To get the benefits of a USB device with a type-C connector, the USB-C driver for all USB-C devices should be installed on your Windows PC. Download and install the USB-C drivers for the controller and the connected USB-C device to get things to work.
What is USB-C?
USB-C is a huge improvement over older USB standards both in terms of practical use as well as in performance.
USB-C refers to the type-C connector, where older USB versions use the type-A and type-B connectors. The biggest advantage of the type-C connector is that you cannot plug it wrong, it is a reversible connector.
USB-C is downward compatible with USB 2.0, but for full support, USB version 3.2 is needed. USB 4.0 takes things a step further with increased data transfer speeds and Thunderbolt 3 compatibility.
Other USB-C benefits:
Transfer speeds for USB-C devices can vary from 5 Gbit/s to 20 Gbit/s depending on the USB version.
100 Watts of power (20V, 5A) with two-way charging.
DisplayPort over USB for ports supporting the USB-C Alt Mode. Allows for connecting video sources and display devices.
The USB-C connector type was created by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). USB-IF is a group of companies creating computer hardware and software (including Apple, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, and many others). The USB-IF group is also responsible for issuing USB vendor IDs that are used to uniquely identify hardware devices.
For USB-C ports and devices to work, a USB controller is required to be functional. It is often referred to as a Host Controller Interface (HCI), or these days an eXtensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI). Modern Intel and AMD chipsets have onboard USB controllers. But there are also other vendors of USB controllers (Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Cypress Semiconductors, and others).
It is important to be aware that not all USB-C type ports support all possible USB-C type features. DisplayPort and Thunderbolt for example are not implemented by all USB controllers. And if they are, installing the right driver for your USB-C type controller is critical for things to work properly.
Where do I find USB-C?
Most modern computers and devices are using a USB-C type port. You can recognize it by the connector type as outlined above. Be aware that Thunderbolt ports look the same and might not implement the USB-C functionality.
If your computer does not support USB-C devices, it can be added using a docking station, or internal extension card (desktop computers). There are many manufacturers that offer solutions for this.
Popular external devices that are connected to a computer using a USB-C type connection are game controllers, portable storage (SSD, flash drive), smartphones, and tablets. But even keyboards, mice, and printers can be connected through a USB-C connection.
Update USB-C Drivers in Windows
There are a few different ways in which USB-C drivers can be updated on Windows. In the latest Windows versions, the USB-C drivers should be installed automatically.
But if things are not working the USB-C type drivers might need to be manually updated, or use a program to update the USB-C drivers.
Make sure to update the USB controller drivers as well as any USB device-specific drivers.
Manually update a USB-C driver using the Device Manager
Open the Run box by pressing and holding the Windows logo key and then pressing the R key at the same time.
In the Open box, type devmgmt.msc, and then click the OK button or press the Enter key.
In the Device Manager window, click Universal Serial Bus controllers to show all USB devices.
Right-click the eXtensible Host Controller device, and in the popup menu, click Update driver.Note: The example shows the Intel® controller, but it can display other manufacturers like AMD, NVidia, or ASMedia as well.
The next step is to select where to search for drivers. Select Search automatically for updated driver software to use the Microsoft Windows Update server to search for USB-C driver updates.
If you have a downloaded copy of the USB-C driver for your computer or controller, select the second option: Browse my computer for driver software.
After selecting an option, follow the on-screen instructions to search for an updated driver.
Click Close when done.
If necessary, also update the drivers for the USB devices that are not recognized by Windows. Apart from the USB controllers themselves, some USB-C devices require additional drivers to function.
Automatically searching for a USB-C driver
If the solution from the previous step did not work, you can try using a program like DriverFinder instead.
DriverFinder will scan all your computer hardware and identify the devices. After that, the program will automatically find the right drivers for your PC hardware and Windows version.
Simply download and install the program, activate it, and run a scan to download all required drivers.
The benefit of DriverFinder is that it will detect all hardware, so you do not need to manually search for third-party drivers if Windows has no native support for devices.
If you have been working with Windows for some time, you will probably have faced this scenario: Windows Update Failed. For some reason, the updates failed partially, or did not get installed altogether.
