- Error code 48 – “The software on this device has been locked at startup because it is known to have problems with Windows.” This is a device driver error code that can occur on all Windows 2000 and later operating systems.
- It occurs when the connected device cannot work because the Windows operating system driver required to install the device programs has been corrupted or incompatible with the system.
- If all else fails, your hardware may not be compatible and must be replaced.
- Download and install the software.
- It will scan your computer to find problems.
- The tool will then correct the issues that were discovered.
This Device Cannot Start Code 10
There are several Device Manager error codes, but the Code 10 error occurs when a hardware device cannot be started. This is usually the result of outdated or corrupt drivers.
Search For Hardware
With Windows, the built-in System Information Tool makes checking your computer’s or laptop’s hardware a breeze. The information shown in this window will tell you a bit about your computer’s hardware. Additionally, the device manager is another way you can view the devices installed on your computer. The detail may seem overwhelming, but it is actually quite simple.
What Is Code 10
Gone are those days when troubleshooting was considered an arduous task. Nowadays, many users proactively take up the responsibility of resolving any common issues arising in their PC. Code10 occurs when the Device Manager fails to start the hardware device. It generally points out that corrupted or unspecified drivers or faulty hardware is posing the problem. As it is one of the standard driver errors on Windows 10,8, 7, addressing the specific drivers can help. Hence, facing This Device Cannot Start Error (code10) is not a deal-breaker. Give a shot to the carefully curated thirteen methods to fix it.
I have cleared cookies & history and restarted the browser, but it still shows the error. Is anyone else getting this? I had this problem before the Win June updates. It is enabled in startup, and task manager shows some intermittent activity, but Edge shows the error. (I have cleared browser cookies & history and restarted the browser.)
There is a problem with the driver on this device. This message appears when you attempt to start the device. Contact the hardware manufacturer if the driver is not installed correctly.
Code 48
When Windows Device Manager displays Error Code 48, it means that the driver for that device has been blocked because of a serious driver problem detected by the operating system.
If you need to reset Windows 10, you can do so in several ways. It’s possible to do it through the Windows interface or by using Safe Mode if you’re having trouble. You can also use the “Fresh Start” method (formerly “Refresh”). Ready? Let’s do it!
You can find View advanced system settings in Windows by searching for it.
Usually, Windows indicates that your hardware does not have drivers for your current operating system. A driver that is outdated can cause this error when we switch from a newer operating system to another (e.g. from Windows 7 to Windows 10). The driver can be updated or uninstalled and reinstalled in the device manager if all else fails. You may have to replace your hardware if all else fails.
This article describes Error Code 48, also known as Code 48, which states that the device’s software cannot be started due to Windows compatibility problems; contact the hardware vendor to have the driver installed.
Error code 48 – What is this?
In Windows 2000 and later, this error code is associated with device drivers.
When this occurs, the device is unable to function due to a corrupt or incompatible Windows operating system driver.
A screen message will inform the user:
There are problems with the hardware manufacturer’s driver for this device that prevent it from being started due to the software for this device being locked at startup. (Code 48)
Windows 10 comes with some virtualization-based security features with the Memory Integrity feature included in the Core Isolation security package. The Memory Integrity feature protects the core services from being tampered with by creating a secure area of system memory that is only accessible by Windows processes and software.
To resolve error code 48
Updated: April 2024
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Solution 1.
In order to resolve this Windows error, follow these steps:
- MadiXtreme can be found in the device manager.
- Click the “Uninstall” option when you right-click on MadiXtreme.
- You can uninstall driver software for this device by checking the box in the dialog box.
- If you click OK, Windows will remove the card from your computer.
- Click on “Action” and then choose “Search for hardware changes” to search for hardware changes for your computer.
- A reinstall will be attempted by Windows.
- The card may be listed with an exclamation mark under “Other Devices” under “Multimedia Audio Controller” if that fails.
- You can update the driver software by right-clicking the multimedia audio controller.
- If the driver files were unzipped, select “Scan computer for driver software”, then present that folder to the installer and let Windows read the “ssdev.inf” file.
Several attempts may be required to fix the problem. If you are unable to resolve the problem, you will have to reinstall Windows.
Disable memory integrity and reinstall the driver
It creates a protected area of system memory that can only be used by Windows processes and software, which protects core services from tampering. It’s part of Core Isolation, a virtualization-based security suite for Windows 10. This feature protects drivers from infection by creating a protected area of system memory that can only be used by Windows processes and software.
As a work in progress, this feature has had problems for users of Intel HD 4000 graphics cards when Windows 10 would not recognize them. You must follow these steps to reinstall the driver if you are having problems with another device. If you do not need to reinstall the driver, you can skip it.
