ERRORDevice ManagerCode 28
Device Manager Code 28The drivers are not installed
Device Manager Code 28, "The drivers for this device are not installed", means Windows has no driver for the device, so it appears as an unknown or other device. The fix is to identify the device from its hardware ID and install the correct driver, usually from the PC or component vendor.
What it means
Code 28, CM_PROB_FAILED_INSTALL, means "The drivers for this device are not installed." Windows detected the hardware but has no driver to make it work, so it lists it as an Unknown Device under "Other devices". This is normal on a fresh Windows installation until the vendor drivers are added, and appears when a device's driver was removed or never provided.
Identify the device first
You cannot install the right driver until you know what the device is:
- Open Device Manager, right-click the unknown device → Properties → Details tab.
- Set Property to Hardware Ids.
- Read the
VEN_xxxx(vendor) andDEV_xxxx(device) values, for examplePCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1234. - Look those up on the vendor's site or a hardware-ID database to name the device.
Install the driver
- Best: install the PC or motherboard vendor's full driver package for your exact model and Windows build (confirm the build with systeminfo). This covers chipset, network, audio and other devices at once.
- For a specific component (a discrete GPU, Wi-Fi card, printer), get the driver from that component's manufacturer.
- Windows Update → "Optional updates" → "Driver updates" sometimes has the driver.
- After installing, the device moves out of "Other devices" to its proper category.
If it persists
- Re-run the vendor's driver installer as administrator.
- For a device that still will not identify, the hardware ID lookup is the key; a generic "install a driver updater tool" is not a substitute and such tools are best avoided.
Frequently asked questions
What does Code 28 mean?
Windows found the device but has no driver for it, so it cannot use it. The device usually appears under "Other devices" as an Unknown Device with a yellow marker. It is common after a fresh Windows install before all vendor drivers are added.
How do I find the right driver for an unknown device?
Open the device Properties → Details tab → Property: Hardware Ids. The VEN_ (vendor) and DEV_ (device) values identify the hardware; search the vendor's site or a hardware-ID database for the matching driver, or install the PC vendor's full driver package.