And although Microsoft has been trying to improve things, failed updates happen will all versions of Windows, up to Windows 10.
Windows Update Failed – Common Error Codes
The reasons why Windows Update Failed are various. And as a result, there are many error codes associated with this problem. Some are generic, while others pertain to a specific update or specific problem.
Here are some examples of error codes that are linked to failed Windows updates:
0x800705b4 – related to Windows Defender 0x800F0906, 0x800F081F, 0x800F0907 – .NET framework related 0x800F0922 – Windows 10 upgrade related 0x80240034 – downloading of update(s) failed 0x80242006 – update contains invalid metadata 0x80244018 – Internet connection related 0x80070070 – disk space related 0x80070103 – driver related
Some other examples are: 0x8007000E, 0x80D02002, 0x8007000D, 0x80246008, 0x80096004.
This list is definitely not complete. Sometimes there is a useful error description, but often it is not quite clear what caused the Windows Update process to fail.
Windows Update Failed – Common Causes
The obvious question to ask is: what caused the Windows Update to fail?
As in many cases with complex software, there can be quite a few causes. It is important to realize that the update process is basically a sequence of downloading and installing software. So availability of the source, a reliable connection for the download, and storage space for the download are the first essentials. But after that, the execution of the update installation can still cause problems.
To sum it up, the common causes for Windows Update to fail are:
Insufficient disk space – space is needed for storing the downloaded updates, as well as for the execution of the update installation.
Dependencies– An update can depend on something like a specific version of the .NET framework being installed, or a specific service having been started.
Failed previous updates – If a previous update has failed, it might have left (partial) installation files behind, or installed only partially causing problems with the next update.
Install sequence – If you have a lot of updates pending, all are downloaded in one go and installed once downloaded. If a specific sequence is required for some updates, this might fail.
Hardware incompatibility – In general, Windows prevents installing updates on incompatible systems. But there is a reason why Windows 10 is not supported on older systems. Hardware conflicts and limitations can definitely cause problems with software being installed.
Driver incompatibility – Windows 10, by default, includes device driver updates in the install process. If a new driver version is incompatible with the hardware version present, the update may fail. Trying to install a driver that is a lesser match than the installed driver can cause error 0x80070103.
Corrupt update files – This can be the result of download issues, where the update files did not completely download correctly.
Given the possible causes above, this also means that there are some relatively simple steps that can help solve Windows Update Failed situations.
Windows Update Failed – SIMPLE FIXES to Try Immediately
Try these steps – preferably in this sequence – to see if they are the cause of your Windows Update problem.
Check your disk space and free up space if needed. Although Windows Update reserves space for update files, it is still possible that a disk space limitation is the cause of the problem. Just check the available disk space on the system drive (check the Properties for the C: drive in most cases). And run a disk cleanup to free up some more space.
Restart your PC and try again – If the installation sequence is important for the updates being installed, simply reboot your computer and restart Windows Update to fix the issue.
Select which updates to install – If you are running other Microsoft software (like Office), it can help to limit Windows Update to the core only.
Using the Advanced options in Windows Update, you can tell Windows to not Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows.
Unplug external devices – In most cases, this will pertain to USB devices. Examples are printers, scanners, webcams, end external drives. Make sure not to unplug the mouse and keyboard if they are connected through a USB port, because then you can’t reboot the PC anymore.
Unplugging external devices can also help in case the Windows Update failed as a result of driver updates, or hardware incompatibility. It is also possible to disable automatic driver updates in Windows. That will prevent new driver updates from being downloaded automatically. Simply update the drivers after the Windows Update problems are resolved.
We recommend downloading DriverFinder for this. DriverFinder is a separate driver update program that will find the right – and latest – drivers for all your hardware.
After unplugging the devices, restart your PC and try Windows Update again.
Windows Update Failed – DEEP DIVE Fixes
Reset the Windows Update Cache
As with many computer actions, the Windows Update process uses temporary storage. One such element is called the Windows Update Cache. It is also referred to as the SoftwareDistribution directory.
