Removing old drivers from Windows 10

So you have just got home from that new computer store with your fancy and all-new mouse, screen, keyboard, etc. You plugged in your new component, Windows detected it, installed drivers for it and it is working like a charm. A few months later down the road and the computer starts little by little to slow down.

Plug and play is a great concept, and automatic detection is even greater but how time passes old unused stuff piles in your hard drive and in Windows itself thus slowing down your computer and taxing it more and more as new components and software are added. Old drivers from old components sadly are not removed from Windows itself and over some larger period of time they can pile up and slow down your daily operations on the computer or even cause some problems in it.

This guide will teach you how to manually remove old unused device drivers from your Windows so it is fresh and like new again.

Making old devices visible

In order for us to remove old drivers, the first thing we must do is make them visible in our device manager, old drivers are hidden and will not show up, we must make this happen. We do this by pressing WINDOWS + X keys on your keyboard to bring up a hidden menu in Windows.

keyboard with windows and x markedOnce the menu appears, click on Command Prompt (admin)

Windows menu command prompt adminOnce the command prompt with administrator privileges comes on-screen type in it following string:

The device manager will open, go to view > snow hidden devices in order to show unused devices.

device manager show hidden devices

Removing old device

Open any category and if there is a device that was once used and still has its drivers in the system it will be shown as faded out.

device manager hidden device shownRight-click on the device and click on uninstall device to remove it completely from your system.

device manager uninstall device driverPlease always be careful when removing devices so you do not remove the device which is being used by mistake and always double-check that you are removing something that you used to have on your system. This method will show all hidden devices even ones that are hidden but crucial to the system working properly.

Do You Need Help with Your Device?

Our Team of Experts May Help
Troubleshoot.Tech Experts are There for You!
Replace damaged files
Restore performance
Free disk space
Remove Malware
Protects WEB browser
Remove Viruses
Stop PC freezing
GET HELP
Troubleshoot.Tech experts work with all versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 11, with Android, Mac, and more.

Share this article:

You might also like

Fix Error 0x80070057 in Windows
Hello and welcome to another problem-solving tutorial on errortools.com. Today we will be solving error 0x80070057, we could not format the selected partition which occurs during setup and installation when performing a clean install of Windows from a USB drive. So, you have backed up your files and decided to format and do clean WIndows installation, you have your USB ready, you reboot the system, plug in USB, start Windows setup, choose the hard drive on which you want to do a clean install and then this happens. error 0x80070057This error is very frustrating and it annoys pretty much anyone who encountered it but do not worry we have a solution for you. First thing is to confirm the error prompt, Click on the OK button and then on X to exit Windows 10 installation wizard. Click on yes to confirm that you want to exit the setup. You will find yourself in original installation windows. On that screen choose and click on Repair your computer. Choose an option screen that will pop up, click on Troubleshoot. In the advanced options, click on the command prompt. Once you are in command prompts type DISKPART and hit ENTER In the diskpart prompt type LIST DISK and hit ENTER again. type SELECT DISK #, where # is listed disk number where you would like to install Windows. type LIST VOLUME in order to list volumes in the selected disk and hit ENTER You need to select the volume on which you would like to place your WINDOWS, to do this type in SELECT VOLUME #, where # is the listed number of the volume Finally, type FORMAT FS=NTFS and hit ENTER You have successfully formated a given volume, you can now exit DISKPART and return to setup, to exit DISKPART simply type exit and hit ENTER. Leave command prompt as well by again typing exit and hitting ENTER You will be returned to Choose an option screen, click on Turn off your PC. Your drive has been successfully formatted and it is ready for clean Windows installation, you can now restart your Windows 10 installation and the process will complete without errors.
Read More
The request failed due to a fatal device hardware error
When you are copying some files from your computer to your hard disk and vice versa or when you have several disks connected to your Windows 10 computer and you suddenly receive an error message saying, “The request failed due to fatal device hardware error”, then this means that there is some issue with the hardware of your computer. This issue might be caused by various reasons but whatever they may be, this post will guide you on how you can fix the “The request failed due to fatal device hardware error”. To fix the error, here are some suggestions that could help.

