1. Check Device Manager
The first step in troubleshooting a driver error in Windows is to open the Device Manager. This is typically done by going to the Start menu, typing in Device Manager and selecting the respective link. Once in the Device Manager window, check for any hardware components that have a yellow exclamation mark next to them. These are devices that are either not installed properly or are having some kind of problem.
2. Run Windows Update
The second step is to run Windows Update to ensure you have the most up-to-date drivers installed. This can be done by going to the Start menu, typing in Windows Update, and selecting the respective link. Follow the onscreen instructions to install any new drivers that are available.
3. Update Drivers Manually
If the device manager still shows a yellow exclamation mark after installing Windows Updates, it may be necessary to update the driver manually. To do this, you can search online for the latest version of the driver from the manufacturer’s website. It is important to make sure the download is for the exact device you have, as many drivers are model specific. After downloading the driver, double click on it and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
4. Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver
If you have updated the driver manually but are still having issues, it may be necessary to uninstall and reinstall the driver. This can be done by right-clicking on the device and going to Properties. Select Driver and then Uninstall. Once the driver has been uninstalled, reboot the computer and then visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest version of the driver. Double click on the driver file and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
5. Check for Bad Sectors
If none of the above steps resolves the issue, it could be related to bad sectors on the hard drive. To check for bad sectors, open the Command Prompt and type in chkdsk followed by the drive letter (for example, chkdsk c:). Follow the on-screen instructions to run a scan and repair any bad sectors that are found.
6. Use System Restore
If all else fails, you can try using System Restore. This will restore the computer to a time before the driver error occurred. To use this feature, go to the Start menu, type in System Restore, and select the respective link. Follow the onscreen instructions to restore the computer.