message: When you click View devices by type on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog box, the device may be displayed as Unknown Device under Other devices.

When your computer starts, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices are polled for the following information: This information is stored in the following Windows registry location: Where <vendorID> is a four-digit hexadecimal vendor ID number, <deviceID> is a four-digit hexadecimal device ID number, <subsystemID> is a subsystem ID number, and <hardwarerevisionID> is a hardware revision ID number.

To use this information to help you identify the unknown device, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type Regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Expand the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\PCI

4. Under PCI, expand one of the following subkeys.

   VEN_vendorID&DEV_deviceID&SUBSYS_subsystemID&REV_hardwarerevisionID

   For example:

   VEN_11C1&DEV_0442&SUBSYS_04401668&REV_01

5. Click the folder that appears beneath the subkey that you expanded in step 4.
6. In the right pane, record the values of following registry entries that appear:

   Class
   DeviceDesc
   Mfg

   "Class" is the class of the device, such as "Modem". "DeviceDesc" is the description of the device, such as "Lucent Win Modem." "Mfg" is the device manufacturer, such as "Lucent."
   • To identify an unknown PCI device, follow these steps:
     1. View the registry entries in the folder that appears in each of the registry subkeys under the following registry key:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\PCI

     2. Note the Class registry entry with the Data value of "Unknown".
     3. Record the following information of the parent registry subkey where this value is located:

        Vendor ID
        Device ID
        Subsystem ID
        Hardware Revision ID

        For example, the Unknown Data value is found in the subfolder of the following registry subkey:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\PCI\VEN_11C1&DEV_0442&SUBSYS_04401668&REV_01

        In that case, record the following information:

        Vendor ID            11C1
        Device ID            0442
        Subsystem ID         04401668
        Hardware Revision ID 01
        							

   • To identify a display adapter that is listed as Standard PCI Graphics Adapter (VGA), follow these steps:
     1. View the registry entries in the folder that appears in each of the registry subkeys under the following registry key:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\PCI

     2. Note the DeviceDesc registry entry with the Data value of "Standard PCI Graphics Adapter".
     3. Record the following information of the parent registry subkey where this value is found:

        Vendor ID
        Device ID
        Subsystem ID
        Hardware Revision ID

        For example, the "Standard PCI Graphics Adapter" Data value is found in the subfolder of the following registry subkey:

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7121&SUBSYS_801F104&REV_03

        In that case, record the following information:

        Vendor ID            8086
        Device ID            7121
        Subsystem ID         801F104
        Hardware Revision ID 03
        							

7. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then visit the following PCI Vendor and Device Lists Web site:

   http://www.pcidatabase.com/

   Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
8. Click the By Vendor ID link.
9. Click the 0xVendor ID link, where Vendor ID corresponds to the Vendor ID that you recorded in step c. For example, click 0x11C1 Agere Systems.
10. On the Vendor Information page, search for the 0xDevice ID, where Device ID corresponds to the Device ID that you recorded in step c. For example, 0x044E.
11. Record the Device ID information that corresponds to this Device ID. For example:

    Chip Number: lucent 1646T00
    Description: LT WinModem 56k Data+Fax or Agere F-1156IV/A3
    Notes: Driver http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=85978

12. Use this information to locate a compatible driver for the device.

This information may help you identify the chip set that the device uses. The chip set may not provide the specific manufacturer of the hardware device, but it should provide enough information to obtain a compatible device driver for the device.

For information about how to contact computer hardware manufacturers, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.