Option 1 – Check for any hard disk errors

  • On your desktop, right-click on the “This PC” or computer icon and then select Manage to open the Disk Management. Here you get to check your drive’s health.
  • Next, click on Disk Management on the left side panel.
  • From there, check the state of your drives. If it shows that all your partitions are healthy then it means all is good and that the problem may have something to do with some physical issues with your hard drive.

Option 2 – Run the CHKDSK utility

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system including “The request failed due to fatal device hardware error”.
  • Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
  • Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:
CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]
Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.
  • Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
  • If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
  • After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
  • Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer

Option 3 – Verify the hard drive using SMART attributes

In case you don’t know, Windows has a built-in feature of SMART analysis which analyzes the hard drive/SSD and checks all the parameters by performing some minor operations. To use it, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + S keys and type “command prompt” in the field then right-click on the related search result and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt as admin, type the “wmic disk drive get status” command and hit Enter.
  • You should get a result after that, and if you see that it’s “normal”, proceed to the next option below.

Option 4 – Format your hard disk

You can try formatting your drive since this problem also occurs on removable hard drives. In addition, if your drive is not properly initialized, this error will really pop up. Thus, you need to make sure that the hard drive is initialized and that the correct partition style is selected.
  • To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
  • Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
  • After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
  • Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
  • Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
  • After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
  • From there, right-click on the drive volume and select Initialize Disk.
  • Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.
Read More
How to fix random Computer crashes
Computer crashes are one of the most annoying things that can happen to users. It often loses your data and work, you must spend extra time if you were in the middle of something and can even break Windows itself. Computer without crashes working fineBefore we move to the article I just want to say that technically there are no random crashes, there is always a reason why the system hangs up, why you received blue screen, annoying restarts out of nowhere and many more PC crashes. In this article, we will explore many possible reasons why something may occur and offer you straight forward solution on how to escape the situation and prevent it from happening again. Without further delay, let's begin:
  1. Check switch connectors and power outlets

    Yes, sometimes the most basic approach provides the best results, check to see if your power outlet is stable and providing you with constant voltage, if not, maybe you want to invest in a UPS system so you do not face random shutdowns and restarts during work, also while you are at it, check to see if that reset and power switch are connected properly and that they are not dirty or loose.
  2. Clean your PC and check connectors

    Dirt can cause many issues with computers, from overheating to shutdowns to blue screens and memory dumps, check to see if your computer is clean enough and that all connectors are connected tight into their respective sockets.
  3. Check the temperature of your CPU

    CPU overheating can cause so-called random freezes and blue screens, the computer might shut down or restart also without any visible reason. Check to see if your fan on the CPU is working properly and change the thermal paste if needed.
  4. Check the health of your hard drive

    If your hard drive is beginning to go down the path of dying out, many issues can come from this condition. There are many tools on the internet and in Windows itself to check if your hard drive is working properly.
  5. Run antivirus and firewall

    Random lock-ups or similar issues can also occur if by any chance you have some malware on your system, run protection software, and keep it updated to make sure the issue does not come from the computer being infected with malicious applications.
  6. Keep system clean

    Have a habit to clean regularly system files and registries, keep removing unnecessary files from your computer and regularly update your Windows and applications along with drivers.
  7. Run memory test

    Bad RAM bank can cause many issues during the work, check it out to be sure the problem is not RAM itself.
  8. Do not run applications that are too demanding for your system

    Some applications require stronger hardware, and some require the latest hardware, if your computer is a little outdated, running a demanding application can cause issues like freezing, restarts, etc.
  9. Remove applications you do not use

    This does not seem like anything important but if you are not using a specific application just remove it from the system, why? Sometimes an application has some ties to certain services and if it is outdated can cause issues for newer ones.
  10. Stop installing everything you find on the internet

    Yes, that extension for chrome looks cool, yes, that fancy new player seems sick but if it is from an unverified source and from the unknown publisher without any reviews maybe you are better off with it. You can never tell what you might be placing into your system from the internet.
And that's it, 10 reasons and solutions on what to do on random computer freezes, crashes, etc.
Read More
All wallpapers of Windows 11
We have gathered and want to share with you all of the Windows 11 wallpapers if you would like to place them on your desktop now and now wait for the official W11 release. Hope that you will like some of them and I hope to see you again on errortools.com Download Windows 11 Wallpapers here!

