This Device Cannot Start Code 10 error generally means that windows was unable to properly communicate with one of your installed device Driver. This problem mostly occurs due to outdated, incompatible, missing or corrupt drivers, Faulty Device driver. Also some cases, Device Cannot Start Code 10 error also pops up if the device manager doesn’t understand the error generated by the driver. And in all these cases hardware is not able to work properly.

Device Manager Error Code 10

Normally For proper functioning of your windows computer, it is very important that the individual hardware and software devices present on it work properly. If any of the devices fail to start/work or function, the user will start facing different error codes and device Stop working. And This Device Cannot Start Code 10 is one of them, This Error occur means

*Device Manager can’t start the attached device.
*One of the drivers that the device needs does not start.
*Device Manager has insufficient information to recognize the error that is bubbled up by the device driver. 

Whatever the reason, If you are struggling with this device cannot start. (code 10) error here effective solutions to get rid of this.

Disable USB Suspend Settings

Most Windows users report After Disable USB suspend Setting on power option will Fix This Device Cannot Start Code 10 and start the attached device normally. We recommend to first Disable USB suspend Setting by following the below steps and check the problem solved.

  • open control panel
  • Search for and select Power Options.
  • Now click on Change plan settings below your selected power plan (it’s normally Balanced ( recommended ) as shown below image.

change power plan settings

  • Next select Change Advanced Power Settings.
  • And expend USB Settings set the USB selective suspend setting to Disabled.

* Note: If you own the laptop set the USB Suspend to Disable to both “On Battery” & “Plugged in”.

Click OK to apply changes, Restart your computer. Now Attach the device and check its working properly and This Device Cannot Start Code 10 fixed.

Delete invalid or corrupted Registry entries

If above method failed to fix This Device Cannot Start Code 10 error try this registry Tweak ( Delete invalid or corrupted registry Entries )

  • Press Windows + R, type regedit and ok to open windows registry editor,
  • First backup registry Database, then navigate the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}

 Note : This registry sub-key {36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000} is Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) representing a device present on your system. Every Device has a different GUID. Here select the GUID of the device which you are getting This Device Cannot Start Code 10.

GUID for Different Devices

GUID Device
 Class
4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives CDROM
4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Hard drives DiskDrive
4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Video adapters Display
4d36e969-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Floppy controllers FDC
4d36e980-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Floppy drives FloppyDisk
4d36e96a-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Hard drive controllers HDC
745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da Some USB devices HIDClass
6bdd1fc1-810f-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f IEEE 1394 host controller 1394
6bdd1fc6-810f-11d0-bec7-08002be2092f Cameras and scanners Image
4d36e96b-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Keyboards Keyboard
4d36e96d-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Modems Modem
4d36e96f-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Mice and pointing devices Mouse
4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Audio and video devices Media
4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Network adapters Net
4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 Serial and parallel ports Ports
4d36e97b-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 SCSI and RAID controllers SCSIAdapter
4d36e97d-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318 System buses, bridges, etc. System
36fc9e60-c465-11cf-8056-444553540000 USB host controllers and hubs USB

For ex : If you are having This Device Cannot Start Code 10 error on Network Adapter then select GUID 4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318. or If you have a USB device The select GUID 36fc9e60-c465-11cf-8056-444553540000. 

Now Look at the right-pane and Delete (right-click > Delete) the following registry entries (values) if found:

    • UpperFilters
    • LowerFilters

Close Registry Editor and restart your computer check the problematic Device is working properly. For Better understand Check bellow video.

Uninstall all USB controllers

As discuss Before This errors also mostly caused by old, Corrupted device drivers that have to be updated. The best way to make sure you have the latest and most up to date driver for a device is to go to the manufacturer’s website and download it from there.

Or you can update the installed Device Driver by following below.

  • Press Windows key + R then type “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open device manager.
  • Expand “Universal Serial Bus controllers” then right click on each one of them and choose Uninstall.
  • (if you use a USB Keyboard or Mouse and you lost the connection, unplug and re-plug them to regain connectivity.)
  • Once you have removed all of them, restart the computer and Windows will reinstall all of the USB controllers.
  • Now Check The problematic Drive is working

Diagnose and fix Windows USB problems

If all the above methods fail to fix This Device Cannot Start Code 10  Then you can Download Microsoft official USB diagnostic Tool From the Given Download link.

Download USB Fix Tool 

Note: This Diagnostic Tool Help to fix USB audio, storage, and print devices—such as thumb drives, USB hard drives, and USB printers—that do not eject using the Safely Remove Hardware dialog box, Getting Different Error codes.

After download, the tool Right click and select Run or Open to run the troubleshooting Too. Here click on Advanced and tick mark on Apply repairs Automatically click next This will start the USB diagnostic process.

If found any problem with currently installed USB device this will try to fix itself or instruct where is the problem causing. After that Restart windows and check, problem solved or not.

Also if you are using an external Hard disk or printer, scanner we recommend to Change the device’s USB cable and check the device with a different computer.

Did these solutions help to fix this device cannot start. (code 10) on windows 10? Let us know on the comments below, also read:

Steve Ballmer
With over 7 years of experience in the IT industry, I have experience in IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. Certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.

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