Device Manager is one of the useful utilities that the Microsoft Windows operating system has gifted us. You can check for devices with errors or find the right solution then and there within the utility. If there is a faulty driver issue, the device is labelled with a yellow exclamation mark indicating an immediate fix. A lot of times, it may show you some error codes. How to Fix Error Code 48 is one common issue. Here in this article, we have listed a few possible fixes for the same.
What is Error Code 48?
Error Name: Code 48
Error Number: Error 48
Applies to: Windows 10 and earlier versions
Description: The software for this device has been blocked from starting because it is known to have problems with Windows. Contact the hardware vendor for a new driver.
As per the Microsoft knowledge base, Error Code 48 refers to a blocked device driver. If there are known problems with the version of device drivers, Microsoft will block it and hence you will encounter the error message. You can contact the hardware manufacturer to check for the latest version of updated drivers or try and reinstall the drivers after Windows Updates.
Method 1: Run Windows Updates
Close all the applications and check for Windows Updates to find and install the latest updated device drivers on their own.
Step 1. Click on the start button and then click on the Gear icon for Settings. You can also press (Win + I) to get into Windows Settings.
Step 2. Scroll down and click on the ‘Updates & Security’ option.
Step 3. Ensure ‘Windows Updates’ is selected in the left-hand side panel.
Step 4. Click on the ‘Check for Updates’ button if you can’t see the status as ‘You’re up to date.’
Step 5. Restart the computer once done and see if you still encounter any error message.
Method 2: Download Drivers from Manufacturer Site
This is a great way to fix error code 48 on your Windows computer.
Step 1. Press the (Win + R) key to open the Run Command Prompt.
Step 2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit the Enter key.
Step 3. The Device Manager window will open. Look for a device that has a yellow exclamation sign.
Step 4. Expand it, right-click on the device and click on the ‘Properties’ option.
Step 5. Click on the Driver tab on the top of the new window to look for Device Name, Make, Model, File Version and other details related to the device and the drivers.
Step 6. Go to the manufacturer website and search for the latest available compatible drivers.
Step 7. Download the drivers and save them in a specific location.
Step 8. Run the executable file and install the drivers manually by following the wizard. Restart the computer and check for the error message.
Method 3: Uninstall Device Drivers
Uninstall and reinstall device drivers can also fix the issue of bad or corrupted device drivers.
Step 1. Press the (Win + R) key to open the Run Command Prompt.
Step 2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit the Enter key.
Step 3. The Device Manager window will open. Look for a device that has a yellow exclamation sign.
Step 4. Expand it, right-click on the device and click on the ‘Uninstall Device’ option. Follow the wizard and finish the uninstallation. Restart the computer and come back to the same window. When you will restart the computer, Microsoft will automatically find and install the best available drivers from the Windows Updates Library.
Step 5. If it fails to fix the issue, you can manually install the latest updated drivers that you have already downloaded from the manufacturer website.
Step 6. Come back to the Device Manager and right-click on the device. Click on the ‘Update Driver’ option and select ‘Browse my Computer for Drivers’ to select the device driver that you have downloaded from the manufacturer website. Follow the wizard to finish the installation.
Method 4: Use the Best Driver Updater Software
If the above steps couldn’t fix the error, the only resort is to use one of the Best Driver Updater Software.
We have tested, reviewed, compared and verified dozens of driver updater software and ranked Smart Driver Care as one of the best driver updater software.
Smart Driver Care
Smart Driver Care is the most robust and efficient driver updater tool to find and install the most recent drivers for your device. It runs an automated scan to identify corrupt, outdated, incompatible, missing, and obsolete drivers and replace them with the latest available version of drivers to enhance PC performance and reduce errors.
Smart Driver Care takes a complete backup of the current state of the PC to restore them back if the latest driver is incompatible with the device. It is easy to download and install from the official website and on launch, it automatically starts looking for obsolete drivers so that no device driver can be left outdated.
Smart Driver Care Features
- Quick scan and Deep scan engine for accuracy and comfort
- Support devices that are not listed in the Microsoft Windows library
- Reduce device errors and common hardware system performance issues
- Works silently in the background without using much of system resources
- Fix all driver-related issues and errors that need immediate attention
- Compatible with Windows 10 and earlier version of Windows
Summing Up
There are different types of issues with the Windows operating system. Some report error codes while others just cause issues in system performance. The above methods are the best solution to fix error code 48 manually. Driver updater software is the easiest way to find and install the most recent drivers for all outdated device drivers. Use the best driver updater to automatically fix error code 48.
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