Clearing the Windows Update cache is really nothing more than deleting the SoftwareDistribution directory (or its content). But since this file location is used by the Windows Update service, you can’t delete it when this service is running.
To delete the SoftwareDistribution directory:
In the Search box on the taskbar, type ‘command’.
In the Search results, right-click the Command Prompt.
In the popup menu, click Run as administrator.
When the User Account Control window shows, click the Yes button.
Once the Command Prompt window shows, type the following commands (press Enter after each command). net stop wuauserv net stop bits rd /s /q %windir%SoftwareDistribution net start wuauserv net start bits Note: If you are not comfortable deleting the SoftwareDistribution directory, you can rename it rather than deleting it (ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak).
Close the Command Prompt window, and then retry Windows Update.
If for some reason these steps fail or seem too complicated for you, there is another way.
To ensure the SoftwareDistribution directory can be deleted, you can start your PC in Safe Mode.
Click the Start menu icon, and in the Start menu click Settings.
In the Settings window, click the Update & Security option (last entry, so depending on the size of the window, you might need to scroll down).
Next, select the Recovery option.
And finally, click the Restart now button in the Recovery window.
Once your PC restarts, you will see the Choose an option screen. Select Troubleshoot.
In the Troubleshoot screen (next step), select Advanced options.
In the Advanced options screen, select Startup Settings.
The last step here is to click the Restart button in the Startup Settings screen.
Again the PC will reboot, after which you will see a list of options. Press the 4 or F4 key on your keyboard to start the PC in Safe Mode.
Once Windows starts, you can open a File Explorer window, navigate to the Windows folder (typically C:Windows) and delete the SoftwareDistribution folder. Tip: Press and hold Shift and then Delete to permanently delete the folder rather than moving it to the recycle bin.
After this, reboot your PC again (it will start in normal boot mode), and retry the Windows Update.
Run the System File Checker
The System File Checker, or SFC, does exactly what the name says: it will check and repair system files. This tool has been part of Windows since Windows XP and is still present in Windows 10.
The exact function of the tools is described as “Scans the integrity of all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with Microsoft versions”. This is a useful tool to use for many Windows problems, not just if Windows Updates failed.
How to run the System File Checker.
Open a Command Prompt window with Administrator access.
For Windows 8 and later it is recommended to run the DSIM tool before running the SFC tool. DSIM (or full: Deployment Image Servicing and Management) can be executed using the command: DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth Note: Like the SFC command, the DSIM command can take a bit of time to complete.
In the Command Prompt window type the command: SFC /SCANNOW and press the Enter key.
Now, wait for the command to complete. This can take some time.
Once the command completes, close the Command Prompt window and restart the computer.
Run the Windows Update again after this to check if the issue is resolved.
Download and Install Updates Manually
Although it is best to have the automatic update process install Windows updates, it is possible to download and install them manually.
Microsoft has a download page for Windows 10. This page can be used to download the Windows 10 upgrade tool and Windows 10 installation media. Useful if you need a copy of Windows 10 installation files to recover corrupted system files, or if you need to reinstall Windows 10.
Apart from that, major updates can also be downloaded from there.
For individual Windows Updates, you need to visit the Windows Update Catalog. There you can search for individual updates (KB numbers).
To know which updates to search for, simply go to the View update history (in the Windows Update settings).
Look for the entries that show “Failed” instead of “Successfully” and take note of the KBxxxxxxx number.
Now visit the Windows Update Catalog in a browser. Type the KB number in the search field, and click Search.
Use the Download button to download the update manually. If more than one result shows, you typically want to download the top one (newest date).
After you click the Download button, a new window will show with a link to the .CAB file. Click the link to download the file.
Once the file completes downloading, you can open the file. In this example, which uses an Edge browser update, simply click the Open file link. This will open a Windows Explorer window with the default download folder selected.
The file should be an .MSI file (Microsoft Installer), which can be executed by double-clicking it. You can also select it and press Enter on the keyboard.
Follow the installation instructions presented to complete the installation of the Windows Update.
Disable Your Anti-Virus Software
This solution should really only be used if all others fail since you will put your PC at risk for a short while. But in some cases, the download of Windows Update files does not complete due to Windows Defender or another AV program.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you re-enable the your anti-virus software immediately after completing the Windows Update!
