How to Troubleshoot a Malfunctioning Driver on Windows

This guide walks you through diagnosing and fixing a malfunctioning Windows driver, whether it’s causing crashes, device errors, or performance issues. You’ll learn the standard troubleshooting sequence—from basic restarts to advanced tools like Device Manager and Event Viewer—and how to apply each step safely.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access to the Windows PC (to install/update drivers).
Internet connection (to download drivers or use Windows Update).
Optional: the device’s model number or a backup driver installer if you have one.

Step-by-Step

Restart the computer. This clears temporary glitches that may be affecting the driver. Save any work and reboot normally.
Identify the problem device. Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Look for devices with a yellow warning triangle or a red X. Expand categories like “Display adapters”, “Network adapters”, or “Universal Serial Bus controllers” to find the culprit.
Check the device status. Right-click the problematic device, select Properties, and go to the General tab. Note the error code (e.g., Code 43, Code 28) and the message. This tells you if the driver is missing, corrupted, or not started.
Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. In Windows 10/11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (or Additional troubleshooters). Select Hardware and Devices and run it. Follow the prompts—it may automatically fix common driver issues.
Update the driver via Device Manager. Right-click the device and choose Update driver. Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will look online and install the best match. If it finds nothing, try Browse my computer for drivers and then Let me pick from a list to choose a compatible driver from a list.
Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website. If Windows Update doesn’t help, go to the device maker’s support site (e.g., NVIDIA, Intel, Realtek, Dell, HP). Find the driver for your exact model and Windows version. Download and run the installer, or use the “Have Disk” option in Device Manager to point to the downloaded file.
Roll back the driver. If the problem started after a recent driver update, go to Device Manager > Properties > Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver. This reverts to the previous version.
Uninstall and reinstall the driver. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Uninstall device. Check the box “Delete the driver software for this device” if you want a clean slate. Then restart the PC—Windows will automatically reinstall the driver. If not, repeat step 5 or 6.
Use System Restore. If the issue persists, restore your PC to a point before the problem appeared. Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu, open it, and click System Restore. Choose a restore point and follow the wizard.
Check Event Viewer for detailed errors. Press Win + X and select Event Viewer. Go to Windows Logs > System and look for errors with a red icon around the time the device failed. The error details may point to a specific driver file (e.g., nvlddmkm.sys for NVIDIA). Search that file online to find targeted fixes.

Common Mistakes

Skipping the restart. Many driver issues are temporary; a reboot is the simplest fix and should always be first.
Downloading drivers from random websites. Always use the manufacturer’s official site or Windows Update. Third-party driver download sites often bundle malware or outdated versions.
Installing the wrong driver version. Check your Windows architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit) and the exact device model. Installing a mismatched driver can cause more errors.
Not uninstalling the old driver before installing a new one. Sometimes leftover files conflict. Use the “Uninstall device” method (step 8) to clean up.
Ignoring Windows Update. Windows Update often includes driver updates. Make sure your system is fully updated before troubleshooting manually.

Tips

Use the manufacturer’s driver detection tool. Many hardware makers (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) offer auto-detect utilities that scan your system and recommend the right driver.
Create a restore point before making major changes. This gives you a safety net if something goes wrong.
Check for Windows optional updates. In Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, you may find driver updates that aren’t installed automatically.
Keep a log of what you tried. If you need to contact support, having a list of steps and error codes saves time.
For display drivers, try a clean install. Tools like NVIDIA’s “Clean Install” option or Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) can remove all traces of the old driver before reinstalling.

Troubleshooting

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, try these additional approaches:

Check for hardware conflicts. In Device Manager, click View > Show hidden devices to see non-present devices. If there are duplicates with errors, uninstall them and restart.
Try a different port or slot. For USB or expansion card devices, a loose connection can mimic driver problems. Reseat the hardware if possible.
Boot into Safe Mode. If the system is unstable, boot into Safe Mode (Shift + Restart) and see if the device works there. If it does, the driver is likely conflicting with another service or startup program.
Use the Windows Driver Verifier. This tool stresses drivers to find problematic ones, but it can cause crashes. Use it only if you’re comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, and be sure to disable it after testing.
Check the manufacturer’s support forums. Often, other users have found fixes for specific driver issues. Search for your error code or device model.
If all else fails, consider a Windows repair install. Use the “Reset this PC” option (keeping your files) or the media creation tool to reinstall Windows while preserving your data. This can fix deep system corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device show a yellow exclamation mark?

That indicates a problem with the driver—it may be missing, corrupted, or not compatible. Follow steps 5–8 to update or reinstall the driver.

How do I know if a driver is outdated?

Check the manufacturer’s website for the latest version, or use Windows Update’s optional updates. Device Manager doesn’t show version numbers directly; you can see them in the Driver tab of the device’s properties.

Is it safe to use third-party driver updater tools?

Generally, no. They often push unwanted software or incorrect drivers. Stick to official sources—Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website.

What does error code 43 mean?

Code 43 means Windows has stopped the device because it reported a problem. It’s often a driver issue, but can also indicate hardware failure. Try updating the driver first; if that fails, test the device on another computer.

Can I delete driver files manually?

No, you should never delete driver files directly. Use Device Manager to uninstall the driver properly, as it also cleans up registry entries and related files.

Why does the driver keep reverting to an older version?

Windows Update may automatically replace a driver with an older one if it’s not signed correctly. You can prevent this by using the Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro) to block automatic driver updates for specific devices, or by using the “Show optional updates” feature to install the correct one.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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