Windows 10/11 drivers are not working.
As a desktop support engineer, you can follow these steps to troubleshoot driver issues on a desktop computer:
1. Update all drivers:
Updating drivers in Windows is essential for maintaining system stability and ensuring optimal performance. Here are two methods you can use to update drivers:
Automatic Update via Windows Update:
- Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs driver updates for various devices (such as network adapters, monitors, printers, and video cards) through Windows Update.
- To check for updates manually:
- Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager, choose a category to view the list of devices.
- Right-click (or press and hold) the device you want to update.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, consider visiting the device manufacturer’s website to manually download and install the latest driver.
Reinstalling Device Drivers:
- Sometimes, reinstalling a driver can resolve issues.
- Follow these steps:
- Open Device Manager (search for it in the taskbar).
- Right-click (or press and hold) the name of the device you want to update.
- Choose Uninstall.
- Restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the driver.
Remember that the best and safest way to get driver updates is through Windows Update.
To check if your device meets Windows 11 system requirements after making hardware changes, you can follow these steps:
Using the PC Health Check App:
- If you haven’t already, install the PC Health Check app from here.
- Press Windows logo key + S or select Search, type “pc health check”, and choose PC Health Check from the results.
- Select Check now to scan your system.
- Note that it may take up to 24 hours for Windows Update to refresh your eligibility information.
Manually Refreshing Eligibility Assessment:
If your eligibility info isn’t updating promptly, you can manually refresh it:
Using Task Scheduler:
- Press Windows logo key + S, type “task scheduler”, and select Task Scheduler.
- Navigate to \Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience.
- Right-click on Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and choose Run.
- Please wait until the task is completed.
Using an Administrator Command Prompt:
- Press Windows logo key + S, type “cmd”, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
schtasks.exe /Run /TN "\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Application Experience\\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser"
- Wait a few minutes for the task to finish.
- Reopen Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to see the updated eligibility status.
Remember that hardware changes don’t guarantee immediate Windows 11 availability. The upgrade will roll out gradually based on various factors.
If a recent driver update has caused an issue, you may be able to resolve the issue by rolling back to a previous driver version. You can access the driver version history through the operating system’s device manager.
4. Contact the manufacturer:
If the above steps do not resolve the driver issue, consider contacting the manufacturer of the device or the computer for assistance.
It’s important to regularly backup important data to protect against data loss from driver issues. Additionally, keep computer components and devices clean and free of dust to prevent overheating, which can lead to driver issues
Troubleshoot Other problems
- Boost PC performance
- Operating system errors
- Virus and malware infections
- Blue screen of death (BSOD)
- Network connectivity issues
- Printer issues
- Email and communication problems
- Hardware failures (e.g. hard drive, RAM, motherboard)
- Power and battery issues
- Display and video problems
- Sound and audio issues
- File and data corruption
- Application errors and crashes
- Operating system updates and patches
- Backup and restore issues
- Password reset and recovery
- User profile issues
- Permission and security problems
- Mobile device integration issues.