Computer errors wouldn’t be so frustrating if they included a description about what’s need to be done to fix them. All the same, even the most cryptic error codes can often be resolved fairly quickly. One such error code is the Code 19 error, which is accompanied by the error message: “Windows cannot start this hardware device.”
At a first glance, it’s almost impossible to make heads or tails of it, but thankfully the issue is easily resolvable. The Error Code 19 is not limited to one or a handful of hardware devices; instead, it can occur with almost any hardware device, though most commonly it appears on keyboards, USB devices, and optical drivers such as CD and DVD drives.
This post shows 6 effective ways to troubleshoot Error Code 19.
Solution #1 – Restart Windows
You’ve probably heard this before: temporary glitches can cause random errors. The solution? A simple system restart.
If you haven’t already done so, save any unsaved work (if possible) and reboot Windows. Now, check if things are back to normal.
Solution #2 – Reinstall the driver of the problematic device
From this point onward, the fixes will get a bit technical—but nothing that you can’t handle since we’ll walk you through all the steps.
Here’s what to do:
- Click the Start icon in the taskbar, type device manager in the Start Search bar, and hit Enter
- Locate the device, right-click it, and select Uninstall device
- Tick the checkbox before Attempt to remove the driver for this device
- Once you’re done, restart Windows
- Upon restart, Windows will automatically reinstall the correct driver for the devices
Check if the issue is fixed. If not, you may need to update the device drivers.
Solution #3 – Update the device drivers
Outdated, faulty, or corrupt device drivers can trigger various issues, including Error Code 19. The fix is simple and straightforward: update the device drivers.
How can I do that? Glad you asked.
You can update device drivers automatically using Driver Updater, which automatically scans your system for outdated drivers and updates them.
The other method is to open Device Manager and update the driver manually. Here’s what to do:
- Click the Windows icon and type device manager in the Search bar and hit Enter
- In the Device Manager window, locate the device, right-click it, and select Update driver
- In the next window, select Search automatically for drivers
- Windows will scan the system and install the best available driver
If installing the latest driver, Windows displays a message stating that the best available driver is already installed, there could be two possibilities:
- You already have the latest driver
- Windows doesn’t have a new driver version
To rule out the second possibility, go to the manufacturer’s website and check if they have a newer driver version. You can check the version of the driver installed on your PC by performing these steps:
- In the Device Manager window, right-click the hardware device
- Select Properties
- Click the Driver tab to view the Driver version and other driver-related details
If a new driver version is available on the manufacturer website, download it. Once the download is complete, double-click the file and follow on-screen instructions to complete installation. If a User Access Window pops up, simply click Yes.
After you’ve installed the latest driver, check whether the issue is solved.
Solution #4 – Use Registry Editor
Here’s what to do:
- Press Win + R keys
- Type regedit in the Run dialog box
- In the left-hand pane of Registry Editor, look for HKEY_LOCAL_Machine folder
- Click CurrentControlSet folder and then go to Control folder
- Expand the Control folder, select Class, and click {4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
- In the right-hand pane, locate these two files: UpperFilters, LowerFilters
- Right-click these files one by one and click Delete
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- Exit the Registry Editor
- Restart Windows
Solution #5 – Uninstall iTunes
As you may know, iTunes, App’s flagship music app, can be seamlessly used on Windows too. While there’s no doubt that iTunes is a great software, at times it can trigger issues in Windows.
Some users have reported that iTunes messed up with their system registry, triggering a Code 19 error. If none of the above solutions have worked for you, and you have iTunes installed on your Windows computer, uninstalling iTunes might be a good option.
- Press Win + R keys
- Type control panel and hit Enter
- Click the drop-down menu next to View by (in the top right-hand corner) to select Large icons
- Click Programs and Features
- Locate iTunes and uninstall it
- Restart Windows
If the error doesn’t appear on restart, you can safely assume iTunes was the culprit. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use iTunes on your Windows PC. In most cases, reinstalling iTunes doesn’t cause the error to resurface.
Solution #6 – Use System Restore
As a last resort, perform a system restore to fix the Code 19 error. Here’s what to do:
- Click Start, type create a restore point in the Search bar, and hit Enter
- Click System Restore
- Click Next
- Select the restore point to undo any recent Driver Manager-related changes
Windows takes some time to complete System Restore. Therefore, run this operation only when you can afford do be away from your computer for a while. In addition, make sure the laptop charger is plugged in. Do not shut down the system while System Restore is running.
How to update device drivers automatically?
Outdated drivers can cause various errors, including the Code 19. Consequently, it’s important to keep the device drivers up-to-date all the time. The most convenient (not to mention also the fastest) way to do this is by using Driver Updater.
Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:
- You can update device drivers automatically
- The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
- The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
- Automatic driver updates are 100% safe
Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.
Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app
Step 2
Scan all devices
Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically
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