Effective Methods to Resolve Windows Driver Issues
Driver issues can cause system instability and hardware problems in Windows. This article provides effective methods to troubleshoot and fix driver issues, helping ensure your hardware works correctly and improving overall system performance.
Method 1: Update Drivers
Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can lead to performance issues, hardware malfunctions, or system crashes. It is recommended to use Driver Sentry to automatically detect and update drivers, saving time and avoiding the risk of downloading or installing incorrect drivers.
1). Click the download button to get the latest version of Driver Sentry, then open the software and click "Scan".
2). Once the scan is complete, it will show which drivers need to be installed or updated. Find the driver that needs updating and click the "Update" button.
3). After the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure the updated drivers take effect.
Method 2: Reinstall Drivers
Right-click the "Start" menu and select "Device Manager".
In Device Manager, find the problematic device, which is usually marked with a yellow exclamation mark.
Right-click the problematic device and choose "Uninstall device".
If prompted to delete the driver software, select "Delete".
After uninstallation, restart your computer. Windows will attempt to automatically reinstall the drivers upon reboot.
If Windows does not automatically reinstall the drivers, manually download and install the latest drivers from the device manufacturer's website.
Method 3: Use Manufacturer's Drivers
Visit the device manufacturer's official website (e.g., HP, Dell, NVIDIA, AMD).
Look in the "Support" or "Downloads" section for driver download options.
Enter the device model or service number to find the matching driver.
Ensure you select the correct driver for your operating system version.
Download the driver, double-click the installation file, and follow the on-screen instructions.
After installation, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Method 4: Check Windows Updates
Click the "Start" menu and select "Settings".
Go to "Update & Security" in the settings menu.
In the "Windows Update" tab, click the "Check for updates" button.
The system will scan for available updates and automatically download and install driver updates.
After the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Method 5: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
Press Windows + R, type "msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic", and press Enter.
Click "Next" to run the "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter".
The tool will automatically detect and report issues with your computer's hardware and devices. You can choose to fix the detected problems.
Method 6: Roll Back Drivers
Right-click the "Start" menu and select "Device Manager".
Find and right-click the problematic device, and select "Properties".
In the properties window, click on the "Driver" tab and then the "Roll Back Driver" button.
If the button is unavailable, it means the system does not have a previous driver version saved.
If available, confirm the rollback operation, and Windows will restore the previously installed driver version.
Method 7: System Restore
In the Windows search bar, type "Restore" and select "Create a restore point".
In the System Properties window, click the "System Restore" button.
Select a restore point from before the driver issue began, click "Next", and follow the prompts to complete the restore process.
After the restore is complete, the computer will restart. Check if the issue is resolved; if not, try other restore points or further troubleshooting.
Using these methods should fix driver issues and restore your device's functionality. If the problems persist, reach out to the hardware manufacturer's support or check Windows support forums for additional help. This guide aims to resolve driver problems and enhance your computer's performance.
See also:
8 Ways to Fix WiFi Adapter Not Working on Windows 10
Top 5 Methods to Open Task Manager on a Computer
