Stop Plug and Play from detecting devices in Vista

One of the problems with Plug and Play (PnP) is its tendency to detect and load drivers for devices you don't want to use. Although there is a way to turn off Plug and Play to prevent Windows PnP feature from detecting and installing drivers for some devices, you can also disable most devices that may be causing conflicts.

To disable a device and prevent Windows from detecting it again:

1. Right-click on the "Computer" icon on your desktop and select Properties and click on the "Device Manager" link.

2. In the Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) find the hardware that you want that PNP must ignore and select Disable.

A red × then appears over the device's icon to signify that it has been disabled. You can
later re-enable the device by right-clicking and selecting Enable.

How to disable Plug and Play

Sometimes you have the need to disable Plug and Play completely. Since Plug and Play is a Windows Service you need to disable it through the Service Manager. Here is how to do it:

1. The fastest way to get to the Service Manager is by typing "services.msc" into the start menu search box.



2. In the service panel right-click on "UPnP Device Host" and select Properties. In the properties window change the Startup type to Disabled.



Most users don't realize it, but the SSDP service is the actual server that's open to the internet (unless you're firewalled), and the service that turns on the UPnP Device Host. Next, go on to the SSDP Discovery Service, double-click and select to stop the service, then disable it in the same manner.

Tags: pnp,plug & play,ubuntu,drivers,vista,devices,ssdp

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