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Codes are used with errors to help users easily search for and identify the causes of problems and then resolve them. The Device Manager utility also assigns these error codes when some problems occur with drivers of the devices and hardware components installed on your computer.

To view error codes reported by Device Driver in Windows XP, perform the following steps:

1. Open Start menu, select Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then press Enter.
2. On the Hardware tab of the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager button.
3. Expand a device type, and then double-click on a device listed under it.
4. The error code will be displayed in the Device Status box on the General tab of the device’s properties box.

In this article we are going to cover three common Device Manager error codes and their resolution methods.

Code 10 Error

The Code 10 error message similar to the one given below is generated when your Windows operating system is unable to determine the cause of the error.

This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Code 10 errors are usually generated due to the following reasons:

• Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible driver.
• Incorrect device configuration.
• Missing service packs and software updates.
• Incompatible hardware.

Code 37 Error

The Code 37 error message similar to the one given below is generated when a driver returns failure from the DriverEntry routine.

Windows cannot initialize the device driver for this hardware. (Code 37)

Code 39 Error

The Code 39 error message similar to the one given below is generated when:

• A required driver is not available.
• A required binary file is damaged.
• There is an Input/Output problem with a file.
• A driver referencing an entry point in another binary file fails to load.

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

Common Methods to Resolve Device Manager Error Codes

• If the error occurs due to problems with the driver, do one of the following tasks:
  • Update the device driver of your hardware by running Windows update from the Microsoft’s Windows Update Web site.
  • Download and install the latest device driver on your computer.
  • If you are facing problems with a preinstalled device, visit the computer manufacturer’s Web site for possible solutions and driver updates. If the required update for the driver is not available on the computer manufacturer’s Web site, try to search for the driver on the Web site of the device manufacturer.

Note: You must ensure that the driver is compatible with your Windows operating system.

• If the error occurs due to a problem with the current driver, then from the Driver tab on the Device Manager uninstall the driver and then click Scan for hardware changes to reinstall or upgrade it.
• To resolve errors that occur due to missing service packs and software updates, try to perform the following tasks to fix the error:
  • Download the latest service pack for your Windows XP computer from the Microsoft Web site and install it on your computer.
  • Open the Microsoft update Website to scan your computer for required updates and then install them on your computer.
  • Visit your computer or device manufacturer Web site and then download and install any missing updates on your computer.
  • To ensure that the device that is generating the error is compatible with Windows XP, refer to the Windows Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) that is available on the Microsoft Web site.
• If you are unable to diagnose and resolve the problem, use the Troubleshoot wizard to do so. To launch the Troubleshoot wizard for the problem device, open the device’s properties dialog box in Device Manager and then click the Troubleshoot button on the General tab.
• Run an antivirus scan to ensure that the device errors are not caused due to malware infections.
• Finally, use a reliable registry cleaner tool to repair any registry problems that might be generating problems with the device.