In the Windows environment, PNPDeviceID is a crucial identifier that helps in managing and troubleshooting hardware devices. PNPDeviceID stands for Plug and Play Device Identifier and it provides a unique identification for each device connected to a computer. This article aims to explain the concept of PNPDeviceID and its importance in the Windows environment, along with practical examples and commands.

PNPDeviceID is a string value associated with each device in Windows. It consists of several parts separated by backslashes (). The first part represents the device's unique identifier, while the subsequent parts provide additional information about the device, such as its manufacturer, model, and subsystem.

Understanding the PNPDeviceID of a device can be extremely useful in various scenarios. It helps in identifying the correct driver for a device, troubleshooting device conflicts, and managing device-related policies. Additionally, PNPDeviceID can be used to automate tasks related to specific devices, such as enabling or disabling them, using scripts or commands.

Examples:
1. Retrieving PNPDeviceID using Device Manager:

• Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Device Manager".


• Locate the device for which you want to retrieve the PNPDeviceID.


• Right-click on the device and select "Properties".


• In the "Details" tab, select "Hardware Ids" from the drop-down menu.


• The PNPDeviceID will be displayed in the format "PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E32&SUBSYS_057E1028&REV_03".

2. Using PowerShell to retrieve PNPDeviceID:

• Open PowerShell by searching for it in the Start menu.


• Run the following command to retrieve the PNPDeviceID for all devices:
  

   Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPEntity | Select-Object Name, PNPDeviceID



• The output will display the device name and its corresponding PNPDeviceID.