Indicates the device is in a problem state. A device in a problem state can be functioning. A problem code explaining the problem is displayed for the device.

Indicates a disabled device. A disabled device is a device that is physically present in the system, consuming resources, but does not have a protected-mode driver loaded.

On a device resource in Computer properties, indicates that Use Automatic Settings is not selected for the device and that it was manually selected. It does not indicate a problem or a disabled device state.

This indicates that an exact (device-specific) driver is not available, and that a compatible driver has been installed. This new feature was implemented so that you can use the device, even if an exact driver is not available. Note that this applies only to Windows Millennium Edition (Me). Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q275012 Description of Green (yellow) Question Mark in Device Manager explains this issue.

Error code

Error description

Suggested resolution

Code 1:

This code means the system has not had a chance to configure the device.

To resolve the problem, follow the instructions in the Device Status box. In addition, you may be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager, and running the Add New Hardware wizard from Control Panel.

Code 2:

Depending on which device is failing, you may see either of two different messages. This code means that the device loader (DevLoader) did not load a device. When this device is a Root Bus DevLoader (for example, ISAPNP, PCI, or BIOS), the following message is displayed: "Windows could not load the driver for this device because the computer is reporting two <type> bus types. (Code 2) "

Contact the computer manufacturer to get an updated BIOS for the computer, where <type> is ISAPNP, PCI, BIOS, EISA, or ACPI.

Code 2:

When the device is not a root bus DevLoader, the following message is displayed: "The <type> device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver. (Code 2) "

To fix this, click Update Driver. To update the device driver where <type> is the DevLoader such as FLOP, ESDI, SCSI, and so on.

In addition to this recommended solution, try removing the device from Device Manager and running the Add New Hardware wizard from Control Panel.

Code 3:

This code means the driver for this device is bad; system is running low on memory.

As an alternative, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 4:

This code means that the .inf file for this device is incorrect or the registry may be damaged. For example, the .inf file specifies a field that should be text, but is binary instead.

To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer for an updated .inf file.

Code 5:

This code means there was a device failure due to the lack of an arbitrator. If a device requests a resource type for which there is no arbitrator, you receive this error code.

To resolve this error code, update the driver as suggested, or use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 6:

This code means there is a conflict between this device and another device.

To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Code 7:

This code means that no configuration can be performed on the device.

If the device works correctly, you do not need to perform any steps to correct the code. If the device does not work correctly, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code and the device does not function properly, check with the hardware's manufacturer or the Microsoft Software Library for an updated driver.

Error code

Error description

Suggested resolution

Code 8:

This code means the device loader (DevLoader) for a device could not be found. For example, the .inf file for the device may refer to a missing or invalid file.

For most cases, the resolution is to reinstall or update the driver. As an alternative, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code, contact the hardware's manufacturer about updated drivers.

Code 8:

When the problem DevLoader is a system DevLoader

Windows should be re-installed because this driver is built into the Vmm32.vxd file.

Note: A system DevLoader is one that is part of Vmm32.vxd, and typically begins with an asterisk (*).

Code 8:

If the DevLoader is a system DevLoader, the following text is displayed: This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the file <name> that loads the drivers for the device.

To fix this problem, run Windows Setup again using your Windows CD-ROM. where <name> is the system DevLoader that cannot be found.

Code 9:

This code means the information in the registry for this device is invalid.

It may be possible to resolve this error by using Device Manager to remove the device, and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code, contact the hardware's manufacturer for the proper registry settings.

Code 10:

This code means the device failed to start (for example, it is missing or is not working properly).

To resolve this error code, make sure the device is attached to the computer correctly. For example, make sure all cables are plugged in fully and that all adapter cards are plugged into their slots fully.

Follow the suggested solution button and update the device driver. It may be possible to remove the device and re-detect it using the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 11:

This code means the device failed.

To resolve this error, run the Automatic Skip Driver utility from the System Information tool.

If the problem persists, contact the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers.

Code 12:

This code means one of the resource arbitrators failed. This can occur if the device is software configurable and it does not currently have a resource. If the system is out of resources (for example, all the interrupts are in use), or if the device requests a resource and that resource is currently in use by another device, that will not release the resource.

To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Code 13:

This code means the device failed due to a problem in the device driver.

To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Error Code

Error description

Suggested resolution

Code 14:

This code means the device has a problem that may be resolved by restarting your computer.

To resolve this error code, shut down Windows, turn off your computer, then turn it back on.

Code 15:

This code means the device's resources are conflicting with another device's resources.

To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Code 16:

This code means the device was not fully detected. When a device is not fully detected, all of its resources may not be recorded.

To resolve this error code, click the Resources tab in the device's properties to manually enter the settings.

Code 17:

This code means the hardware is a multiple-function device and the .inf file for the device is providing invalid information on how to split the device's resources to the child devices.

To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer about an updated .inf file.

Code 18:

This code means that an error has occurred and the device needs to be reinstalled.

