Fix Code 43 Error: Windows Has Stopped This Device Because It Has Reported Problems

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43). Have you encountered this error on your computer system stating? This hardware error problem occurs when your device driver has reported to Windows that the device isn’t working correctly. This may mean that the device has an unspecified hardware issue or that the driver or driver software fails.

This error mainly happens in devices such as USB devices, Bluetooth devices, hard disks (HDD), external SSDs, and graphics cards. For example, an Nvidia graphics card, a USB device such as a printer, external hard drive, or media player.

The Code 43 error is one of numerous Device Manager error codes. Windows stop some devices automatically when it detects issues in any hardware, which is why the system has disabled that device and gives the user a “Code 43” error. In Device Manager, you can view a yellow exclamation mark or a red cross against that device.

Below is a step-by-step viable solution and guide on how to fix Code 43 error “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems,” from Windows XP to Windows 11. Before that we need to identify the issue and why it is happening. 

How to identify Code 43 problem on your device?

Initially, you may want to do is check whether Code 43 is indeed the error message that is causing the problem. To do so, you need to open the Windows Device Manager on your computer system:

How to open Device Manager on Windows

1. Press the Windows + R key, type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter on the keyboard.
2. Device Manager will open on your desktop screen and if the device manager does not highlight a problematic device, check the Display Adapters and Universal Serial Bus Controllers sections first.
3. Device Manager may highlight the problematic device with a yellow exclamation mark, but that may not be the case all the time.
4. Double-click on a device to open its Properties.
5. The properties window highlights the device’s status on the General tab. Check it to find out whether Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (code 43) is listed there as the status of the device.

Additional error messages or information may be listed there, for instance, “The USB device returned an invalid USB configuration descriptor”.

What is Code 43 error in Windows?

The “Code 43” error is a device manager error, where it has been reported that a device is not working correctly. The error occurs because the system could not detect connected devices in the computer. Errors like these are usually due to outdated drivers, faulty USB devices, devices that haven’t been configured correctly, or actual hardware failure. It is one of the contributing reasons for BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). It will almost always display in the following way:

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

The Code 43 error could apply to any hardware device in Device Manager, though most Code 43 errors appear on video cards and USB devices like printers, iPhones, webcams, Bluetooth keyboards and mouse, and related peripherals.

Details on Device Manager error codes like Code 43 are available when you view a device’s status in its properties.

Important: Device Manager error codes are exclusive to Device Manager. If you see the Code 43 error elsewhere in Windows, chances are it’s a system error code, which you should not troubleshoot as a Device Manager problem.

Note: Any of Microsoft’s operating systems could experience a Code 43 Device Manager error, including Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and more.

How To Fix Code 43 Error – Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems

Follow these steps in order, to resolve a Code 43 error. Because this message is generic, standard troubleshooting steps come first.

1. Restart your computer.
2. Plug the device into a different computer.
3. Rollback the device driver. 
4. Disable and re-enable the device.
5. Uninstall and Reinstall the device driver.
6. Update the device driver. 
7. Power Management.
8. Disable the USB selective suspend setting.
9. Install the latest Windows service pack. 
10. Update BIOS.
11. Replace the data cable that connects the device to the PC.
12. Purchase a powered USB hub if the Code 43 error is showing up for a USB device.
13. Replace the hardware.
14. Another possibility, your device is incompatible with your version of Windows.
15. Hard Reset Your Computer System.

Before You Start: You may want to retrace your steps before the error code is thrown. For example, did you install a new device driver, update Windows, install a new software program, switch cables or move the hardware component to another USB port? If you come up with something that may have caused the issue, you may be close to a solution. Something like installing a new driver may probably cause the problem.

1. Restart your computer/ laptop

Restart your computer if you haven’t done so already. There is always the chance that the error Code 43 you see on a device was caused by some temporary problem with the hardware. If so, a restart of your PC might fix the Code 43 error.

Note: Some people have also reported that powering off their computer completely (not just a restart) and then turning it back on has corrected their Code 43 warning if it sources from a USB device. In the case of a laptop, turn it off and remove the battery, wait a few minutes, and then put the battery back in and start the computer.

2. Plug the device into a different computer

Plug the device into a different computer and then properly eject it from there. Then, plug it back into your computer to see if it fixes the Code 43 error. If you have another computer to test this on, be sure to try this before moving on to the more complicated steps mentioned below.

3. Rollback the device driver

Did you install a device or make a change in Device Manager just before the Code 43 error appeared? If a device update was recently installed, or you updated your device driver or driver software, you might be able to fix the problem by rolling back the device driver to the previous version.

