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One of the most widely used operating systems worldwide is Windows. It is adored by users for its customization options, user-friendly interface, and integrated troubleshooters. Keyboards, mice, hard drives, and other devices can all be connected to a Windows computer via a USB connection. Unluckily, users occasionally fail to open their USBs Flash Drive and encounter an error code 38. The full error message reads: When Windows is unable to load a specific device driver, a Windows Code 38 USB error occurs.

Several factors, including software-related problems, registry problems, or out-of-date or missing drivers, may be to blame. You will learn how to reinstall device drivers and use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter in this guide. Additionally, you can use a maintenance programme like Reimage, which can resolve the majority of system errors, BSODs, damaged files, registry problems, etc. It is a very potent piece of software that can help keep the system operating efficiently.

When Windows is unable to load a specific device driver, the Windows Code 38 USB error happens. Windows expressly notes that the driver was unable to load because conflicts were caused by an older version of the driver that was still present in memory. Any number of factors, including software-related problems, registry problems, missing or out-of-date drivers, can result in the Code 38 error. You might run into the error code 38 on your device when Windows is unable to load a particular device driver.

Ways to Fix “Error Code: 38” Driver on Windows

How to Fix “Error Code: 38” Driver on Windows

Run Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

Run the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter first if you are having trouble with the current problem. This programme checks for common issues and ensures that new hardware or devices are installed correctly on your computer. Error 38 may be brought on by corrupted files and bad drivers, but the fixes it provides should address these issues.

Type “cmd” in the search area of the taskbar and click “Run as administrator” to launch the elevated Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

This should launch the system’s Hardware and Device Troubleshooter. Click Next in the dialog that pops up on the screen.

This will initiate the scan. If potential problems are identified, apply the recommended fixes to see if they correct Windows 11 error 38.

Uninstall Device

Since error 38 explicitly states that “Windows can’t load the device driver because a previous instance of the device driver is still in memory,” uninstalling the USB device from your Device Manager is one of the best ways to fix it. When you plug in a USB device after uninstalling the conflicting driver, your operating system will immediately install a new one.

Perform an In-Place Upgrade

If nothing else works for you, you may be able to solve the current problem by upgrading your version of Windows. Before moving forward, make sure to backup the crucial system files and establish a system restore point.

Launch your web browser and steer to Microsoft’s Windows 11 page.

Now click the “Update Now” button and wait for the download to complete.

Once the file has finished downloading, launch the file with administrator privileges.

You will then be prompted to update your PC’s operating system.

If that fails, go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 page and click “Download Now” in the same window.

Run the downloaded setup file as administrator and select “Upgrade this PC now” from the window that appears after the download is complete.

When prompted to upgrade, make sure you select “Retain Windows settings, personal files, and apps (if prompted).

Once the upgrade is complete, expect Windows to be fully updated and error 38 resolved.

Uninstall BitDefender

The main cause of Windows 11 error code 38 has been identified as BitDefender, an antimalware programme. It appears that this security programme frequently prevents your USB driver from operating properly. This typically occurs when security programmes mistakenly identify legitimate Windows processes as threats to the system and end up completely blocking their functionality. If BitDefender is installed on your computer, we advise you to uninstall it and see if that resolves the error 38. Here’s how to go about it:

Type “Settings” in the search area of the taskbar and click “Open”.

In the “Settings” window, select “Apps” and go to “Apps and Features”.

Now locate BitDefender in the right pane and click on it.

Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions.

Once the program has been successfully uninstalled, restart your PC to see if the problem has been resolved.

Clean the Memory

Flushing the memory was a different potential solution that proved beneficial to several users. This appears to have fixed the problem at hand by eliminating all of the corruption errors and bugs.

Hold down the Shift key and click “Shut Down”.

Then restart the PC, insert the USB flash drive, and check to see if error 38 has been resolved.

Final Words

So here we conclude our article on how to Fix “Error Code: 38” Driver on Windows. When connected to a Windows 11/10 system, external devices such as printers, scanners, etc., the device either pushes the drivers through the USB or the user is required to install the drivers using external media. In both situations, the device can be used after the driver has loaded in the system.

The following error, however, could occasionally appear in device properties or Device Manager: A previous instance of the device driver is still present in memory if you encounter the Windows cannot load the device driver (Code 38) error in the Device Manager. The driver is loaded into memory and then unloaded each time a device is used. For further information regarding this error, you can also visit official Microsoft support website.

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