“This device cannot start. (Code 10)” is a generic device status error that indicatesyour system could not run a connected device. You may also see other messages likeoperation failed,request is invalid,request failed, and so on.
The error itself doesn’t point to any specific fault, its main causes includeminor issues with the system files and servicesandbroken device drivers.
While a system restart will often resolve the issue, sometimes you may have to run relevant troubleshooters and update/rollback/choose a different device driver.
Let’s discuss all these solutions in detail.
Restart Your PC
This error often happens when your system fails to load this device’s driver properly due to minor issues.
The quickest solution in such cases is to restart your PC. A reboot will take care of such trivial issues and allow your system to load the driver afresh.
Run Relevant Troubleshooter
Windows has built-in troubleshooters to deal with most device issues. These will look for any potential software problems and automatically fix them.
You should run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter (msdt -id DeviceDiagnosticon Run) for most devices.
However, for specific components like Audio devices or Network adapters, run their dedicated troubleshooters instead.
You can find them insideWindows Settings(⊞ + I)>System>Troubleshoot>Other troubleshooters.
Update Driver via Windows Update
Bugs in the driver software can also lead to this issue, especially after updating your system or drivers.
Microsoft may have rolled out a later version that addresses this issue, soupdate the driveras soon as possible. It’s best to use theWindows update clientfor this purpose.
Go toWindows Settings>Windows Updateand click onCheck for Updates>Download & Install all.
Then, go toAdvanced options>Optional updates>Driver updatesand see if it includes your device. If yes, select it and clickDownload & install.
Rollback Driver
If you already have the latest driver, the driver itself may be defective. In such scenarios, roll back to a previous driver version. you may do so fromthe Device Manager.
Choose a Different Device Driver
Your system may keep multiple drivers for specific devices. These can be generic drivers or drivers from different sources (like Microsoft and Realtek).
If the current driver is not working, select another one and see if it helps. To do so,
Disable Upper and Lower Filter Drivers through Registry Editor
In addition to their dedicated drivers, some devices use optional upper or lower filter drivers to provide additional functionalities.
The code 10 error can occur when the original driver is fine but it doesn’t work well with the filter drivers. In such cases, disable these drivers by changing the relevantregistry entries.
If you unknowingly change other registry settings, it may break your system. Soback up your registrybeforehand to be safe.
Then,
In rare cases, hardware faults like damage to the ports, connectors, etc., may also cause this issue. So if none of the above solutions help, take your computer or device to a service center/local hardware shop for repairs or replacement.
