Many Windows users have encountered a problem: inability to access the hard drive.
When checking Device Manager , the error message “Windows cannot start the hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or corrupted, code (19)” appears.
Not only hard drives may become inaccessible, but all USB drives could also be affected. What will happen to the data inside?
We’ve compiled 5 solutions, so give them a try and fix this annoying problem!
Method 1: Update the driver
Error code 19 may be caused by a corrupt/incorrect or incompatible device driver. In this case, updating the device driver will fix the error.
If you don’t know which driver to update, the simplest way is to use a professional driver software.
1. Click below to download and install “Driver Life” .
97% positive reviews
Downloads: 5,275,9742. Click ” Scan Now ” in “Driver Management” . Driver Life will scan and detect your computer and display the status of the drivers as normal or abnormal.
3. Click on ” Update Driver ” next to the device , or directly click on ” One-Click Repair “. The software will automatically update missing or outdated drivers for you.
Method 2: Delete invalid registry entries
Corrupted or invalid UpperFilters and LowerFilters values in the registry may be the cause of error code 19 in Windows 10.
This method is very effective in resolving error code 19 for devices such as CD drives, sound cards, and webcams. However, it is recommended that you back up the registry before proceeding.
1. Press the Windows key + R key at the same time to open the “Run” interface.
2. Type regedit in the Run dialog box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the address bar at the top, paste or navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class
4. Under this path, you will see many folders enclosed in curly braces “{}”, with a format similar to {4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}. Each folder represents a type of hardware. You need to find the corresponding entry based on the device experiencing the problem.
| Equipment type | The registry key to be searched (Class Guid) |
| sound card/audio device | {4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} |
| Graphics card/display adapter | {4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} |
| Camera/Imaging Device | {6bdd1fc6-810f-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f} |
| Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices/USB flash drives | {36fc9e60-c465-11cf-8056-444553540000} |
| keyboard | {4d36e96b-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} |
5. Click to enter the corresponding {} folder, and in the right window, find and delete the two values UpperFilters and LowerFilters (if they exist).
6. Close the Registry Editor, restart your computer, and see if the error is fixed.
Method 3: Roll back the driver
If the problem occurs after updating the driver, try rolling back the driver to a previous version.
1. Right-click the “Start” button and select “Device Manager” .
2. Locate the problematic device (it will have a yellow exclamation mark next to it), right-click on it, and select “Properties” .
3. Click the “Driver” tab at the top, then click “Roll Back Driver” (click the button if it is not grayed out).
4. Click “OK” .
Method 4: Use a system file check tool
If multiple devices report errors at the same time, you can try repairing system files.
1. Right-click the “Start” button and select ” Windows Terminal (Administrator) “.
2. In the pop-up window, type the command `sfc /scannow` and press Enter . The system will begin scanning and repairing; please wait patiently for it to complete.
3. After the scan is complete, restart your computer.
Method 5: System Restore
If none of the above methods can solve your code 19 problem, then try a system restore.
System restore will revert your system to default settings and fix errors. However, restoring to default settings means you will lose all system data. Therefore, remember to back up your data before performing a system restore.
1. In the Windows search bar, type “create restore point” , and click to open the search results.
2. On the “System Protection” tab, click “System Restore” .
3. Click “Next Page” .
4. Select a restore point from the list and click “Next Page” .
These are 5 methods to fix Windows error code 19 compiled by the editor! Be sure to bookmark them!
If you have any questions, you can also go to [ Driver Life ] – [Member Center] to consult your dedicated customer service representative.
