Unknown Devices 1.4.20 Beta

Overview

Unknown Devices is a compact, yet useful utility that aids in the process of identifying unrecognized hardware devices in your computers operating system. This program is particularly helpful when you're trying to install or locate a particular device but are having trouble getting the system to recognize the hardware. By comparing devices against several extensive detection lists, Unknown Devices effectively and expeditiously identifies hardware, so you can begin downloading the appropriate drivers.

Installation

This tool is portable so you don't even have to install it in order to begin using it. Simply open the program as is and as soon as launches it will begin scanning your computer and displaying a full list of the devices that are currently or recently have been connected to the system. The stable version of the software is compatible with Windows 95, 98, Millennium Edition, 2K, XP, and 2003, while the beta version is compatible with all of the aforementioned operating systems as well as Vista and Windows 7.

Interface

The Unknown Devices user interface is very similar to that of the conventional device manager in Windows, as it simply displays an expandable list of devices that are connected to your computer. There are four main menus along the top – List, Device, Tools, and Help. The List menu lets you save a device list to a file, redetect devices, and upload lists to a paste bin for easy management.

Pros

• Utilizes device lists stored in your computer's memory to facilitate faster detection

• Lets you look up specific hardware IDs within the Tools menu

• After a device has been identified you can view detailed information about it within the “Device” menu. You can also utilize the “Device” menu to quickly search the Internet for drivers for a specific device

• Includes predefined hotkey shortcuts that let you perform functions by utilizing keyboard combinations

• Is particularly useful for identifying devices that have yellow question marks next to them in the device manager

• Latest version displays additional computer details, including product key and chipset information

• Displays devices that were recently attached to your computer as inactive items, so you can still view detailed information about each one even after they're no longer connected

• Self-explanatory interface requires very little input on behalf of the user

• Even if it is unable to successfully identify a particular hardware device, it can facilitate a web search for drivers and help you find more information about updating drivers to ensure compatibility between your connected hardware and operating system

Cons

• It should be noted that this application is only capable of identifying AGP and PCI devices, and it cannot identify ISA, SCSI, USB, FireWire, or PCMCIA cards.

Alternatives

There are a number of suitable alternatives to Unknown Devices, including Unknown Device Identifier, DriverMax, SlimDrivers, Device Doctor, DriverEasy, and DriverPack Solution. Of these competitors, Device Doctor and DriverMax are most worthy of comparison, as they provide robust interfaces and all-inclusive functionality.

Conclusion

If you're looking for an easy way to quickly identify devices that are showing up as unknown in the Windows Device Manager, the software provides a solution that anyone could comfortably use.