Fixing Driver Issues in Windows

Fixing Driver Issues in Windows

Introduction

Having issues with device drivers in Windows can be frustrating. Drivers allow your hardware components like graphics cards, printers, and more to communicate properly with the operating system. When they stop working correctly, it can cause crashes, slowdowns, and devices to not function at all. Thankfully, there are a number of ways I can troubleshoot and fix many common Windows driver problems. In this article, I will provide an in-depth look at the causes of driver issues and the best methods for resolving them.

Identifying Driver Problems

The first step is identifying that you do indeed have a driver issue. Here are some common symptoms of a driver problem in Windows:

  • A device like a printer, scanner, or accessories is not being detected at all
  • A device is detected but not functioning properly, like a webcam not working correctly
  • Frequent and seemingly random crashes or blue screens
  • Errors mentioning specific drivers failing
  • Severe graphical glitches or issues with games/applications
  • Windows taking much longer than usual to boot up

If I am experiencing any of those issues, it’s very likely a driver problem is the culprit.

Using Device Manager

The Windows Device Manager is the main place I should check for driver problems. I can open it by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Device Manager”.

Inside Device Manager, I should look for any devices marked with a yellow exclamation point. This indicates a driver issue with that device. I should expand each category and double check for any warning symbols.

Updating Drivers

Once I’ve determined there is a driver issue, the first solution I should try is updating the drivers. Here are a few ways I can get the latest drivers:

Using Windows Update

Windows Update will often automatically install improved drivers. I should check for any available updates to see if new drivers are ready to install.

I can do this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking Check for Updates. Install any available driver updates.

Manufacturer’s Website

If Windows Update doesn’t have new drivers available, I should try downloading the latest versions directly from the manufacturer. I can look up the support site for the specific hardware device and search for driver updates.

For example, if I have an Nvidia graphics card, I would go to Nvidia’s website, find my specific card model, and see if they have any newer drivers to install.

Device Manager Updates

I can also update drivers directly through Device Manager. I should right-click the device showing issues, select “Update driver”, then choose to search automatically for updated driver software.

Windows will search for available driver updates online and install them.

Uninstalling Problem Drivers

If updating the drivers does not resolve the issues I am having, I may need to uninstall the current drivers completely:

  • In Device Manager, right-click the problematic device and choose Uninstall Device
  • Make sure to check the box to “Delete the driver software for this device”
  • Restart the computer and Windows will reinstall the driver, often fixing any issues

This will fully remove the current drivers and reinstall a fresh working version when I reboot.

Using the DISM Tool

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a powerful command-line tool that can fix many Windows problems, including broken drivers.

To use it to repair drivers:

  • Open an Admin Command Prompt
  • Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • DISM will scan Windows for issues and automatically fix any damaged drivers

This can often resolve even stubborn driver problems that other methods cannot fix.

Rolling Back Drivers

If I recently updated a driver and immediately started having problems, I can roll back to the previous version:

  • Open Device Manager, right-click the device and choose Properties
  • Go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver
  • This will revert back to the older driver that was working correctly

Rolling back drivers can resolve issues that appeared after a problem driver update.

Performing a Clean Boot

Sometimes other software can conflict with drivers and cause problems. Performing a clean boot will prevent all unnecessary software from starting up alongside Windows:

  • Open msconfig (Start menu search for “msconfig”)
  • Go to the Services tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services”
  • Uncheck any remaining services you do not need
  • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager
  • Disable any startup apps you do not need
  • Restart the computer and test if the driver issues continue

This isolates Windows and drivers from other software/processes that may be interfering and causing problems.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting driver issues can be complex, but using the right steps can often narrowly down and fix the problem:

  • Identify symptoms of driver problems
  • Verify issues in Device Manager
  • Update drivers from Windows, manufacturers, or Device Manager
  • Uninstall and reinstall faulty drivers
  • Use DISM scan and repair tool
  • Roll back recently updated drivers
  • Perform a clean boot procedure

Taking the time to methodically try each solution will usually resolve even severe driver problems in Windows. With the right device drivers properly installed, my system will be stable and all hardware performing optimally once again.

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