How to disable Windows Defender in Windows 10.
In the Search box on the taskbar, type ‘windows defender’.
In the Search results, click the Windows Defender Firewall icon.
This will bring up the Windows Defender Firewall windows. Click the link named Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
In the Customize Settings window, select the radio button labeled Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) in the Private network settings section.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Close the Windows Defender Firewall window.
With Windows Defender disabled, run Windows Update again to see if the problem is resolved.
For other Anti Virus software, please check the vendor’s instructions on how to temporarily disable their software. Many solutions have a taskbar icon which shows a popup menu when clicked (or right-clicked). The menu often has an option to disable the AV software for a limited time.
Check Your PC’s Download Settings
Disable LAN-Proxy Settings
If you’re using a proxy, try disabling it to see if it will fix the update failure issue.
In the Search box on the taskbar, type ‘internet options’.
In the Search results, click the Internet Options icon.
This will open the Internet Properties dialog box. Select the Connection tab (1).
Now click the LAN settings button (2).
This will bring up the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window. Make sure you have the checkbox named Automatically detect settings selected.
In the same window, also make sure you have the checkbox named Use a proxy server for your LAN (…) unchecked.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Click the OK button in the Internet Properties dialog box.
After this, try Windows Update again.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
BITS is short for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Windows update uses this service to download updates in the background, while you can still actively use your Internet connection.
So just make sure the BITS service is running properly on your system using these steps:
In the Search box on the taskbar, type ‘services’
In the Search results, click the Services App icon.
This will bring up the Services window. Scroll down in the list until you see the Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Tip: You can widen the Name column by clicking and dragging the header separator (1).
Right-click the Background Intelligent Transfer Service line, and in the popup menu, select Properties (2).
This will bring up the BITS Properties window, with the General tab selected. Change the Startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start). Note: This change will ensure the BITS service is started automatically when the computer starts. The Delayed Start option will result in the service being started after all other services, which can reduce startup times.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Finally, close the Services window.
After this, restart your system and try Windows Update.
Hardware Devices and Drivers
As mentioned earlier, hardware device and driver compatibility issues can Windows Updates to fail.
Drivers are a critical part of the Windows operating system as they ensure all devices function properly. But that also results in driver problems often being the cause for failed Windows Updates.
Unplugging external, non-essential devices is a first step in trying to fix Windows Update failed errors (if caused by devices or drivers).
Disabling automatic driver updates in Windowsis another step to exclude drivers from being updated by Windows. This will help if the hardware device that is causing problems cannot be disconnected/removed.
After either of these two steps, run Windows Update again to see if the problem is fixed.
If none of the above works, try the Windows Update Driver Cleanup feature.
If driver updates are a reason for a Windows Update to fail, you can try to clean up existing or old driver installation files. It can be done with a single command.
Simply open a command prompt with administrator-level access (see earlier instructions in this article).
In the Command Prompt window type the command: rundll32.exe pnpclean.dll,RunDLL_PnpClean /DEVICES /DRIVERS /FILES /MAXCLEAN And then press the Enter key. Note: The command will complete without showing any output in the Command Prompt window. The result of this command is actually added to a log file C:WindowsINFsetupapi.dev.log. So if you are interested in the details, open that file and scroll down to the bottom of the file for the latest changes.
Close the Command Prompt window.
After that, run the Windows Update process again to see if your problem is solved.
Specific Tips for Windows 10
NOTE: ALL of the above troubleshooting tips can also be tried if you’re using Windows 10. The following though are specific to this particular Windows version.
In Windows 10, Microsoft has incorporated a special Update Troubleshooter. It analyzes the system for common causes and problems related to failed Windows Updates. If it finds a problem, it will try to fix it automatically.
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Click the Start menu button, and in the Start menu, click Settings.
In the Settings window, select Update & Security.
Next, select Troubleshoot, and then click the link called Additional troubleshooters.
Now, click the Windows Update option under Get up and running, and then click the Run the troubleshooter button.
