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How to Fix Device Drivers Breaking After Windows Updates
Windows ProblemsIntermediate15-45 minutes

How to Fix Device Drivers Breaking After Windows Updates

Difficulty
Intermediate
Time
15-45 minutes
Category
Windows Problems

Hardware not working after a Windows update? Here's how to fix broken drivers and prevent Windows from overwriting them in the future.

đź’ˇWhat's Happening

After installing a Windows update, one or more of your devices stopped working properly. Maybe your graphics card is running at lower resolution, your printer disappeared, your WiFi adapter isn't detected, your sound stopped working, or your touchpad is behaving strangely. This happens because Windows updates sometimes install generic or incompatible drivers that replace your properly working ones.

This is one of the most common and frustrating post-update problems, but it's also one of the most fixable. Let's get your hardware working again.

âś“Quick Checks

Before diving into fixes, try these quick steps:

  • Restart your computer - Sometimes driver changes need a reboot to take effect properly
  • Check Device Manager - Press Windows + X and select Device Manager. Look for yellow warning icons next to devices—this indicates driver problems.
  • Test the device - Make sure the issue is actually the driver and not a physical problem. Try different ports, cables, or check if the device works on another computer.
  • Note the device name - Right-click the problematic device in Device Manager and select Properties to see its exact name and model for later reference.

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Roll Back the Driver

Windows keeps previous driver versions for a short time, allowing you to restore the old, working driver.

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager
  2. Find your problematic device (it might have a yellow warning icon)
  3. Right-click it and select Properties
  4. Go to the Driver tab
  5. Click Roll Back Driver (if this button is grayed out, the previous driver isn't available and you'll need to try Fix 2)
  6. Select a reason when prompted and click Yes
  7. Restart your computer
  8. Test if the device works again

Fix 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver

If rollback isn't available, removing and reinstalling the driver often fixes corruption issues.

  1. In Device Manager, right-click the problematic device
  2. Select Uninstall device
  3. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device if it appears
  4. Click Uninstall
  5. Restart your computer
  6. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver on startup
  7. If it doesn't, click Action > Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager

Fix 3: Manually Install the Correct Driver

For the best results, download the latest driver directly from the manufacturer rather than relying on Windows Update.

  1. Identify your exact device model (check Device Manager > Properties > Details tab > Hardware IDs)
  2. Visit the manufacturer's website:
    • Graphics cards: NVIDIA, AMD, Intel
    • Printers: HP, Canon, Epson, Brother (search "[brand] driver download")
    • Laptops: Dell, Lenovo, HP Support pages (search by your model number)
    • WiFi/Network: Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm
  3. Download the driver for your specific model and Windows version
  4. Run the installer and follow the prompts
  5. Restart your computer

Fix 4: Prevent Windows from Overwriting Drivers

Once you have working drivers, prevent Windows Update from replacing them again.

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
  2. Go to Windows Update > Advanced options
  3. Scroll down and click Additional options
  4. Turn off Receive updates for other Microsoft products
  5. For more control, you can use the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter:

⚠️If Nothing Worked

If your device still isn't working after trying the above:

  • Check for Windows updates - Ironically, sometimes a newer Windows update fixes driver issues introduced by a previous one. Check Settings > Windows Update for any available patches.
  • Try generic drivers - For some devices, using Windows' basic drivers works better than manufacturer-specific ones. In Device Manager, right-click the device, select "Update driver," then "Browse my computer" > "Let me pick" and choose a generic option.
  • Use System Restore - If the driver broke after a specific update, restore your system to before that update using System Restore.
  • Check compatibility - Very old devices might not have drivers compatible with the latest Windows versions. Check the manufacturer's site to see if your device is officially supported.

đź“žWhen to Call a Pro

Seek professional help if:

  • Multiple devices stopped working after an update
  • You can't find the correct drivers for your device anywhere
  • Driver installations keep failing with error messages
  • You're getting Blue Screen errors related to drivers (like "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL")
  • The device works in Safe Mode but not in normal Windows (indicates driver conflict)
  • You've tried everything and the hardware still isn't recognized

A technician can identify obscure driver conflicts, use specialized tools to extract and install drivers, test whether the problem is hardware failure versus driver issues, and configure your system to prevent future driver problems from Windows updates.

Need Professional Help?

If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.

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Related Topics

driversupdatescompatibilityhardware

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