Forum Discussion
Two drivers trying to control the same hardware
My Windows 10 system is experiencing a driver conflict where two separate drivers are attempting to control the same piece of hardware simultaneously, causing the device to malfunction or become unrecognizable. I have already tried disabling one driver and updating both, but the conflict persists and I need guidance on permanently resolving this issue.
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Hey — Windows can list several compatible driver packages, but only one active function driver should own a device at a time. We’ll need the device name and error code before deleting anything.
In Device Manager, open the problem device > Properties > Details > Hardware Ids, and note the Driver tab provider/version. Enable View > Show hidden devices and remove only stale grey entries for the same physical device. Then uninstall the active device, reboot, and install the correct package from the PC or hardware manufacturer.
I would not delete packages blindly with `pnputil`; removing a storage, network, or chipset driver can make the machine unbootable or disconnect it. If you post the Hardware ID, both driver names, and the Device Manager error code, we can identify which package belongs.
