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

Here is an even better solution.  How about Microsoft stops dropping the ball.  If the instance happens on multiple devices that have no issue elsewhere, odds are the problem is Microsoft and all their ignorance.  Learn, update your garbage.  Maybe then Microsoft will stop driving people to Mac and Linux.  And they wonder why their stock has been declining as of late. 

win 8 is a POS for sure

it has been all getting worse since xp

Answer 2

[Problem solved for Windows 10] with picture attached

Hey guys!

Whoever still having the issue with their external hard disk storage won't awake / not detected after PC or laptop go to sleep..

So I'm a Windows 10 user and I just found out the solution that solve my problem after sometime searching for it.. What you need to is, you need to turn off the sleep mode for the hard disk in Power Plan Setting, here's how:

1. Search for 'Power Options' from your desktop search bar, click
2. Click Change Plan Settings -> Change Advanced Power Settings and make sure you change the hard disk setting 'Turn off hard disk after' to 'Never' for all of the power plan setting available. for example: '[Your Computer Brand] Active' & 'High Performance' and click Apply before you close the window.
3. Restart. Hope it helps.

Answer 3

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.

I have just had a similar problem with Windows 10 , however I was using "External" USB connected hard drives.

What was once recognised, no longer worked, found this and similar threads - looked at device manager etc. not much joy, shutdown restart etc. no help,  then decided to plug in original external hard drive and restart computer with external hard drive attached

• problem solved - the driver for this unit was in the memory. After waiting for "safe to remove hard drive" all subsequent hard drives now recognised, can't guarantee it will fix your problems but worth a try.

Answer 4

no .i don't need assistance to install BIOS updates,it was successfully installed into my laptop,but i am still facing the same problem even after that.

Answer 5

yes it occurs with other usb devices too(pen drive,external mouse, external keyboard).issue occurs in all 3 usb ports .once it occurs ,it doesn't matter to which port i am connecting my usb devices or how many usb devices i am connecting simultaneously, it won't work,the issue is resolved only when i restart.

how should i install BIOS update properly?how would i know they are correctly installed?and what should i do in case if CMOS settings are incorrectly installed?