How do I fix Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45) error for my second monitor?

Question

My second monitor has been working fine and is vital to my computer usage. Tonight, it stopped working and when I go into my device manager it says my driver is updated but when I click on properties it says "Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)". I have tried unplugging it via the HDMI port and via the power supply and that didn't fix it. I have refreshed the monitors and when I go to settings and my devices it says the monitor is not being detected. When I unplug the HDMI chord the monitor says, "this display will go into standby mode in 4 minutes" and when I plug it back in it says, "scanning for signal, no HDMI1 signal from your device". PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

The error message "Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)" indicates that the device is not present or recognized by the system. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

1. Check Physical Connections: Ensure that the HDMI cable is securely connected to both the monitor and the computer. Try using a different HDMI cable or port if available.
2. Power Cycle the Monitor: Turn off the monitor, unplug it from the power source, wait for a minute, and then plug it back in and turn it on.
3. Check Display Settings: Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings. Click on Detect to see if Windows can find the monitor.
4. Update or Roll Back Drivers: Even if the driver appears updated, you can try uninstalling the device from Device Manager and then restarting your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver. Alternatively, if you recently updated the driver, consider rolling it back to a previous version.
5. Use Device Manager: Open Device Manager, find your monitor under Monitors, right-click it, and select Enable device if it is disabled.
6. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure your Windows is fully updated as updates can sometimes resolve hardware compatibility issues.
7. Try Another Computer: If possible, connect the monitor to another computer to see if it works there. This can help determine if the issue is with the monitor or the original computer.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may indicate a hardware problem with the monitor itself.

---

References:

• Code 45 - CM_PROB_PHANTOM
• When using USB-attached monitor, display configuration may not be retained after reboot
• Code 22 - CM_PROB_DISABLED
• Code 29 - CM_PROB_HARDWARE_DISABLED
• Code 44 - CM_PROB_HALTED

Answer 2

Hello, my name is Jan and I'm happy to help you today. I'm sorry you're having this problem with your monitors. If the initial suggestions don’t resolve the issue, please proceed with the following.

• Power cycle the computer. Shutdown the computer Unplug all external USB devices Press the power button for 10 seconds then unplug your AC adapter for 30 seconds then plug in your adapter. then start your device.
• Try to clean and install the graphics drivers. Download and install the latest graphics driver. Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's site and install it. Also, try the old driver if the latest driver does not work. Select the custom install and perform a clean install option.