Are you experiencing a blue screen error, audio error, connectivity issues, or even a DRIVER CORRUPTED EXPOOL error? It's likely one or more of your drivers are corrupted. Corrupted, broken, missing, and old drivers on Windows can trigger various problems on your system.
Unfortunately, this can also make the device it controls become unusable or cause it to crash. Therefore, it is crucial to fix a corrupt driver as soon as you detect it to prevent your computer from malfunctioning. Here are some ways to fix corrupt drivers in Windows 10.
Windows 10 automatically updates your drivers through the updates it rolls out. However, some updates can cause problems to your driver, causing them to malfunction. In some cases, manually updating the corrupted driver can fix the problem. Here's how:
- Press and hold Windows + R keys to open the Run dialogue box. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager menu.
- Once you find the corrupted driver, right-click on it and select Update driver from the context menu.
If the latest version of the driver isn't installed on your computer yet, updating it manually usually fixes the problem. However, if there are no available updates, continue to the next fix.
2. Reinstall Drivers
If your driver is already updated and still corrupted, reinstalling it can sometimes do the trick. Follow the steps below:
- Press and hold Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager menu.
- Install the driver and restart your PC.
3. Run Windows Troubleshooter
If you find the manual process of fixing corrupt drivers tedious, the Windows troubleshooter tool is perfect for you. The tool located in the Control Panel helps users troubleshoot some of the most common problems found in Windows 10.
Through this tool, Windows will automatically download or fix broken, missing, or corrupted drivers in your device. Here's how to use it:
- Press and hold the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box. Then, type control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
- From the popup window, click Next, and Windows will automatically detect the problem and fix it.
4. Scan Your System for Any Virus Using Windows Security
Corrupted drivers are sometimes the result of malware on your computer. If you have a habit of downloading files from disreputable sites, you're putting your system at risk. These files could be infected by viruses and may interfere with your drivers, affecting some of the components of your computer.
Fortunately, Microsoft has a built-in security tool that allows you to find and remove malicious and corrupted files from your system. This will enable you to obliterate the cause of the problem, so you won't have to keep fixing your corrupted drivers. Here's how you can use it:
- Press and hold Windows + S keys to open Windows Search. Type Windows Security and press Enter.
- Click Virus & threat protection.
5. Update Windows 10
If all else fails, a system update can solve the corrupted drivers in your Windows 10. But before you update your system, make sure that the Device installation settings are enabled. This setting ensures that Windows will update all your drivers along with the system updates. Here's how to allow it in your system:
- Press and hold Windows + S keys to open Windows Search. Type Device installation settings and press Enter.
- A popup window will appear and ask, "Do you want to automatically download manufacturers' apps and custom icons that are available for your devices?"
- Choose Yes and click Save Changes.
Also, check optional updates before downloading the latest Windows update. These optional updates carry the required updates for your computer, and installing them may help fix your corrupted drivers. Follow the steps below to check these updates:
- Open the Settings app on your system by pressing and holding Windows + I keys.
- From Settings, go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
- On the right side of this page, click View optional updates.
No More Corrupt Drivers
Corrupt drivers can cause problems to your system and may affect the overall functionality of your device. Drivers help your system communicate with your hardware correctly, and if they are broken or missing, your computer's components may become unusable.
Thankfully, these fixes above can help restore your system's drivers to their normal state, allowing your computer to function at its best.