- To open the Settings app, click on the Start Menu button and then on the gear icon above it. If you don’t see the icon, you can click on the shield icon in the taskbar and then on Show Security Dashboard.
- To open the Windows Defender Security Center, click on Update and Security and then select Windows Security.
- Select “Laptop Device Security” from the Home screen of the Windows Defender Security Center.
- The memory integrity section should appear once you click “Kernel Isolation Details” under “Kernel Isolation”.
- Across from the slider is a message that says, “Rebooting your device will make this change. Please do so.”.
In the event that you have a problem with your Intel HD 4000 graphics card or another device, you will need to install the driver again once you have disabled this feature.
- Use the Windows + R key combination to launch the Run dialogue box. Click Start and type Run.
- Click OK to start the Device Manager by typing “devmgmt.msc”.
- Find the driver or device that is causing the problem in Device Manager by expanding the category where it appears. You should not hesitate to remove the wrong device since you don’t want to remove the wrong one. You can find it among the display adapters if the problem is related to the Intel HD 4000 graphics card.
- The device can be removed from the context menu by right-clicking it.
- Uninstall the driver software from this device by checking the box next to it and clicking “OK.”
- The driver will be reinstalled by Windows when you restart your computer. After this, the manufacturer’s driver will be installed.
- Make sure the code 48 for the device is still present in Device Manager if it does not automatically replace the driver.
Note: You can now go back and re-enable memory integrity in the Windows Defender Security Center!
Running the SFC scan and Windows memory diagnostic test
A corrupted system file or memory management issue can also cause the problem in some cases. Privacy sensors, as well as other lesser known device in Device Manager, are often the culprits in these cases. It is recommended that you run these tests and scans to solve your problem regardless of whether they do any harm.
- Using the Start menu, click the search button next to “Command Prompt” and right-click on the result. Select “Run as administrator” from the context menu and choose “Command Prompt” from the results list.
- As an alternative, you can choose to open the “Run” dialog box by pressing the Windows logo key and R. Type “cmd” into the dialog box and use the key combination Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- Once you have entered all the commands in the window, hit Enter after each one. You will then see a message explaining that your method has been successful.
cfc/scans. - If you want to open the Control Panel directly, you can type “control.exe” in the Run field and press Enter. You can also use the Start menu search if you want to search for it in the Start menu.
- You can find the “Windows Storage Diagnostics” shortcut at the top of the Administrative Tools window after opening the Control Panel and changing the “Show By” option to “Large Icons”.
- You need to restart your computer as soon as possible in order to run the tool. Make sure you follow the instructions on the screen. See if the error message “The software for this device has been blocked at startup because it is known to have problems with Windows (Code 48)” still appears in the device status window.
Installing the driver in safe mode
The driver was correctly installed by some users after booting in safe mode. We have already scheduled steps to reinstall the driver. Try it in safe mode this time!
- Type “msconfig” in the Run dialog box after pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard.
- You can start your computer in safe mode by heading to the Boot tab in System Setup, checking the box next to Secure Boot, and clicking “OK.”
- If the message still appears, then you need to install the driver.
RECOMMENATION: Click here for help with Windows errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix error code 31?
- Reboot your computer if you haven't already done so.
- Did you install the device or make changes to the device manager just before error code 31 appeared?
- Reset the driver to the version before making changes.
- Use the system restore feature to undo the last changes you made to the device manager.
How do I fix error code 39?
Delete the values in the upper and lower filter registers. A common cause of error code 39 is a corruption of these two specific registry values in the DVD/CD-ROM drive class registry key. Removing similar values from the Windows registry can also fix an error that occurs on hardware other than a DVD or CD drive.
How to fix error code 45?
- Restore the PC registry.
- Try doing a DISM scan.
- Update the drivers.
- Run Windows Update.
- Uninstall and reinstall the drivers.
- Run hardware and device troubleshooting.
- Replace your USB device.
How to repair code 48?
Here's how to fix it: If you get a code 48 "The software on this device is locked (code 48)," restart your computer first, as this may resolve some of the issues associated with this error. If you still see the code, contact the hardware manufacturer to get and install the latest driver version.
Mark Ginter is a tech blogger with a passion for all things gadgets and gizmos. A self-proclaimed "geek", Mark has been blogging about technology for over 15 years. His blog, techquack.com, covers a wide range of topics including new product releases, industry news, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your devices. If you're looking for someone who can keep you up-to-date with all the latest tech news and developments, then be sure to follow him over at Microsoft.