And here is the preview of them

W11_32W11_31W11_30W11_29W11_28W11_27W11_26W11_25W11_24W11_23W11_22W11_21W11_20W11_19W11_18W11_17W11_16W11_15W11_14W11_13W11_12W11_11W11_10W11_09W11_08W11_07W11_06W11_05W11_04W11_03W11_02W11_01
Read More
File Record Segment is Unreadable in Windows 10
If you suddenly encounter an error message saying, “ File Record Segment is Unreadable ” on a blue screen while booting your PC, it means that your hard drive is in an error state. This particular blue screen of death error might have a lot of bad sectors or might have reached its end. The workarounds you can try to resolve the issue is by locating the bad sectors or checking your hard drive for any discrepancies in the mapping and fix them. Follow the detailed instructions laid out below for these workarounds.

Option 1 – Try to check for any bad sectors and wrong configurations in your hard drive

The first thing you have to check is the boot files on your PC. As you know, your PC boots from these files and if there is anything wrong with any one of them or if one of them ends up getting corrupted, you will most likely see the blue screen of death error or a prompt with an error message saying, “File record segment is unreadable”. According to some users who reported this issue, new hard drives aren’t exempted from this error. That’s why it is recommended that you carry out this solution no matter what kind of scenario you are in. You will have to launch the Command Prompt in recovery mode and see if you can fix the problem by executing the check disk commands.
  • Upon booting, restart your PC and tap F11 to go to the recovery environment then select Troubleshoot.
  • Next, click Advanced from the given options and select Command Prompt.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
  • chkdsk C: /r /x
  • chkdsk C: /f
Note: The Chkdsk function might take a while before it finishes its operations so you need to be patient and wait until the entire process is completed. And depending on the situation, it might even take a day at most so patience is really the key here.

Option 2 – Try connecting the hard drive to a different computer

If option 1 didn’t work for you and you’re still seeing the error, you can try connecting the hard drive to a different computer and then copy the data first. Make it a priority to salvage the data just in case the hard drive won’t make it in the future. After replicating your hard drive, you can then try running the chkdsk commands that are listed in option 1 above in the new computer you’re connecting your hard drive to and make sure that you key in the correct drive letter that’s assigned to the hard drive you’re using. After executing the chkdsk commands, plug your hard drive back into the previous computer and then check if you can now boot it without any issues.

Option 4 – Replace the faulty hard drive

If none of the options provided above really worked out then maybe it’s time to consider getting a replacement for your hard drive. In about 50% of the cases about this error, some unfortunate users were left with no choice but to replace the hard drive since the problem is with the hard drive itself. Hard drives have a complex running mechanism which includes a head and the disk that rotates accordingly so you can check if the cables connected to the hard drive are connected properly and if it is in a correct position or not. In addition, you also have to make sure that the SATA adapters where the hard drive is connected are working properly. If the drive is showing problems in the I/O operation, there is little chance for you to use it as a normal hard drive. If the hard drive is in warranty, get it checked and replace it. If not, you might consider taking it to the service center for the specialists to take a look into it.
Read More
Increase your Internet Speed in Windows 10
If you are dissatisfied with your internet speed on your computer but do not want to shell out more money for a faster package or simply there is not a faster package, lay down and enjoy this article where we will go through some common practices and tweaks which will result in increasing your internet speed. Please note that this guide will not be able to go beyond the limits of your internet provider's physical speed, this guide is made you can squeeze the maximum from your existing plan and eliminate speed drops.
      1. Modify IRPStackSize

        Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog keyboard with windows and r markedIn run dialog type RegEdit and press ENTER run dialog with regeditIn registry editor find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters Right-click on Parameters> New> DWORD 32 Name it IRPStackSize and change the value to 32 Save and reboot your computer.
      2. Add a Default TTL

        Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog keyboard with windows and r markedIn run dialog type RegEdit and press ENTER run dialog with regeditIn registry editor find a key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters Right-click on Parameters> New> DWORD 32 Name it DefaultTTL and change the value to 64 Save and Reboot
      3. Close Background Applications which are using the internet

        If some applications are running in the background that are using the internet, your speed will be much lower. CLose them to gain speed.
      4. Modify the TCP1323Opts value

        Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog keyboard with windows and r markedIn run dialog type RegEdit and press ENTER run dialog with regeditIn registry editor find a key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters There should be a DWORD Value, TCP1323Opts, if not, then create it. Right-click on Parameters> New> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Double-click on it and change its value to 1 Save and reboot
      5. Scan system for Viruses and other malware

        Viruses and malware applications can not only slow your entire system, but they can also reduce your internet speed as well. Do a complete scan of your system to be sure you do not have any malicious software on it.
Read More
How to see your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11
Each time you connect to a Wi-Fi network your PC saves that network password. If for any reason you need to see this password or passwords there are ways you can do it and we are here to show you how. Wi-Fi passwordHello and welcome to error tools where we aim to help you with all of your Windows problems and issues, where we offer our insight on various topics and sometimes go offroad and write something crazy. This time we will offer you a way on how to easily and quickly see how can you find out your memorized Wi-Fi password.

Find your W-Fi password

  1. Make sure that you are connected to the Wi-Fi network you wish to find out the password of
  2. Open Windows Settings app by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + I
  3. On the left side choose Network & Internet and click on it
  4. Click on Advanced Network Settings
  5. Inside Advanced Network Settings go to Related Settings
  6. Select More Network Adapted Options
  7. Right-click on your adapter and select Status
  8. Click on Wireless Properties
  9. Click on the Security tab
  10. Click on enable on Show Character box beneath Network Security key to reveal Wi-Fi password
Read More
Cannot find the MS Software License Terms
Both the Windows 10 and Windows Server operating systems have a number of common system files that vary from the ones that support the installation, boot process, and other operations or tasks in the system. However, if any of these files get corrupted, it might cause some errors during the setup of the Windows 10 operating system. One of these errors is the “Windows cannot find the Microsoft Software License Terms” error.
“Windows cannot find the Microsoft Software License Terms. Make sure the installation sources are valid and restart the installation.”
The only option given when you encounter this error is to click on the OK button and nothing else and then the setup gets interrupted and won’t push through. To fix this error and proceed with the installation, you can try to get a new installation image or switch ports, or fix the CFG file. For more details, follow each one of the potential fixes provided below.

Option 1 – Try to get a new installation image

It is possible that there might be some issues with the installation image. It could be corrupted or was modified illegally. Or it could be that the bootable storage device created might have damaged sectors or installation. To resolve this problem, you need to download a fresh copy of the Windows 10 installation image using the Windows Media Creation tool or simply use the ISO image separately and then build a bootable USB.

Option 2 – Try to switch Ports

The error might be caused by the connection to the USB port. It could be that the port is unstable due to a number of factors that resulted in the interruption of the installation process. To fix this problem, you can try switching the USB port or if you are using an optical drive, you can get an external USB optical drive or connect it to another port internally and see if it fixes the problem.

Option 3 – Try to fix the CFG file

If none of the first two options worked, then you might want to fix the CFG file. This file is a configuration file format used for storing settings. All you have to do is download the CFG file. Once you’ve downloaded this file, copy this file to the root of your bootable drive and then check if it fixes the error. If not, then try to copy the same file inside the “/sources/” folder inside the root of the drive. This should fix the error.
Read More
A Quick Guide to Fixing Error Mswrd632.wpc

Mswrd632.wpc - What is it?

