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Windows 98 > Troubleshooting Windows 98

Device Manager Error Codes

By: Arie Slob

If there is a problem with one of your devices, Windows will list the device with 1 of 3 symbols in the Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Device Manager tab):

Note: Some sound cards and video adapters do not report all the resources they are using to Windows. This can cause Device Manager to show only one device in conflict, or no conflicts at all. This can be verified by disabling the sound card, or using the standard VGA video driver to see if the conflict is resolved. (This is a known problem with S3 video cards and 16-bit Sound Blaster sound cards, or those sound cards using Sound Blaster emulation for Sound Blaster compatibility).

Error Codes:

Code 1: This code means the system has not had a chance to configure the device. To resolve the problem, follow the instructions in the Device Status box. In addition, you may be able to resolve this issue by removing the device in Device Manager, and then running the Add New Hardware wizard from Control Panel.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 2: Depending on which device is failing, you may see either of two different messages. This code means that the device loader (DevLoader) did not load a device. When this device is a Root Bus DevLoader (for example, ISAPNP, PCI, or BIOS), the following message is displayed:

where <type> is ISAPNP, PCI, BIOS, EISA, or ACPI.

Solution button: None

When the device is not a root bus DevLoader, the following message is displayed:

Solution button: Update Driver

In addition to following the recommended solution, try removing the device from Device Manager, and then running the Add New Hardware wizard from Control Panel.

Code 3: This code means the driver for this device is bad, system is running low on memory.

Solution button: Update Driver

As an alternative, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Code 4: This code means the .inf file for this device is incorrect or the registry may be damaged. For example, the .inf file specifies a field that should be text, but is binary instead. To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer for an updated .inf file.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 5: This code means there was a device failure due to the lack of an arbitrator. If a device requests a resource type for which there is no arbitrator, you receive this error code. To resolve this error code, update the driver as suggested, or use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 6: This code means there is a conflict between this device and another device. To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Solution button: Hardware Troubleshooter

Code 7: This code means that no configuration can be performed on the device. If the device works correctly, you do need not to perform any steps to correct the code. If the device does not work correctly, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code and the device does not function properly, check with the hardware's manufacturer or the Microsoft Software Library for an updated driver.

Solution button: Reinstall Driver

Code 8: This code means the device loader (DevLoader) for a device could not be found. For example, the .inf file for the device may refer to a missing or invalid file. For most cases, the resolution is to reinstall or update the driver. As an alternative, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, contact the hardware's manufacturer about updated drivers.

When the problem DevLoader is a system DevLoader, Windows should be re-installed because this driver is built into the Vmm32.vxd file.

Note: A system DevLoader is one that is part of Vmm32.vxd, and typically begins with an asterisk (*). If the DevLoader is a system DevLoader, the following text is displayed:

where <name> is the system DevLoader that cannot be found.

Code 9: This code means that the information in the registry for this device is invalid. It may be possible to resolve this error by using Device Manager to remove the device and then running the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, contact the hardware's manufacturer for the proper registry settings.

Solution button: None

Code 10: This code means that the device failed to start (for example, it is missing or is not working properly). To resolve this error code, make sure the device is attached to the computer correctly. For example, make sure all cables are plugged in fully and that all adapter cards are plugged into their slots fully. Follow the suggested solution button and update the device driver. It may be possible to remove the device and re-detect it using the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 11: This code means that the device failed. To resolve this error, run the Automatic Skip Driver utility from the System Information tool. If the problem persists, contact the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 12: This code means one of the resource arbitrators failed. This can occur if the device is software configurable and it does not currently have a resource, if the system is out of resources (for example, all the interrupts are in use), or if the device requests a resource and that resource is currently in use by another device that will not release the resource. To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Solution button: Hardware Troubleshooter

Code 13: This code means the device failed due to a problem in the device driver. To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel.

Solution button: Detect Hardware

Code 14: This code means the device has a problem that may be resolved by restarting your computer. To resolve this error code, shut down Windows, turn off your computer, and then turn it back on.

Solution button: Restart Computer

Code 15: This code means the device's resources are conflicting with another device's resources. To resolve this error code, see the "Troubleshooting Conflicting Hardware" topic in Windows Help, or see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q133240: Troubleshooting Device Conflicts with Device Manager.

Solution button: Hardware Troubleshooter

Code 16: This code means the device was not fully detected. When a device is not fully detected, all of its resources may not be recorded. To resolve this error code, click the Resources tab in the device's properties to manually enter the settings.

Solution button: None

Code 17: This code means the hardware is a multiple-function device and the .inf file for the device is providing invalid information on how to split the device's resources to the child devices. To resolve this error code, use Device Manager to remove the device and then run the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel. If you continue to receive this error code, please contact the hardware's manufacturer about an updated .inf file.

Solution button: Update Driver

Code 18: This code means that an error has occurred and the device needs to be reinstalled. To resolve this issue, follow the rec