1. Restart your computer.
Restarting your computer is the most basic solution to fixing a stuck device driver. It will force the device driver to reinitialize upon reboot, and may fix any underlying issues that have caused it to become stuck.
2. Update the device driver.
If the computer is restarted and the stuck device driver is still present, updating the device driver may help fix the issue. This can be done through the Device Manager in the Control Panel, as well as through the hardware manufacturer’s website. Make sure to download and install the latest version of the driver for your specific device.
3. Uninstall and reinstall the device driver.
If simply updating the driver does not work, it may be necessary to completely uninstall and reinstall it. This can be done through the Device Manager in the Control Panel, or the hardware manufacturer’s website. Once it has been uninstalled, download and reinstall the latest version of the driver.
4. Roll back your device driver.
Rolling back your device driver involves reverting the driver to an earlier version, as this may fix any compatibility issues with the newer version. This can be done through the Device Manager in the Control Panel.
5. Use a driver updater tool.
If you are having difficulty updating or reinstalling drivers manually, a driver updater tool can be used to automatically search and update drivers on your machine. However, these tools are often unreliable and can cause further problems if the driver is already stuck.
6. Use the System Restore function.
The System Restore function rolls back Windows to a previous point in time, which may fix any changes that were made to the device driver that may have caused it to become stuck. This feature can be found in the System Properties tab of the Control Panel.
7. Check for viruses or malware.
It is possible that viruses or malware on your system may be causing the stuck device driver. Use an antivirus or antimalware scan to check for any malicious files or infections that could be causing the issue.
8. Check Device Manager for hidden devices.
Sometimes, stuck device drivers may be hidden in the Device Manager. To view these hidden drivers, open the Device Manager, rightclick on Computer, choose Scan for Hardware Changes, and select Show Hidden Devices.
9. Manually edit the registry.
Editing the registry is a more advanced solution to fixing a stuck device driver. However, manual edits to the registry should only be attempted by experienced users, as it can cause further damage if done incorrectly.
10. Try a different USB port.
If the stuck device driver is for a USB device, try plugging it into a different USB port. This is a quick and easy way to fix the issue without having to make any major changes.