How to fix “Cannot find Sound Card hardware device, Code 41” error (Solved)
In a customer’s computer, the following error appeared in device manager: the Sound Card (Intel Audio Controller) was marked with an exclamation mark and at the device properties, the following error appeared: “Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41). Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.”
The solution below contains step by step instructions on how to resolve “Error 41” for your Sound Card. The solution works perfectly in Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP OS.
How to solve Sound Card Error – Code 41.
Before solving Sound Card errors using the steps below, download and install the latest drivers for your audio card from the manufacturer’s website and then check if your sound card is working.
Also ensure that the “Windows Audio” service has “Started”. To do that:
1. Press “Windows” + “R” keys to load the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. From the Services list in the right pane, check if the “Windows Audio” service is “Started”.
4. If the “Windows Audio” service is not started, then:
- Double click to open “Windows Audio” properties and set the “Startup Type” to “Automatic”.
- Click “OK” & restart your computer
5. After the restart, check if your Audio card is working now, otherwise continue to resolve the error by following the steps below.
Step 1. Delete Sound Card’s invalid registry keys.
1. Open Windows Registry Editor. To do that:
2. Inside Windows Registry, navigate (from the left pane) and highlight this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
3. At the right pane, click to highlight the “UpperFilters” key.
4. Click the “Edit” menu and select “Delete”.
5. Perform the same action (Delete) with the “LowerFilters” key if found.
6. Close Registry Editor.
7. Restart your computer.
8. Now check if your sound card works. If not, continue to Step 2.
Step 2. Uninstall the Sound Card from device manager.
1. Open Device Manager. To do that:
2. In device manager, double-click to expand “Sound, Video and Game Controllers”.
3. Right-click on the every Sound device found there and select “Uninstall”.
4. Restart your computer.
5. After the restart, wait until Windows automatically install the Sound Card drivers again. *
* Notice. If Windows cannot automatically install the drivers for your Sound Card, then you have to download and install the latest sound card driver from the manufacturer’s site.
You ‘re done!
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