The Windows Update troubleshooter will start analyzing the system. Wait for it to complete. Any problems that were found (and fixed) are shown in the window.
After completion, click the option to Close the troubleshooter.
Although this might seem like a strange suggestion, pausing the updates will clear the downloaded updates. So un-pausing the updates after this might fix your problems with Windows Update.
In Windows 10 follow these instructions:
Click the Windows Start button, and then click Settings.
In the Settings window, click Update & Recovery.
Next, select Windows Update.
In the Window Update window, select Advanced options.
In the Advanced options screen, scroll down until you see the Pause updates option.
Click the Select date control and simply select a date in the future. Since we are just pausing the updates briefly, the duration of the pause period does not matter.
No need to save anything. Once you changed the date, close the Settings window and restart your PC.
After the PC restarts, go to the Settings again, select Update & Recovery, and then Windows Update.
It will show Updates paused. Click the Resume updates button to un-pause the Windows Update process.
Windows will immediately start checking for updates again and hopefully complete downloading and installing updates after this.
Windows Update Failed – Still Not Solved?!?
If Windows Update still keeps failing, try skipping an update.
Of course, this needs to be assessed on an individual scenario basis. Critical security updates should not be skipped, while optional, non-essential updates can be.
If nothing works, and critical updates fail, or too many updates fail, the only real solution might be to do a fresh install of Windows on your system.
Is your USB drive not showing in Windows 10? Here’s a quick step-by-step fix… with pics!
External storage devices like USB Flash drives and external hard disk (HDD) or SSD drives are quite handy and popular. They’re commonly used for backups, or as simple storage devices. Normally, when you plug a USB device, its corresponding drive simply shows up in File Manager. So what do you do if you face a “USB drive not showing” on your Windows 10 computer?
A USB device not recognized message in Windows 10 is one of the potential causes of a USB drive not showin up.
#1 – Check the USB Device.
The first thing to do is to check if the USB device itself is okay.
You can do this by connecting the USB drive to a different computer. If it is correctly recognized there, then you know the USB drive itself is fine and that the problem is with your Windows 10 system.
If the device is an external hard disk (or SSD), or ZIP drive, also check if the cable is defective by exchanging it with a different cable if possible. This is a less frequent cause, but not something to be ignored.
Also make sure to connect the USB device directly to a USB port on the Windows 10 PC, not through an extension cable or USB hub. Long cables, extra connections, or insufficient power can also be a cause for problems with USB drives (this is especially true for the older USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports and devices).
#2 – Check Your PC.
Unless you made changes, there is normally no reason to assume anything is wrong with your computer. However, for older PC’s it can be helpful to turn the PC off, remove the USB devices, and completely unplug the PC.
While troubleshooting the issue with the USB drive, leave other USB devices disconnected (unless you really need them, like a mouse or keyboard).
If you did make changes to your computer, like putting additional hardware, upgrading its firmware, or changing its BIOS settings, then try reverting these changes and testing the USB drive again to ensure that these changes have not caused the issue. This is particularly true if you added additional USB devices!
#3 – Check Windows 10 Settings.
If your USB drive is still not showing up in Windows 10, then it’s time to to get into the Device Manager.
Right-click the Windows Start button, and in the popup menu, select Device Manager.
In Device Manager, click the Action menu, and then click Scan for hardware changes. Windows will enumerate all hardware devices again and initialize any newly found devices into the configuration.
Once complete, check if the USB drive is showing up in Windows Explorer. If not, try the next step.
In Device Manager, open up the Disk drives list, right-click the USB drive, and then click Uninstall device.
Next, restart your PC. When Windows 10 restarts, it will automatically re-detect the USB device and install the available driver for it. This step can solve configuration issues with the USB drive, so it will show up again.
If your USB drive is still now showing up, try updating the driver for the USB device.
This can be done from the Device Manager. Simply right-click the USB drive in the list of Disk drives, and in the popup menu, click Update Driver.
Next, click the option Search automatically for drivers, and wait for the driver update to complete.
Be aware that this step only checks for updated USB device drivers. In most cases the correct operation of USB devices depends on the USB controller, which is a system device. So it is best to check for updated chipset drivers as well.
