: Go to View > Show hidden devices . Non-present devices will appear as "greyed out" icons, which you can then right-click and uninstall manually.
While the interface is straightforward, using this tool requires caution. Here is the safe way to use it. DeviceCleanup.exe
Sometimes, when you plug a device into a specific USB port, Windows tries to assign it a resource (like an Interrupt Request or IRQ) that is technically still "reserved" for a ghost device that was previously plugged into that port. This can lead to devices not being recognized, failing to start, or behaving erratically. : Go to View > Show hidden devices
SP_DEVINFO_DATA devInfoData; devInfoData.cbSize = sizeof(SP_DEVINFO_DATA); DWORD idx = 0; int removed = 0; Here is the safe way to use it
DeviceCleanup.exe works on Windows XP through Windows 11 (both 32-bit and 64-bit). It does require administrative rights for listing devices, but elevated privileges (Run as Administrator) are mandatory for actual deletion.
Double-click DeviceCleanup.exe . If not run as admin, it will warn you; click "Restart as Administrator." The main window lists , both present and non-present. Non-present devices appear with a different color (usually red or faded).
return RemoveById(g_targetId); case ACTION_REMOVE_ALL: return RemoveAllNonPresent();