Depending on the changes you made, some solutions might include:

• Removing or reconfiguring the newly installed device
• Using System Restore to undo recent Device Manager related changes
• Rolling back the driver to a version prior to your update

The process as explained below is the same no matter what driver you need to roll back, whether it be an NVIDIA video card driver, advanced keyboard/mouse driver, etc.

Steps to the rollback device driver in Windows

Step 1: Tap and hold or right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

Step 2: On the list of devices, find the device that’s having driver problems (it will often have a yellow exclamation point next to it).

Step 3: Double-click on a device to open its Properties.

Step 4: Select driver.

Step 5: Now, select Roll Back Driver and click OK.

Information: If the Roll Back Driver button is disabled, Windows doesn’t have a previous driver to roll back to, so you won’t be able to complete this process. Unfortunately, the Roll Back Driver feature is not available for printer drivers. It works only for hardware that’s managed within Device Manager. Additionally, this only allows you to roll back a driver once.

In other words, Windows only keeps a copy of the very last driver installed. It doesn’t store an archive of all the previously installed drivers for the device.

Note: Windows 11 installs drivers automatically, so you don’t have to select which updates are needed. In rare cases, a specific driver might temporarily cause difficulties on your device. In this situation, you can stop the problematic driver from reinstalling the next time Windows updates automatically by rolling back to a previous version.

4. Disable and re-enable the device

Disable the device in Device Manager and then re-enable it. This step provides Windows with a chance to take a fresh look at configuring the device. This might sound like a straightforward fix, and that’s because it is. However, this procedure might be all the computer needs to correct the Code 43 error.

• How to Enable Disabled Device in Device Manager in Windows
• How to Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows

5. Uninstall and reinstall the device driver

In some cases, uninstalling and reinstalling the driver fixes the error: Uninstalling and then reinstalling the drivers for the device is a possible solution to a Code 43 error.

Step 1: Tap and hold or right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the list of results.

Step 2: On the list of devices, find the device with driver problems (it will often have a yellow exclamation point next to it).

Step 3: Then tap and hold or right-click the device and select Uninstall Device> OK.

Step 4: After the driver uninstalls, tap and hold or right-click the name of your PC (found at the top of the device list) and select Scan for hardware changes. This reinstalls the device driver.

Step 5: To see if this fixed the problem, tap and hold or right-click the device’s name again. On the General tab under Device status, you should see the message This device is working properly.

Important: If a USB device is generating the Code 43 error, uninstall every device under the Universal Serial Bus controllers hardware category in Device Manager as part of the driver reinstall. This includes any USB Mass Storage Device, USB Host Controller, and USB Root Hub.

Note: Properly reinstalling a driver, as in the instructions linked above, is not the same as simply updating a driver. A full driver reinstall involves completely removing the currently installed driver and then letting Windows install it over again from scratch.

If you don’t see this message, see the device documentation or contact the manufacturer.

6. Update the device driver

It’s also possible that installing the latest drivers for the device could correct the Code 43 error. Driver updates for Windows 11 and 10 and many devices (such as network adapters, printers, monitors, and video cards) are downloaded automatically and installed over Windows Update.

Many of these errors are hardware problems and can be fixed by just updating your device drivers. However it’s likely you already have the latest driver; if you’re facing trouble with a device, you can try solving it by updating the driver.

Step 1: Tap and hold or right-click the Start button, and then select Device Manager.

Step 2: On the list of devices, find the device with driver problems (it will often have a yellow exclamation point next to it).

Step 3: Then tap and hold or right-click the device and select Properties.

Step 4: Select Driver, and then select Update Driver.

Step 5: Select Search automatically for updated driver software. If a driver update is found, it will automatically install. Select Close when it finishes installing.

If Windows doesn’t find a new driver for the device, you can try looking for one on the device manufacturer’s official website and follow their steps to install it.

7. Power Management in Device Manager

If you use a desktop or laptop, or any power plan but high performance, the save power feature may be responsible for devices throwing the error code 43.

Step 1: Open the Device Manager once more, and locate the USB Root Hub components under Universal Serial Bus controllers there.

Step 2: Double-click on the first USB Root Hub device listed there, and select Properties from the options.

Step 3: Switch to the Power Management tab when the new window opens, and remove the checkmark from “allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

Step 4: Click on ok to finalize the process, and repeat it for any other USB Root Hub device listed.

8. Power Management via Power Options

The second power management feature that you may want to check is found in the Power Options.

