Recipe 3.19. Interpreting Device Manager Error Codes

Problem

One or more hardware devices are not functioning and you find error codes in the Properties for the device in Device Manager.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

1. Click Start, then right-click My Computer, and select Properties.

2. Select the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.

3. Locate and expand the device type of interest Network adapters, or other.

4. Locate the device of interest, right-click it, and select Properties.

5. Under Device Status you will see either "The device is working properly" or error codes related to the type of failure, which may be interpreted and acted upon from the details provided at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310123.

6. Translating the error codes into corrective steps typically reveals the need to replace or update the device driver, reinitializing Plug and Play as detailed in Recipe 3.1, or powering off both the PC and the device and restarting them to clear a hardware malfunction.

7. After taking the appropriate corrective step indicated by Microsoft's error code translations, follow steps 1 through 5 above to verify that the driver is working properly.

Discussion

We wish Microsoft and most PC experts who do know what these error codes mean would put them into plain English, but cryptic numeric error codes seem to be the norm. Errors such as those listed above are not uncommon, and neither are their causes, or the solutions. Most such errors are the result of changes in the system, or the occasional outright failure of a system component or peripheral. If the suggested fixes are ineffective it is time to consider replacing the afflicted component.

See Also

The Windows XP Resource Kit online documentation provides a wealth of information about Device Manager and device troubleshooting at http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/ Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/ prjk_dec_lgsc.asp.