If the USB device is working properly, but the drive is now showing up in Windows Explorer, it is possible that the drive has no drive letter assignment.
Right-click the Windows Start menu, and then click Disk Management.
Once the Disk Management window opens, you will see all disks present in the PC.
Find the disk that represents the USB drive and check that it has a drive letter assigned to it. In the screenshot above, Disk 2 is the USB device and it has the drive letter G assigned to it.
To find your USB drive, check for a disk that is listed as “Removable” (although it can also be listed as “Basic“), and compare the size to that of your USB drive. If you are not sure, compare the Disk Management screen with the USB drive that’s not connected.
If there is no drive letter assignment, simply right-click the partition (the block next to the disk with the blue bar at the top), and in the popup menu, click Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Next, click the Add button.
Next, change the drive letter (or leave it as is to get a default assignment), and then click OK .
Even if there is already a drive letter assigned to the USB drive, it is still useful to try and change it. The reason for this is that it is possible that there are drives using the same drive letter assignment. Even if another USB device with the same drive letter assignment is not present at the moment, the configuration could still cause conflicts.
To change the drive letter to a higher character, click the Change button rather than the Add button. After that, the steps are the same; i.e., change the drive letter and click the OK button.
Note: If the partition for the USB disk shows as a black bar, rather than a dark blue bar and is listed as Unallocated, that means the drive formatting is not recognized. This means that the disk needs to be formatted before it can be used. If there data is expected to be present on the USB drive, a data recovery tool needs to be used for retrieval of the files.
If the USB disk is still not showing up in Windows Explorer, a final step is to try the Windows 10Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter. Just type “troubleshoot” in the Search box in the Windows Task Bar to start the Troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubelshooter.
Fix #1 – Check That Your Mic is Correctly Plugged to Your PC
This fix assumes that you have an external device you’re using as your microphone for your Zoom meetings. If that’s not the case, feel free to move on to the next recommended fix.
Unplug your microphone and plug it back in to ensure that it’s not just loosely connected.
If you’re using a USB audio device, then try plugging it into a different usb port. Note: If you’re using a USB hub or USB extension cable, try plugging the device directly into your computer’s USB port.
For Bluetooth headsets, or microphones, make sure to PAIR the device with your Windows computer.
Fix #2 – Check that your Microphone Device is Not Muted
On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
Under Input, click the Choose your input device down arrow and select the microphone device you want to use.
If you’re using an audio headset, check that its Mute switch – if it has one – is not turned on.
This is my Jabra headset and where the Mute button is on my device.
Fix #3 – Check that Zoom is Allowed to Use Your Microphone
Use the Windows search box, type microphone privacy settings and select this option when it appears.
Under Microphone, switch the Allow apps to access your microphone toggle to On.
Scroll down further till you find Allow desktop apps to access your microphone, and then toggle that to On too.
Note: Ensure that Zoom Meetings is one of the desktop apps listed as allowed to use the microphone.
Tip: Is the Zoom app not listed under Microphone Privacy Settings?
Uninstall Zoom.
Restart your PC.
Re-install Zoom.
Fix #4 – Ensure that Zoom is Using the Default Microphone
Log into your Zoom desktop app.
On the right side of the Zoom pane, under your profile icon, click the Settings icon .
On the left pane, click Audio.
Under Microphone, ensure that audio device selected is the same device you chose under Fix #2 above. If not, click the down arrow and then select Same as System.
While you’re in there, perform a mic test.
Under Microphone, click Test Mic.
Say something into your microphone.
Whatever you say should be played back to you.
While you’re in there, check that the microphone is not automatically set to mute when you join a meeting.
Ensure that the setting Mute my microphone when joining meeting is off.
Note: By the way, the Meeting Host can mute meeting participants so be sure this is not the case.
Fix #5 – Update Your Audio Drivers
If you’re microphone is still not working with Zoom even after going through the Windows and Zoom solutions above, then you may need to update your device drivers.
Audio drivers ensure that Windows can recognize and operate your audio devices, including your microphone. In the same way, USB ports and Bluetooth also need device drivers to function.
