How to Fix Code 41 Errors in Device Manager

Error code 41 is one of several Device Manager error codes. You might see it when you try to use certain hardware devices. The code 41 error will almost always display in the following way:

• Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

Causes of Error Code 41

Code 41 errors are caused either by a hardware device that's been removed after the driver was loaded or by an issue with the device driver itself. Details on Device Manager error codes like code 41 are available in the Device Status area in the device's properties.

Device Manager error codes are exclusive to Device Manager. If you see the code 41 error elsewhere in Windows, chances are it's a system error code which you should not troubleshoot as a Device Manager issue. The code 41 error could apply to any device, but it most typically relates to DVD and CD drives, printers, keyboards, and USB devices.

How to Fix a Code 41 Error

Try these steps in order until the error is resolved:

1. Restart your computer. There's always the possibility that the code 41 error was caused by some temporary issue with Device Manager. If so, a simple reboot might fix the problem.

2. Make sure the device is properly connected. If the device is inside the PC, check to make sure all the connections are firmly seated and any connectors are properly connected. If this is a newly installed device, check the manual to make sure that everything is connected in the correct fashion to the appropriate connectors on the motherboard. If the device is external (i.e. connected with a USB cable), try using a different cable.

3. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If the device was previously working, undo any recent changes to the Device Manager by using Windows System Restore to restore your Windows PC.

4. Roll back your drivers. If the code 41 error began after updating a particular hardware device, roll back the device drivers to an older version.

5. Update the hardware drivers. It's possible that installing the latest drivers for the device could fix the code 41 error.

6. Reinstall the device drivers. Properly reinstalling a driver is not the same as updating a driver. A full driver reinstall involves completely removing the currently installed driver and then letting Windows install it over again from scratch.

7. Delete corrupt registry values. A common cause of code 41 errors is the corruption of two registry values in the registry key. Go into the Windows Registry and delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters registry values.

8. Reinstall the hardware. Remove all associated drivers and software, then reinstall or reconfigure the device.

9. Replace the hardware. A problem with the device itself might be causing the code 41 error, so you might need to replace the hardware. It's also possible that the device is not compatible with your version of Windows. You can check the Windows Hardware Compatibility List to be sure.

10. Repair Windows. If you're sure that a hardware problem isn't causing this particular code 41 error, try a Windows Startup Repair.

11. Perform a clean installation of Windows. Perform a clean install of Windows as a last resort to start with a fresh copy of the operating system.

    All the information on your hard drive will be erased during a clean install.