If you’ve encountered the frustrating “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error on your Windows computer, don’t worry. This error message can occur due to various reasons, such as faulty connections, malfunctioning drivers, or compatibility issues. Fortunately, troubleshooting this error is not as difficult as it may seem. In this guide, we will explore several troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error on Windows effectively.
1. Reconnect the Device
sfc /scannow
After running the SFC scan, you can proceed to run the DISM scan. The DISM scan detects common problems with the system image and connects to Windows Update online to download and replace any damaged files. Enter the following command in the command prompt:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Once the scan is complete, restart your PC and check if the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error still persists.
4. Update the Device Drivers
Alternatively, you can use a driver updater tool for Windows to simplify the process. A driver updater will automatically update all your drivers, potentially fixing any unknown issues.
If updating the driver doesn’t resolve the error, it’s possible that the device drivers are corrupted. Refer to our comprehensive guide on fixing corrupt drivers on Windows for detailed instructions on resolving this issue.
5. Check the USB Drive for Bad Sectors
The scanning process may take some time, depending on the size of your storage device. Once the scan is complete, reconnect your USB drive and check if the error persists.
If the error continues, you might consider formatting the USB drive. However, remember to back up all important data before formatting, as the process will erase all data on the drive. Follow our guide on how to format a USB drive for detailed instructions on formatting and why it may be necessary.
6. Troubleshoot the Issue with a Clean Boot
After the clean boot, check if the error still persists. If the error no longer occurs, it indicates that one of the disabled services or startup items was causing the problem. You can now enable these services and startup items one by one to identify the culprit.
