Fix Code 3 – The Driver for this device might be corrupted
Sudden slowdowns on your Windows computer usually occur when the RAM is full, or when a device driver fails. Check if the drivers are glitchy. Open the Run command and type devmgmt. Check the properties of each device driver separately in Device Manager. If you get this message: the driver for this device may be corrupt, or your system lacks memory or other resources. (Code 3)
These 5 error messages may appear during program installation, when a program associated with Microsoft Corporation (such as the Windows operating system) is running, when Windows is starting or shutting down. Or even when installing the Windows operating system. Keeping track of when and where the Code 3 error occurs is important information for troubleshooting.
What causes this error?
- Incorrectly configured, old or corrupt device drivers. (very common)
- Damage to the Windows registry due to a recent software modification (installation or removal).
- A virus or malware that has corrupted Windows system files or related drivers.
- Driver conflict after installing new hardware.
- Defective material.
Run the hardware troubleshooter
- Right-click Start.
- Select Control Panel.
- Navigate to the “View by” option in the upper right corner.
- Click the drop-down arrow and select Large Icons.
- Click Troubleshooting.
- Click Hardware and Sound.
- Click Configure the device.
- Click Next to resolve the problem.
Update your device drivers
Usually outdated device drivers are the main cause of the -3 code. The driver for that device may be corrupted in your system. Therefore, it is recommended that you first update the driver of the device that is not working. To do this, simply follow these simple steps:
- right-click the Windows icon and select Device Manager from the search list.
- Find the driver causing the code error 3. Once you find it, right-click it and select Update Driver from the context menu.
- On the next screen, perform an automatic search for updated driver software options.
- This process determines the appropriate driver based on your computer’s architecture and installs it on your system.
- After completing the above task, restart your computer and check to see if all the device drivers are working properly or not.
Install more RAM
If your Windows computer does not have enough memory to run the driver, you will need to close some applications to free up memory. Open the system information window to check your memory and system resources. Check if you need to install additional RAM.
Uninstall and reinstall the driver
If you still get an error code 3 after updating a faulty driver, it’s best to uninstall and reinstall the faulty drivers. In most cases, this alone solves the underlying problem http://windowsbulletin.com/code-3-error-driver-device-might-corrupted-system-may-low-memory/. Just be sure to scan the new software before installing it on your system. Here is the complete procedure you need to follow:
- Press Win and X at the same time to open the power menu.
- Select Device Manager from the list to run the same.
- Expand each section one by one and see if there is a yellow checkmark next to the pilot.
- If so, right-click it and select “Properties” from the context menu.
- Now click on the “Driver” tab and click on “Remove”. Then select the same option to confirm the changes.
- Then follow the instructions on the screen until the above process is complete.
- Once this is done, reboot the system and reinstall the removed driver.