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DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-43

Device Manager Codes Device Manager Code 43: Windows Has Stopped This Device Because It Has Reported Problems Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

What it means

A deliberately vague, catch-all code — the device itself reported a problem to Windows, which stopped it as a protective measure, but the specific reason isn't included in the code itself. Common causes range from a genuinely failing piece of hardware to a driver conflict to, on graphics cards specifically, a crashed or hung GPU.

Also seen as: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (Code 43), Code 43 error

Quick fix steps

  1. Update the device's driver first: right-click it in Device Manager > Update driver > Search automatically.
  2. Uninstall the device entirely (not just disable it) and restart, so Windows can redetect and reinstall it fresh.
  3. For a graphics card specifically, also check for overheating and try reseating the card if you're comfortable opening the case — a poor connection is a real, physical cause of this exact code on GPUs.
  4. Test the device in another PC if possible, or test a different device in the same port/slot, to help isolate whether the problem is the device itself or something about this specific machine.
  5. If it's a fairly new device, check for a known compatibility issue with your specific motherboard or chipset via the manufacturer's support site, since Code 43 is sometimes a documented, known conflict rather than a fault.
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see Understanding Device Manager Error Codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Code 43 always a hardware failure?
Not always — while it can indicate a genuine hardware problem, it's also commonly caused by a driver conflict or, particularly on graphics cards, a crashed GPU that a restart resolves.
Should I be worried if this happens on a brand-new device?
It's worth checking for a known compatibility issue with your specific motherboard or chipset before assuming the device itself is defective — new hardware combinations sometimes have documented, fixable conflicts.

Other error codes

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-10 — Device Manager Code 10: This Device Cannot Start

One of the most common, generic Device Manager codes — Windows tried to start the device and couldn't, usually because of an outdated or corrupted driver, though it can also point to a temporary hardware fault.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-28 — Device Manager Code 28: The Drivers for This Device Are Not Installed

Exactly what it says — no driver is currently installed for this device at all, as opposed to a driver being present but broken.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-39 — Device Manager Code 39: Windows Cannot Load the Device Driver for This Hardware

Different from Code 28 — here a driver is present, but Windows can't actually load it, usually because the driver file itself is corrupted or missing a required component.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-45 — Device Manager Code 45: Currently, This Hardware Device Is Not Connected to the Computer

Usually much simpler than most other Device Manager codes: this is a leftover entry for a device that was once connected but genuinely isn't plugged in right now — Windows keeps a record of previously-connected devices, and this code just reflects that.