Installing Network Drivers (VPN, Realtek) make my pc unusable

Question

Everytime I install a driver that modifies something related to network it completely ruins my pc (Makes UAC take minutes to show up, task manager stops working, windows explorer stops working) after all this happening it then starts and kills the explorer repeteadly, i can't turn off the pc while this is happening unless i press the power button but if i do press it i then get a BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO bsod, this issue started happening a while ago out of nowhere and stays there even after i fully reset windows, it can't be any third party software since i already tried installing a vpn driver just after windows installation was completed (usb bootable) and it still breaks

UPDATE: I get the error "Too many other files are currently in use by 16-bit programs. Exit one or more 16-bit programs, or increase the value of the FILES command in your config.sys file." after pressing restart and then cancelling the restart

***moved form Windows / Windows 10 / Performance and system failures***

Answer 1

Hello，

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Based on the problem you described, it seems that your computer is experiencing severe system instability while installing network-related drivers. Here are some possible causes and solutions:

1. The network driver you installed may not be compatible with the current version of Windows or other hardware. Some drivers can cause system resource conflicts, which can cause crashes. It is recommended that you press the F8 key when you start the computer to enter safe mode. In safe mode, try uninstalling the recently installed network driver. Or visit the hardware manufacturer's official website to download and install the latest drivers. Make sure to select a driver that is compatible with your version of Windows.
2. The Windows system files may have been corrupted, causing problems while installing new drivers. Even if you reset Windows, there may still be problems with some files. It is recommended that you open a command prompt (as an administrator) and enter the following commands:

sfc /scannow

This will scan and repair corrupted system files.

3. Certain hardware failures, such as memory module, hard drive, or motherboard issues, can also cause system instability, especially when operating under high loads.
4. The "Too many other files are currently in use by 16-bit programs" error you mentioned indicates that the system is having trouble handling 16-bit programs. This could be related to some old software or drivers. If you don't need to run a 16-bit program, you can try disabling support for 16-bit programs in your system settings.

If none of the above works, consider doing a clean Windows installation, making sure you don't install any drivers immediately after installation, adding them gradually, and testing them out.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Regards,

Jill Zhou