Hardware manufactures release new device drivers all the time. This is their way of releasing new product features or new functionality for their devices, as well as fixing any bugs that may have been detected by consumers over use.
How to Update Drivers Manually
Normally, for sound problems you should go your PC manufacturer’s website and install the latest Windows 10 sound drivers available for your laptop or desktop PC. However, if you have a custom PC, or if you built your PC yourself (impressive!), you should probably head to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download audio drivers from them.
If, like me, you’re using a USB microphone, try to download and install the recent release of USB controller drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
How to Update Drivers Automatically
If you don’t have time or the know-how to properly select, download and install the drivers you need, you can do this process automatically with DriverFinder. (Shameless plug!)
DriverFinder does exactly what its name suggests… instantly find the RIGHT device drivers you need. Once you install DriverFinder, it will automatically recognize your system info and details, as well as all the devices installed or connected to your PC.
It will then compare the drivers installed on your system against our DAILY UPDATED and ever-growing driver database. From here, just download and install the latest audio driver found for your device.
Click Activate to register your copy of DriverFinder.
Click Start Scan to check for new drivers.
Download and install the latest device drivers recommended for your audio/microphone device.
Fix # 6 – Quit Other Chat & Teleconferencing Software
You may not realize this but perhaps other apps are on/open and are ‘locking’ the use of your microphone. So if you have Skype,GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc. installed on your PC, ensure that all of them are completely closed.
Click the up arrow ^ on the Taskbar notification of Windows to see hidden icons.
If you see any chat or teleconferencing app there, right-click it and then click Quit or Sign Out.
Tip: If you want, you can also uninstall all other chat and teleconferencing apps you have installed on your PC to be sure, apart from Zoom of course. Reboot your PC and then perform a mic test again in Zoom.
Fix # 7 – Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ Settings
Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ settings for your output.
On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
Under Output, click Device Properties.
In the DeviceProperties window, click Additional device properties.
Click the Advanced tab.
Uncheck Allow hardware acceleration of audio with this device and Enable audio enhancements.
Click OK.
Note: If you don’t see the above settings, look at the options under Exclusive Mode and uncheck those options.
Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ settings for your input.
On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
Under Input, click Device Properties.
In the DeviceProperties window, click Additional device properties.
Click the Advanced tab.
Uncheck Enable audio enhancements.
Click OK.
Note: If you don’t see the above settings, look at the options under Exclusive Mode and uncheck those options.
Fix # 8 – Use Your Phone as Your Microphone
If you’re already in a meeting, we understand you’re in a pinch and just want to use any mic ASAP. In this case, you may want to use your phone as your microphone.
Download the Zoom app on your Android or iPhone.
On your phone, login into your Zoom account.
Go back to the Zoom desktop app.
Click on the arrow next to Mute, and then click Switch to Phone audio.
You will be given a meeting ID and password. Use it to join the meeting on your phone.
Fix # 9 – Run the Windows 10 Audio Troubleshooter
Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooters that can help fix common issues. Especially for non-tech-savvy users the Windows troubleshooters are a good choice. Since there is a troubleshooter for Recording Audio, this can used used to troubleshoot and fix microphone problems.
To run the Windows 10 audio troubleshooter follow these steps:
In the Taskbar search box, type “troubleshoot setting”.
Click the Troubleshoot Settings icon in the search result.
In the Troubleshoot Settings window, click the Additional troubleshooters option.
Next, scroll down to locate the Recording Audio option and click it.
Finally, click the Run the troubleshooter button that appears.
The troubleshooter will execute and identify any problems with the microphone and related settings. In most cases any available fixes will be applied automatically. Just follow the on-screen instructions in case manual actions are required (like selecting the audio input device to troubleshoot).
Zoom Microphone not working on iOS devices
When using Zoom on an Apple iPhone or iPad, the microphone can also be muted.
The very first step is to allow Zoom to access your microphone. So when you see the message “Zoom” Would Like to Access the Microphone, make sure you click the OK option.
In addition the microphone access, the microphone can be muted within the Zoom app itself.
Follow these steps to make sure the microphone is not muted within the Zoom app on iOS.
