Match the symptom before changing settings
| What you observe | Where to focus |
|---|---|
| Code 10: This device cannot start | Update or restore the correct driver, then test the hardware |
| Code 28: Drivers are not installed | Install the exact manufacturer or Windows Update driver |
| Code 43: Windows stopped the device | Test the device, cable, power and driver because hardware reported a failure |
| Code 45: Hardware is not connected | Reconnect the physical or wireless device; old hidden entries may be normal |
Diagnose device manager error codes before replacing drivers
Read the complete Device status text and code first. Code 10, 28, 31, 43, 45, and 52 each point to different causes such as startup failure, missing driver, configuration, hardware/reporting, disconnection, or signature issues.
Before acting on an error code, confirm the device is physically connected, powered, and supported. For removable hardware, try a known-good cable/port and another PC where practical.
Use the symptom evidence to select the correct layer. “Code 10: This device cannot start” points toward update or restore the correct driver, then test the hardware, while “Code 28: Drivers are not installed” suggests install the exact manufacturer or windows update driver. Also note what changed immediately before the failure: a Windows update, driver package, new dock, BIOS update, sleep or hibernation cycle, physical impact, liquid exposure or installation of device-management software.
Match the fix to the code and exact hardware model. Use official drivers and firmware; do not install a package merely because its name sounds similar.
Restart Windows and reproduce the error with unnecessary accessories removed. If the code changes or disappears after reconnecting one device, that change is useful diagnostic evidence.
The remaining symptoms also narrow the search: “Code 43: Windows stopped the device” means you should test the device, cable, power and driver because hardware reported a failure, while “Code 45: Hardware is not connected” means you should reconnect the physical or wireless device; old hidden entries may be normal. After each repair, verify the original function rather than accepting a successful installer message. A package can finish correctly while Windows still loads another driver or the hardware remains unavailable.
Read the code and preserve the evidence
In Device Manager, expand the relevant category, open the device properties and copy the complete Device status message. Also record the device name, provider, driver date and driver version. If the name is generic, use Details > Hardware Ids to identify the vendor and model before downloading anything.
Do not assume every greyed or hidden device is broken. Device Manager can retain non-present entries for USB drives, phones and accessories that are currently disconnected. Code 45 simply reports that state; reconnecting the same device normally clears it.
1Match common codes to their first repair
- Codes 1, 10, 28 and 31 usually begin with the correct driver.
- Code 22 means the device is disabled; enable it.
- Codes 43 and 48 require hardware or compatibility investigation, not repeated blind reinstalls.
2Check dependencies
- Use View > Devices by connection when several linked components fail.
- Repair a failed USB, PCI, Bluetooth or chipset parent before its child devices.
- Restart after a code specifically requests it.
Update, roll back or reinstall safely
Check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, then the PC or device maker's exact model page. When a known-good older driver worked before a recent change, Device Manager > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver is often more informative than repeatedly searching for a newer one.
For a reinstall, download the correct package first, uninstall only the failed device and restart. Windows may restore an in-box driver automatically. Install the saved manufacturer package if device-specific functions remain missing.
Know when the code indicates hardware or firmware
Codes involving insufficient resources, firmware configuration or a device that repeatedly reports failure may require a BIOS or firmware update from the PC maker. Do not flash firmware from a similar model, and keep the device connected to reliable power throughout an approved update.
If Code 43 follows the hardware to another computer, or the device disconnects when its cable moves, replace the cable or hardware. If several unrelated devices fail together, investigate the common controller, dock, power supply or motherboard rather than reinstalling every child driver.
Verify the repair before making more changes
Restart Windows—not only the affected app—and confirm that the original hardware function works in the app or Windows setting where it previously failed. Check Device Manager again: the device should remain present without a warning icon, and Device status should say it is working properly.
After addressing the specific error code, reopen Device Manager, confirm Device status is clear, restart Windows, and retest the device's real function.
Technical order checked against Microsoft's current Device Manager error-code guidance. Device-specific menus and driver availability vary by manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
What does Code 43 mean in Windows 11?
The device or one of its drivers reported a failure to Windows. Test power, cable, port, driver and the hardware itself.
Is Code 45 an actual error?
Usually it only means a previously installed device is not currently connected. Reconnect it if you need to use it.
Should I delete every greyed-out device?
No. Many are harmless records of disconnected hardware. Remove only a confirmed obsolete or conflicting entry.