Can not open Device Manager?

[Zarakkhan]

Hello,

I'm having the following problem when I try to open Device Manager:

It asks for permission of the Microsoft Management Console before giving me this message.

This has started to happen after I've installed and uninstalled many copies of Visual Studio and MS Office because I was having problems. My Notebook went onto checking Drive C before start up to check for errors and repair them.

Can anyone provide a fix for this problem please?

I highly appreciate the help.

Regards.

[EmeraldAvenger]

Welcome @Zarakkhan, 

Thank you for visiting the HP Support Forums and Welcome! This is a great site to get answers and ask questions. I understand that you are having an issue with MMC blocking you from going into the Device Manager. 

Although this is a little out of my expertise, here are a couple of things that you could try that may help you resolve the issue. 

Have you tried going into Safe Mode to see if the problems persist in there?

Have you tired to perform a Clean Boot?

Are you trying to open the Device Manager as an administrator?

Please use the System Restore feature and pick a date that was before the issues started. 

To use System Restore in Windows 10:

• Go to the Search
• Type Control Panel
• Click Control Panel
• Click System
• Click System Protection
• Click System Protection Tab
• Click System Restore
• Click Next
• Choose "Choose a different Restore point"
• Click Next
• A box that says "Restore your computer to the state it was in before the selected event" will pop up
• Choose the event
• Click Next
• Click Finish
• Click Yes to Confirm

When the System Restore is finished, you will get a pop up that says it has been completed. 

If none of that worked, the Microsoft Management Console is a Microsoft program. I would suggest contacting Microsoft for issues with Microsoft Management Console error messages. You can also reach out to them using their Microsoft Community Forums as well.

Hope that helps! 

If you feel this post has helped you, could help others joining in and looking for a solution or you just want to say cheers, please click the Accept as Solution button and/or the Thumbs Up. 

If you require further assistance, please re-post with the results of the troubleshooting and I would be more than happy to do my best to provide another solution. 

Have a great day!

[Zarakkhan]

Hello, thank you for the reply.

I'm sorry but I've had a bad experience with System Restore in the past, I've used that to solve issues before but then other things get affected as well.
So I was hoping if you would provide me any alternative solution.

And I can't seem to figure out the Windows Forums because they're a bit confusing to me.

Although I'll try to check in Safe Mode and perform a Clean Boot.

Thanks again.
Regards.

[KarenUK]

You need to check if  'Windows > system32 > devmgmt'  exists ( in case it has somehow been deleted)  and then check its security permissions. Right click 'Properties' then 'security' tab.  All users should at least have 'Read' and 'Read and execute' allowed. Only 'TrustedInstaller' will have a lot more.

[Zarakkhan]

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@KarenUK wrote:

You need to check if  'Windows > system32 > devmgmt'  exists ( in case it has somehow been deleted)  and then check its security permissions. Right click 'Properties' then 'security' tab.  All users should at least have 'Read' and 'Read and execute' allowed. Only 'TrustedInstaller' will have a lot more.

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@thank you for your reply, @KarenUK

The file 'devmgmt.msc' exists, but the Security tab is not showing anything in the Properties, except the following message:

[KarenUK]

Sorry but the image you uploaded is just showing as a blank triangle in my browser!

[Zarakkhan]

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KarenUK wrote:

Sorry but the image you uploaded is just showing as a blank triangle in my browser!

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Here's something very odd, when I try to click the second devmgmt file it asks for MSC permission and returns me the error that I've mentioned in the first post. Here's the image for the Security tab you asked.

But now there are 2 devmgmt files, and the first one with the grey icon is opening Device Manager without any sort of problem. Here's the image:

What could be the problem and what should I do? Should I delete the second one with the red toolbox icon?

[KarenUK]

Sorry I still cannot see your image attachments. Although they are recognised as jpg they will not  change into pictures. I think this is a fault with HP. This is what I am getting.

[Zarakkhan]

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@KarenUK wrote:

Sorry I still cannot see your image attachments. Although they are recognised as jpg they will not  change into pictures. I think this is a fault with HP. This is what I am getting.

---

How about now?

[KarenUK]

Ok. I can see your images now! 

Here is a system32 snapshot from my own machine which shows the grey devmgmt icon. There is only one. 

You could delete the other red toolbox devmgmt. it will send it to the recycle bin and can be returned if need be. Then see if device manager works. Then I suggest  running system file checker, 'sfc /scannow'  in a command prompt ( admin ) to clear up any other file corruption.