To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution. If that does not work, try removing the device from Device Manager and run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 19:

This code means the registry returned an unknown result.

To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution, which will run Scanreg.exe.

If this does not resolve the issue, type scanreg/restore from a command prompt (more information about ScanReg).

Finally, remove the device from Device Manager, and re-detect it using the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 20:

This code means VxD Loader (Vxdldr) returned an unknown result. For example, there could be a version mismatch between the device driver and the operating system.

To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution.

If that does not work, try removing the device from Device Manager and run the Add New Hardware wizard in the Control Panel.

Code 21:

This code means the device has a problem that may be resolved by restarting your computer.

To resolve this error code, shut down Windows, turn off your computer, then turn it back on.

Error code

Error description

Suggested resolution

Code 22

This code means the device is disabled.

To resolve this error code, enable the device. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In Windows XP, click Start, and then right-click My Computer. In Windows 95, 98, and Me, right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop.

2. Select Properties.

3. In Windows XP, click the Hardware tab, and then the Device Manager button. In Windows 95, 98, and Me, click the Device Manager tab.

4. Double-click the category for the device you want to enable, and double-click the device.

5. In the Device Usage box, select the check box for the configuration in which you want to enable the device.

6. Click OK, then click Close.

7. Shut down Windows, and restart your computer.

If this does not work, try removing the device in Device Manager, then re-detecting it using the Add New Hardware wizard.

If the problem persists, try a clean boot to rule out software interference.

If the error persists, contact the hardware manufacturer.

Code 23:

This code means the device loader delayed the start of a device and then failed to inform Windows when it was ready to start the device.

To resolve this error code, verify the settings for the primary display adapter in Display properties. Try removing the primary and secondary display adapters from Device Manager, and then restarting to allow Windows to re-enumerate these devices.

Verify that the drivers are current and installed correctly.

For devices other than display adapters, follow the recommended solution.

If that does not work, try removing the device from Device Manager and using the Add New Hardware wizard to re-detect the device.

Code 24:

This code means that the device was not found (for example, it is missing or is not working properly).

To resolve this error code, follow the recommended solutions.

If the device still does not work, make sure that the device is connected to your computer correctly. For example, make sure that all cables are correctly installed, or that the adapter cards are properly seated in their slots.

Code 25:

This problem typically exists only during the first and second boots after Windows Setup copies all the files. As such, if this code is identified, it is likely an incomplete installation.

To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution. Reinstalling Windows may be required, depending on whether or not the reboot resolves the issue.

Code 26:

This code means a device did not load. There may be a problem in the device driver or not all the drivers were installed.

To resolve this error code, follow the recommended solution. If this does not work, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware tool in the Control Panel.

If you continue to receive this error code, check with the hardware's manufacturer or the Microsoft Software Library for an updated driver.

Code 27:

This code means the portion of the registry describing possible resources for a device does not contain valid entries. For example, the device is marked as configurable, but the configuration information in the .inf file is set to hardwired.

To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device then run the Add New Hardware wizard in the Control Panel.

If the device still does not work, consult the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers or further assistance.

Code 28:

This code means the device was not installed completely.

To resolve this issue, follow the recommended solution. If that does not work, try removing the device from Device Manager and using the Add New Hardware wizard to re-detect it.

You may need to obtain updated drivers if the error still occurs.

Error code

Error description

Suggested resolution

Code 29:

This code means the device has been disabled because the device does not work properly and cannot be made to work properly with Windows.

You may be able to resolve this error code by enabling or disabling the device in the computer's CMOS settings.

Windows cannot override this setting. Please contact the computer's manufacturer for assistance with using the computer's CMOS setup program.

Code 30:

This code means that an IRQ cannot be shared. This may occur when a PCI/EISA SCSI controller is sharing an IRQ that is also in use by a real-mode device driver that Windows cannot change.

To resolve this error code, remove the real-mode driver that is using the same IRQ as this device.

The real-mode driver may be loading in the Config.sys or Autoexec.bat file.

Code 31:

This code appears when a device is dependent on another device to be functioning correctly. This does not include devices that are enumerated by the parent device.

The Properties button displays the properties for the other device. More than likely, the other device will also have one of these Device Manager error codes.

Follow all the recommended solutions. If the devices still do not work, remove them from Device Manager and use the Add New Hardware wizard to re-detect them.

Finally, consult with the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers.

Code 32:

This code indicates that the installation disk or CD-ROM was not available to install the drivers. For example, the CD-ROM drive or network connection is not available.

This error typically occurs during the first or second reboot after all the files are copied during Setup.

To resolve this issue, first attempt to restart as suggested.

If this does not resolve the problem, determine why the installation disk or CD-ROM is not available.

Typically, these devices also have Device Manager codes (such as the CD-ROM controller or network adapter).

Resolve the issue to gain access to the installation disk or CD-ROM prior to resolving this conflict.

Code 33:

This code typically is displayed when the hardware has failed.

Consult with the manufacturer of the affected hardware.