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

HFS! You are a miracle worker.  I've researched this problem for days all the while my machine got worse and worse and worse. Another interesting factoid was that the boot and power off cycles were getting faster and faster.

I don't know how you came across this as a 'potential fix' but I'm one of the faithful now.

My not-so-old machine was 'upgraded' to Win10 and the "drivers already installed" was taking down each of my USB connected devices one-at-a-time. It wasn't the USB devices, they worked on my other Win10 machine.  I applied your fix AND did a power button kill (rather than a shutdown via the OS software), at the same chanting DIE YOU ****.  On boot the machine took a long, long time to come up, compared to its previous character of super fast power down and boot.

One of these three things did it. Let's see if the fix holds.

Answer 2

if only i knew which one i had plugged in 

i have dozens of usb drives

all over the house

no way am i going to try all of them

tell microcrap to bleeping remove that program from memory so the new version will run

how does a program stay in memory after a POR?

Answer 3

Thank you Praseetha, your solution works in my case. I think that in other case a malware scanning may work.

Answer 4

Hi Prakhar,

Thank you for the updates.

1. Does the issue occur with other USB devices connected to the system?
2. Have you tried to uninstall all the USB devcies controller and chipset drives to the latest version?

You may try installing the lates version of Chipset drivers from HP Support Website and also install the BIOS updates.

Important: Modifying BIOS (Basic input output system)/complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of BIOS/CMOS settings can be solved. Modifications of the settings are at your own risk.

Also check for and install the avialable Windows Updates.

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

Answer 5

i am facing the same problem.i have updated my drivers ,reinstalled them and still face the same problem from time to time.though it happens very randomly,it occurs anytime ,anywhere without any specific reason.recognition sound is played when i connect and disconnect the device but laptop fails to read the pen-drive connected.this issue is solved only when i restart my laptop.please provide some solution.