3 Fixes: 'Windows cannot start this hardware device (Code 19)'

Windows Troubleshooting
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Originally published at: 3 Fixes: 'Windows cannot start this hardware device (Code 19)'

Code 19, the entire error message being Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19), indicates that there is an error in the registry of your operating system and it causes serious problems with hardware devices connected to your system. This might lead to…

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I have a Lenovo 330 and had an Elan keyboard driver code 19. I followed these instructions and it bricked my system. Deleting these registry values caused windows to give an Inaccessible Boot device error. Not able to restore the backed up registry because no way to boot the system. Currently reinstalling windows.

Pro tip: before you start this, know what your windows password is (not the PIN but the actual password), or you are completely SOL. Voice of experience here!

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Thanks a lot. Took a screenshot before completing and didn’t notice until after I followed your instructions that it was the disk drive and the partition manager that {4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} was referencing. I would strongly recommend you add a warning about comparing the Class key in your instructions before more people have drive failures and have to reimage their machines.

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I took the computer up to the local used computer and repair shop, described the issues, and the guy shook his head and repeatedly told me that migration programs don’t work when changing from one operating system to another. The biggest part of the problem seemed to be all the 32 bit program installations on a 64 bit computer, that were going to cause increasingly big problems as time went on. I-Tunes was one of those programs. It wanted an upgrade to uninstall and wanted to be uninstalled to be upgraded. He backed up the data, wiped the drive, reinstalled Windows 10 from scratch, and then started reinstalling everything that would. That optical cd/dvd drive works now. Lost a bunch of programs. Can’t find most things. Fighting with reclaiming data and backup files from the old computer and getting it onto the new computer.

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Boot into clean boot and try to uninstall iTunes there.

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{4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} Check in this folder

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I just wanna say this helped me out immensely. Ive been digging through worthless articles and the MS website for a couple of hours and this fixed it!

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Are the Logitech drivers for your keyboard installed?

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Did you delete the correct files for the indicated folder? if you did the Windows shouldn’t have a problem booting if the files weren’t the right ones you might have broken your Windows installation and you will have to reinstall it.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! My drives haven’t worked in a year at least. #2 did it for me. Can’t believe that was the culprit (although I can, because itunes sucks so bad). Like the guy below, I was so close to giving up and buying an external.

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Thanks for this, my CD/DVD wasn’t working. The iTunes Repair step worked, and didn’t even have to reboot—the warning icon in the Device Manager (that I had open) magically vanished!

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Thank you it worked for me (Method 3) I was on verge of buying external rom drive

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Yes it is ok, the key might be located in a different folder in your case.

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Try this folder;
{4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

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You made my day - external DVD Drive is working again! #3 worked for me - I deleted LowerFilters from the Registry (no UpperFilters were listed). Excellent instructions, many thanks.

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Nice work on the procedure-- coherent and orderly, with a minimum of digression…

Noted, that in your running demonstration window, after drilling down through the registry keys to find class and guid keys, you did not find the actual upper and lower filters.

For those who may read this comment, I followed procedure, but found only the LowerFilters key, and deleted that, rebooted, but with no return of function to my keyboard. Your mileage (hopefully) will vary.

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Did you delete the correct files in the registry editor? try to do a repair installation of Windows if so.

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Searching for the entire internet. Spend like 3 hours to solve this issue.
Finally Resolved looking at your post and comments for my Keyboard issue of Asus FX53V.

Change the Registry values for Keyboard, UpperFilter.
Then, uninstalled Keyboard and Restarted my Laptop.

Deep Gratitude!!
Thank You So Very Much.

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Try this solution:
Go into the following folder in regedit :“ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass{4d36e96b-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}”
Change Default key value to “Keyboard” and change the UpperFilter Value to “kbdclass”. Save your changes and go into device management. Now try to search for the drivers of the keyboard on your computer and install them, After that check if your keyboard works.

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Go into the following folder in regedit :“ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass{4d36e96b-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}”
Change Default key value to “Keyboard” and change the UpperFilter Value to “kbdclass”. Save your changes and go into device management. Now try to search for the drivers of the keyboard on your computer and install them, After that check if your keyboard works.