1. Press Windows + R keys, type powercfg.cpl, and hit the Enter key. This opens the Power Options on Windows PCs.
2. Find the power plan that is active, and click on the Change plan settings link next to it.
3. On the next page, select Change advanced power settings.
4. Navigate to USB Settings > USB selective suspend setting in the Power Options window that opens, and switch the settings to disabled (you may see two, on battery, and plugged in).
5. Click on Apply to complete the process.

9. Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

The default setting in Windows 10 is to conserve power by suspending the power supply to inactive USB devices. However, this power-saving setting can sometimes lead to Code 43 and other types of USB Device Not Recognized Errors in Windows 10. Here’s how to disable USB selective suspend settings on Windows:

1. Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep, scroll down, and click on the Additional Power Settings link.
2. On the Power Options screen, click on Change Plan Settings link located next to the current Power Plan.
3. Next, click on the Change Advanced Power Settings link.
4. On the next screen, click on USB Settings > USB selective suspend setting and select the disabled option for Plugged In and also for On Battery in case you are using a Laptop.
5. Click on OK to save the above settings.

10. Install the latest Windows Service Pack

One of Microsoft’s service packs or other patches for Windows might contain a fix for whatever might be causing the Code 43 error, so if you’re not fully updated, do so now.

11. Update BIOS

In some situations, an outdated BIOS could be causing a specific issue with a device that’s making it report a problem to Windows—thus the Code 43 error.

12. Replace the data cable that connects the device with the PC

Replace the data cable that connects the device to the computer, assuming it has one. This potential fix for a Code 43 error is most often helpful if you see the error on an external device like a USB or FireWire device.

13. Purchase a powered USB hub if the Code 43 error is showing up for a USB device

Purchase a powered USB hub if the Code 43 error is screening up for a USB device. Some USB devices need more power than the USB ports that are built into your laptop or desktop can provide. Plugging those devices into a powered USB hub resolves that challenge.

14. Replace the hardware

A problem with the device itself might be causing the Code 43 error, in which case replacing the hardware is your next logical step. In most cases, this is the solution to a Code 43 error but try the easier and free software-based troubleshooting ideas first.

Note: If you’re positive that a hardware problem isn’t causing the Code 43 error, you could try a repair install of Windows. If that doesn’t work, try a clean install of Windows. We don’t recommend doing either before you replace the hardware, but you may have to give them a try if you’re out of other options.

15. Device is incompatible with your version of Windows

Another likelihood, while not very likely, is that the device is incompatible with your version of Windows. You can always check the Windows HCL to be sure.

16. Hard reset your computer system

If a Code 43 error problem is occurring for an external device, hard resetting your computer can solve this problem. Here’s how to do a hard reset on your PC:

Steps to hard reset your computer system

1. Shut down your computer completely.
2. Unplug the power cable from your system.
3. After that, unplug all the external peripherals (like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth dongle, webcam, printer, etc.) from your system.
4. Once done, press and hold the power button to power-start the system. This process is called hard resetting a computer.
5. After waiting for a minute, plug in your system to the connection.
6. Then, plug in the problematic hardware device to another USB port.
7. Now, switch ON your desktop or computer.
8. Once your computer boots up normally, check if you are still facing the error code 43.

What Microsoft Has To Say About Code 43 on Windows

Microsoft published a technical explanation for the error code 43 on Windows on its Hardware Dev Center website, where it reveals that a driver that controls the device informs the Windows operating system that the device failed.

The Microsoft Windows USB Core Team published a blog post “Why does my USB device work on Windows 8.0 but fail on Windows 8.1 with code 43” after the launch of Windows 8.1 in which it provided information on code 43 errors after upgrading from Windows 8.1 to 8.

A few USB devices when connected to a port of an Enhanced Host Controller (EHCI) might not enumerate on Windows 8.1 but work on Windows 8. In Windows 8.1, the failure is reported as error code 43 in Device Manager. One of the reasons is that the device reports itself as supporting a USB version greater than 2.00, but does not provide the required BOS descriptor.

Microsoft highlights another cause for Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43) on Technet, this time on laptops running Windows 7.

The symptom is that when you connect a USB device to Windows 7 laptop, the system will pop up a message. One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.

In addition, you can find an error code 43 in the device manager Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43).

Conclusion

Windows 10 and Windows 11 are prone to previous errors such as Code 43, and you can fix them as long as you can identify the root cause. However, if your computer is persisting the error regularly, you should consider cleaning the internals and re-installing the operating system again.

If your device still has problems after performing the fix mentioned above, your external device could be corrupted or broken.

Hopefully, you find this blog post helpful to fix hardware error Code 43 on Windows computer, which reads, “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)” If you have any queries, ideas, or suggestions, please feel free to mention them in the comments below.

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