I use a query "SELECT * FROM Win32_PnPEntity WHERE DeviceID = "DEVICEID" and Status = 'OK'" to identify a Win32_PnPEntity device using WMI. The device is UPS and is connected to computer via USB. Surprisingly, I found that the DEVICEID is different for the same UPS unit attached to different computers. In one case it is \"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601\\\\7&ED14AF&0&0000\" in the other - \"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601\\\\6&2672DB59&0&0000\. Any idea how it could happen?

Hello - This could be possible. Each device could have different device IDs. I don't think, somebody can help to answer how it could happen !! Anoop C Nair

Hello - This could be possible. Each device could have different device IDs. I don't think, somebody can help to answer how it could happen !! Anoop C Nair

Thank you for this info. Not sure if it was obvious that I am talking about the same unit attached to different computers. I can imagine that device ID changes from unit to unit but how it could be different for the same unit? Still I need to be able to identify the device. I wonder if there a way to get all the device IDs that a particular device could display. The first part of the deviceID was the same "\"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601". Is there any particular reason for this? Is it sufficient to identify the device?

Thank you for this info. Not sure if it was obvious that I am talking about the same unit attached to different computers. I can imagine that device ID changes from unit to unit but how it could be different for the same unit? Still I need to be able to identify the device. I wonder if there a way to get all the device IDs that a particular device could display. The first part of the deviceID was the same "\"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601". Is there any particular reason for this? Is it sufficient to identify the device?

It is common for devices to generate unique IDs depending on what part of the bus they are attached. So you can unplug a USB device from one port to another and hte Device ID will change. You should just do a LIKE string to check for the fixed part of the Device ID that will identify your device reliably.Levi Stevens Technical Consultant - End User Computing - West Region Dell | Services

It is common for devices to generate unique IDs depending on what part of the bus they are attached. So you can unplug a USB device from one port to another and hte Device ID will change. You should just do a LIKE string to check for the fixed part of the Device ID that will identify your device reliably.Levi Stevens Technical Consultant - End User Computing - West Region Dell | Services

May be yes. Am not very sure. I would suggest to try to check on some other machines.Anoop C Nair

May be yes. Am not very sure. I would suggest to try to check on some other machines.Anoop C Nair

Thank you, Levi. Seems to work. It would be still helpful to know how these device_IDs are generated, including the fixed part. When I asked the technical support of the company they told me that "they do not support WMI" whatever this means. Is the fixed part of the ID created despite their unwillingness to " support WMI"?

Thank you, Levi. Seems to work. It would be still helpful to know how these device_IDs are generated, including the fixed part. When I asked the technical support of the company they told me that "they do not support WMI" whatever this means. Is the fixed part of the ID created despite their unwillingness to " support WMI"?

Thank you for this info. I am quite new to WMI. Still I need to be able to identify the device. I wonder if there a way to get all the device IDs that a particular device could display. The first part of the deviceID was the same "\"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601". Is there any particular reason for this? Is it sufficient to identify the device?

Thank you for this info. I am quite new to WMI. Still I need to be able to identify the device. I wonder if there a way to get all the device IDs that a particular device could display. The first part of the deviceID was the same "\"HID\\\\VID_0764&PID_0601". Is there any particular reason for this? Is it sufficient to identify the device?

Part of the device id is set by the manufacturer (fixed part) but the rest of it depends on how the device is connected to the system. You can read more at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff546152(VS.85).aspx.Levi Stevens Technical Consultant - End User Computing - West Region Dell | Services

This one specifically covers USB devices. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff546284(v=VS.85).aspx.Levi Stevens Technical Consultant - End User Computing - West Region Dell | Services