Error code 38: Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the device driver and the flash disk doesn`t work.

Question

Original title: Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the device driver

please help,

after installing windows 8 on my laptop,it works very good

but after while it dosen`t read any flash disk i connected it with my lap.

and it appears this in properties in devices and printers

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the device driver

is still in memory.(Code 38)  The driver could not be loaded because a previous version of the driver is still in memory.

Answer 1

i can fix 100% 

1. Go to Device Manager 
2.  Right click to USB Composite Device   that is not yellow mark 
3. choose Browse my computer for driver software
4. choose  Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer

5.  choose USB Composite Device --->  choose Next 

6. Restart

Reference  :  http://pantip.com/topic/35431688     <----  You can see picture on this web.  Ps. I do this quickly. may be a little bit understand  but i want to help u. I swear.

Answer 2

hi , i had this problem with my USB external sound-card and i found a sollution i hope it works for you :

1. open windows search tab

2. search for "driver"

3. select "Update device drivers"

4. Under "Universal Serial Bus controllers" try to find the driver with the yellow triangle in front , if you don't find try to reconnect your USB device

5. right click the driver with yellow triangle and click "disable" then "ok" and now it should show a black arrow facing down on the driver icon

6. now right click on the driver icon again and click "Update driver software..."

7. select the option that will search for updates on the computer not automatically

8. browse for the C: folder and select it (to search in it) and it will reinstall the driver and tell to restart the computer and after restart the problem is solved :D

Answer 3

the option under the Universal Serial Bus Controller are:

AMD USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller-0096(Microsoft)

AMD USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller-0096(Microsoft)

Standard Enhanced PCI to USB host controller

Standard Enhanced PCI to USB host controller

Standard OpenHCD USB host controller

Standard OpenHCD USB host controller

USB Composite Device

USB Composite Device

USB Root Hub

USB Root Hub

USB Root Hub

USB Root Hub

USB Root Hub(xHCI)

USB Root Hub(xHCI)

i uninstalled only all four "USB Root Hub" devices and restarted ,still facing the same problem.am i supposed uninstall all other device options(amd usb 3.0,standard enhanced pci,etc) too?or should i leave some of them as they are?

Answer 4

first thanks for your help , but i 'v allready tried all what you v said , and no result am very sad i wanted to try windows 8 and i will buy later but i dont know where is the problem i instaled the windows 3 times and got it from microsoft site (enterprise edition 86x trial 90 days) my lap is toshiba satellite l645 s4032 my be my laptop not supported by windows .i dont know really i tired from this problem i want to know how it works at first and suddenly stops and didn`t face any problem like that in windows 7, and thanks again

Answer 5

Hi Prakhar,

What is the make and model of the computer?

Since the issue persists, you may try to uninstall all the other devices under the USB controllers and check.

Also update chipset drivers for windows 8 from the computer manufacturer’s website.

Hope the information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance with Windows related issues. We will be happy to help.