DEVCON

Command Line Utility Alternative to Device Manager

DEVCON is a Microsoft tool that allows "device management" from the command line.

It is available for free as part of the Windows Driver Kit (a.k.a. WDK).
Unfortunately, it is no longer available as a separate download from Microsoft's websites.
Burn or mount the downloaded WDK ISO image, and either

• install the Tools using the setup wizard

or

• find setuptools_x64fre_cab001.cab (64-bit) or setuptools_x86fre_cab001.cab (32-bit) in the \WDK folder
• use 7-Zip or similar software to extract _devcon.exe_00000
• rename _devcon.exe_00000 to devcon.exe
• move devcon.exe to a folder that is listed in your PATH

More detailed information and command line examples can be found at Microsoft TechNet.

I dedicated this page to DEVCON because I became impressed by its possibilities.
It even allowed me to write scripts to backup drivers without having to search all INF files "manually". This had been on my wish list for a long time.

Another great feature is DEVCON's built-in Reboot command.

Typing DEVCON help or DEVCON /? returns the following help screen:

C:\>DEVCON Help

Device Console Help:
DEVCON.EXE [-r] [-m:\\<machine>] <command> [<arg>...]
-r Reboots the system only when a restart or reboot is required.
<machine> Specifies a remote computer. 
<command> Specifies a Devcon command (see command list below).
<arg>... One or more arguments that modify a command.
For help with a specific command, type: DEVCON.EXE help <command>
classfilter Add, delete, and reorder class filters.
classes List all device setup classes.
disable Disable devices.
driverfiles List installed driver files for devices.
drivernodes List driver nodes of devices.
enable Enable devices.
find Find devices.
findall Find devices, including those that are not currently attached.
help Display Devcon help.
hwids List hardware IDs of devices.
install Install a device manually.
listclass List all devices in a setup class.
reboot Reboot the local computer.
remove Remove devices.
rescan Scan for new hardware.
resources List hardware resources for devices.
restart Restart devices.
sethwid Modify Hardware ID's of listed root-enumerated devices.
stack List expected driver stack for devices.
status List running status of devices.
update Update a device manually.
updateni Manually update a device (non interactive).
dp_add Adds (installs) a third-party (OEM) driver package.
dp_delete Deletes a third-party (OEM) driver package.
dp_enum Lists the third-party (OEM) driver packages installed on this machine.

Type DEVCON help command on the command line for detailed help on command or click a command in the table above to view its help page.

The table below lists some of my scripts based on DEVCON, along with the basic command line switches they use.

DEVCON Script Examples
💾	Name	Description	Switches	Last Modified (yyyy-mm-dd)	Remarks
💾	BkAllDrv.bat	Backup all Windows 2000 drivers	FindAll * DriverFiles "@hwid"	2004年01月10日	The batch, KiXtart and Perl versions can also backup inactive drivers. The batch and KiXtart versions are much slower. The batch, KiXtart and Rexx versions will prompt you to download DEVCON itself or RexxUtill (Rexx only) if missing. The Perl version creates a log file that may help in restores, and an error log, if applicable.
💾	BkAllDrv.kix	Backup all Windows 2000 drivers	FindAll * DriverFiles "@hwid"	2004年01月12日
💾	BkAllDrv.pl	Backup all Windows 2000 drivers	FindAll * DriverFiles "@hwid"	2004年02月14日
💾	BkAllDrv.rex	Backup all Windows 2000 drivers	DriverFiles *	2003年12月30日
💾	BkMdmDrv.rex	Backup Windows 2000 modem drivers	DriverFiles =Modem	2003年12月27日	These scripts will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	BkVidDrv.rex	Backup Windows 2000 video drivers	DriverFiles =Display	2003年12月28日
💾	BluetoothStatus.bat	Check if Bluetooth is enabled	Findall =Bluetooth @BTH* Find =Bluetooth @BTH*	2025年03月16日
💾	Drivers.cmd	Display all active drivers (Windows as well as OS/2)	DriverFiles *	2005年09月21日	Uses RMVIEW and CUT in OS/2 Warp
💾	ExpPrnDr.bat	Export Printer Drivers	DriverFiles =Printer	2009年12月16日	This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	GetDevDJ.bat	Check if a HP DeskJet printer is installed	Find *	2002年03月30日
💾	GetDeviceClassGUID.bat	List Device Interface GUID(s) for the specified Device Class	Find =class	2024年02月27日
💾	GetDevLT.bat	Check if a Logitech mouse is installed	Find *	2002年03月30日
💾	GetDevSB.bat	Check if a Creative Sound Blaster is installed	Find *	2002年03月30日
💾	HardDisk.bat	List harddisks, their interfaces and revision numbers for any computer on the network	Find =DiskDrive	2005年01月15日	This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	ListHDDs.bat	List all physical harddisk models on a remote PC	Find =DiskDrive SCSI\DISK*	2009年11月24日	Requires either WMIC or DEVCON; if neither is available, you will be prompted to open the DEVCON download page
💾	Modems.bat	List all modems and the resources they use	Resources =Modem	2003年12月23日	This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	RenewUSB.bat	Remove all USB devices and then rescan for new ones (obsolete, use ResetDevices.bat instead for Windows Vista and later)	FindAll =USB FindAll USB* Remove "@hwid" Rescan	2017年01月16日	Warning: May cripple your OS, use entirely at your own risk, and only after making a full backup. I had to run this script twice before my computer accepted my new USB stick. This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	ResetDevices.bat	Remove disconnected devices	Find FindAll Remove "@hwid"	2017年01月16日	Warning: May cripple your OS, use entirely at your own risk, and only after making a full backup. No prompt for confirmation! This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	RestartMouse.bat	Restart a mouse that suddenly hangs, when plugging in a new mouse doesn't help	Remove =mouse Rescan	2022年12月04日
💾	RmHidDev.bat	Remove all hidden (inactive) plug&play devices (obsolete, use ResetDevices.bat instead for Windows Vista and later)	Find * FindAll * Remove "@hwid"	2006年11月10日	Warning: May cripple your OS, use entirely at your own risk, and only after making a full backup. Written to remove "ghost devices" from Ghost images. This script will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	ShowPRN.bat	List all printers and their printer ports	FindAll =Printer	2004年01月17日	These scripts will prompt you for download if DEVCON isn't found.
💾	ShowPRNT.bat	List all printers and their printer ports in tab delimited format	FindAll =Printer	2004年01月17日

Examples of DEVCON commands:
DEVCON Classes	List all available classes; may come in handy if you want to start writing your own DEVCON batch files.
DEVCON DriverFiles =USB	List drivers for all USB devices.
DEVCON Findall =USB	List USB devices, even the ones that aren't currently connected.
DEVCON Findall =Bluetooth @USB\*	List USB Bluetooth dongles, even the ones that aren't currently connected.
DEVCON Reboot	Reboot the computer.
DEVCON Status =Image	List status of all active imaging devices.
FOR /F %%A IN ( 'DEVCON FindAll ˆ=Image ˆ| FIND "\"' ) DO DEVCON Status "@%%A" | FIND " "	List status of all imaging devices, including inactive ones.

Related Stuff

• Nir Sofer's USBDeview allows you to view all installed/connected USB devices on your system.
• To eject PnP hardware devices use C'T's DevEject.
  This powerful tool can eject devices by their description, device ID or drive letter.