Mswrd632.wpc is a Microsoft Office Word error message.  This error message is often displayed in the following format:
‘Word cannot start the converter mswrd632.wpc’
The error message mswrd632.wpc may pop up when computer users try to open certain MS Word documents using the .doc extension.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error Mswrd632.wpc may be triggered due to several reasons. Some of the common reasons for the mswrd632.wpc error code include:
  • Issues with Microsoft Word application
  • MSwrd632.wpc file corrupted
  • Changes in the registry configuration settings
  • Issues with security updates
Sometimes when you attempt to access the Word file of the older version of the MS Word application after new security updates, you may experience this error code. This happens because the new security features that you have installed in the updated version blocks old files from being accessed.

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you can’t access important MS Word files on your PC, due to the error Mswrd632.wpc, then don’t you worry! The good news is that it is easy to fix and repair. By following a few simple methods, you can easily resolve this issue and access your MS Word files. Try the methods listed below to repair error Mswrd632.wpc on your system:

Method 1: Copy the MSwrd632.wpc file From Another Computer

The error may also occur if the MSwrd632.wpc file is corrupted. In such as situation, copy the MSwrd632.wpc file on your PC from another computer. You can usually find this file in the following path C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft SharedTextConv. However, please note this method is not secure and may make your PC vulnerable to a possible security hack. Do it when your PC is not connected to the internet.

Method 2: Unregister the Text Converter

This issue can also be resolved by unregistering the converter. Here is a step-by-step guide to unregister the converter.
  • First, go to the start menu and select RUN.
  • Type REGEDIT and press the OK button.
  • Next, what you have to do is find and click on registry subkeys. Here are the keys that you have to click on
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftSharedToolsText ConvertersImportMSWord6.wpc (Windows 32 bit OS) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftSharedToolsText ConvertersImportMSWord6.wpc (Windows 64 bit OS)
  • Choose the key according to your Windows bit operating system. After that, click on the Edit menu, select the Delete option and click ‘Yes’ to activate changes.
This change will effectively unregister the text converter and disable it for third-party applications and for Microsoft Office enabling you to access your desired MS Word files easily.

Method 3 - Download Restoro to Resolve Registry issues

If the error is related to the registry, then the best and most efficient way to fix it is to download Restoro. This is a powerful registry cleaner and a PC Fixer deployed with a user-friendly interface and compatible with all Windows versions. It scans and removes all registry errors and repairs the registry in seconds. Click here and download Restoro to resolve the MSwrd632.wpc error now!
Read More
How to Fix Error 0199, Security password retry
The errors that are caused by the BIOS of your computer can get annoying as they can be hard to fix for they are really dangerous and won’t be resolved by simple fixes. This is because of the fact that these kinds of errors do not even allow you to load your operating system as it throws the error even before you can access your computer. One of these errors is the “Error 0199: System Security – Security password retry count exceeded”. Fixing this error can be quite tricky but you need not worry for you will be guided in doing so. Simply follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to update the BIOS

Updating the BIOS can help you fix the “Error 0199, Security password retry count exceeded” error but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
  • From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
  • After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
  • Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
  • If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
  • Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
  • Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Try resetting the BIOS

If updating the BIOS didn’t help in fixing Error 0199, you can try to reset the BIOS instead.
  • Start your computer and tap the F10 key during the booting process to enter the BIOS. If it does not work, you can try tapping the F1 or F2 key as well as the Del key.
  • Once you’re already in the BIOS, tap the F9 key to get the prompt to RestoreLoad default configuration now for the BIOS.
  • Next, click on Yes and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear to set the BIOS back to its default settings.
  • Once you’re done restoring the default settings of the BIOS, restart your computer and then check if it now boots properly.
Read More
1 2 3 171
Logo
Copyright © 2023, ErrorTools. All Rights Reserved
Trademark: Microsoft Windows logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft. Disclaimer: ErrorTools.com is not affiliated with Microsoft, nor claims direct affiliation.
The information on this page is provided for information purposes only.
DMCA.com Protection Status