The Windows Device Manager allows you to visualize the status of all the various hardware components of your personal computer or laptop. The Device Manager maintains a list of all active hardware devices, sorted by category.
One of the easiest ways to access the Device Manager is to right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop and choose the “Properties” item from the menu. Then, choose the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button.
The main view offered by the Device Manager is a list of all of the hardware components installed in your computer. This list is organized into various catagories, and each computer will have a unique list depending upon which devices are installed. Examples from two different computers are shown below.