Rename devices in Device Manager

Solution 1:

• Get the devcon utility if you don't have it already. It is a highly recommended tool. Instructions here
• Unplug all USB devices from accessible ports, for example a webcam is USB as well, but you cannot really unplug it.
• Plug in a device you know, something with a specific name is easier than a mouse. In the sample I used an ACR38.
• List USB devices using devcon find *usb* (1).
• Find the port ID in the end of the device string, and write it down (2).
• Unplug the device and plug it in the next port, repeat two steps above until done (3).
• Now you know which ID is which port. Either memorize the list, or use scripting tool or editor macro that does a find/replace on the console output for eah item in the list. Then you could use a batch file to produce output like (4)

(1)

>devcon find *usb*
USB\VID_072F&PID_9000\6&4E08F0F&0&4                         : ACR38 Smart Card Reader
USB\VID_8086&PID_0189\6&3023DF2C&0&5                        : Generic Bluetooth Adapter
USB\VID_0C45&PID_642A\6&174C4A1&0&4                         : USB Composite Device
USB\VID_8087&PID_0024\5&120253F1&0&1                        : Generic USB Hub
NUSB3\ROOT_HUB30\5&24981BD0&0                               : Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Root Hub
USB\VID_0C45&PID_642A&MI_00\7&2669BE51&0&0000               : Integrated Webcam
USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&1D3C1330&0                                 : USB Root Hub
USB\VID_8087&PID_0024\5&7937534&0&1                         : Generic USB Hub
USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&236B341D&0                                 : USB Root Hub
9 matching device(s) found.

(2)

6&4E08F0F&0&4 = Port A (front right)

(3)

>devcon find *usb*
USB\VID_072F&PID_9000\6&4E08F0F&0&3                         : ACR38 Smart Card Reader
USB\VID_8086&PID_0189\6&3023DF2C&0&5                        : Generic Bluetooth Adapter
USB\VID_0C45&PID_642A\6&174C4A1&0&4                         : USB Composite Device
USB\VID_8087&PID_0024\5&120253F1&0&1                        : Generic USB Hub
NUSB3\ROOT_HUB30\5&24981BD0&0                               : Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Root Hub
USB\VID_0C45&PID_642A&MI_00\7&2669BE51&0&0000               : Integrated Webcam
USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&1D3C1330&0                                 : USB Root Hub
USB\VID_8087&PID_0024\5&7937534&0&1                         : Generic USB Hub
USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&236B341D&0                                 : USB Root Hub
9 matching device(s) found.

6&4E08F0F&0&4 = Port A (front right)
6&4E08F0F&0&3 = Port B (front left)

(4)

After plugging in a mouse and doing find/replace in a macro with Notepad++ these are the first two lines of the output now:

USB\VID_072F&PID_9000\Port A (front right)                        : ACR38 Smart Card Reader
USB\VID_1532&PID_0013\Port B (front left)                         : USB Composite Device

[Note this answer requires the commandline, but I doubt this can be done with a simple UI like Device Manager, so I'll post it anyway. Also, I verified it only on one computer, so please verify this yourself first.]

Solution 2:

Based on: http://www.eightforums.com/customization/15321-tutorial-how-change-device-names-device-manager.html

1. Open properties of the device in Device Manager
2. Under the details tab, select Driver Key and copy the value it shows
3. Open regedit and search for the value within HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum
4. Give yourself ownership and full control over the key (folder) that you find it in
5. Add a new string value with name FriendlyName. For data use whatever name you want it to have

The new name will take effect when you reopen Device Manager.

Appears to work on at least Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Solution 3:

You can change the name text in the '[Strings]' section of the .INF file included with the driver (edit it with Notepad), then run the setup.exe. Windows will then display that name in "Devices and Printers" and "Device Manager".