Open the Zoom App.
Click the Settings icon in the lower-right corner.
Next, click the Meetings
In the Meeting Settings, make sure the option Mute My Microphone is disabled.
Start your meeting, or join your meeting with the Join with Audio option to make sure the audio (and microphone is enabled).
If you are still facing problems, try closing any other apps that might use the microphone. A last option is to restart the phone or iPad.
I hope this article has helped you with your ‘Zoom mic not working in Windows 10‘ issue. Do let me know below which fix worked for you! If you have any questions, or more suggested fixes please feel free to comment below as well.
Like any computer device, printers need additional software to function in Windows. For hardware devices, this software is generally called a driver. By default, Windows supports a lot of devices since many drivers are already included in Windows, but many devices still need a separate driver or additional software to operate; for Hewlett-Packard printers, this is also true.
HP printer driver packages include a lot of additional software, and not only the actual driver. This enables printer troubleshooting and offers additional printing functionality that is beyond the default Windows functions. As a result, the installation of HP printer driver software is a little more extensive and complex than other average drivers. Some HP printer driver installation packages are in the hundreds of megabytes!
The problem we are addressing here is when the installation of an HP printer driver fails, resulting in error messages like “driver fatal install”, or “fatal error during installation”. Further error details can contain file names, error codes, or version mismatches.
You can also see the following errors: “The drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28). To reinstall drivers, click Reinstall Driver.” “Fatal Error 2753 — MSI.dot4wrp ”
How to Solve HP Printer Install Failed Errors
In most cases, driver installation errors can be solved by simply reinstalling the software again, sometimes a reboot is required before attempting the installation again.
But in the case of more complex software like HP printer software, a failed installation can cause all subsequent installation attempts to fail. The reason is that a failed installation can leave behind locked files, or registry information, which causes the next installation to fail.
In these cases, the next step is to first uninstall the previous installation, so that a clean system can be used to reinstall the HP driver software. The simplest way to do that is to uninstall the HP printer software from the Control Panel -> Uninstall (or Add/Remove programs) option. The Uninstall a program is found in the Control Panel under Programs -> Programs and Features in Window 7 and later.
In addition you can remove the HP printer in the Devices and Printers section of the Control Panel.
If, however, the HP printer software installation failed in an early stage, the software might not show up in the Control Panel uninstall list. That means the removal of the failed software will not be possible that way. The next thing to try in that case is to use a cleanup utility to fix the corrupted registry. Microsoft used to have the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility for this purpose, but due to conflicts with Office 2007, it was replaced by the Microsoft Fix It solution.
The Fix It solution will clear bad registry keys that can prevent programs from being installed. Keep in mind that it does not actually remove any files from the failed HP driver installation. Those will simply be overwritten by the next installation. Instead of the Microsoft solution, you can also try using a program to scan and fix the complete Windows registry, which does not limit itself to installer issues only. You can use such a program to clean all HP entries from your system before attempting the reinstall. We recommend using PC Cleaner for this purpose. Note: by Choosing to install PC Cleaner (5.72MB), you consent to it’s End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy of the site.
If you are running XP or Vista, it is also possible that the Windows Installer itself is corrupted. In that case you can simply try to download the Windows installer and reinstall that.
If reinstalling the Windows Installer is not possible, try to re-register it:
– Open a command prompt with administrator rights. – Type: msiexec /unregister and press Enter. – After the command completes type: msiexec /register and press Enter again.
For HP Officejet printers, HP used to offer a driver removal utility that could help you remove the HP printer driver for specific models. Unfortunately, this utility is no longer available from them.
Other steps that can help:
– Run a disk cleanup to clear out the temp folders, which are used for temporary installation files. – Stop the HP services using the Manage Computer option to prevent DLL files being locked.
Reinstalling the HP Printer Software
After the install cleanup is finished and the Windows installer is fixed, you need to reinstall the HP Printer driver software. Unplug the HP Printer and reboot before you do this so that Windows does not install any default drivers for the HP device. During installation, you can reconnect the printer when the installation process indicates it. Please consider that even for wireless printers you sometimes need to make a physical connection with the PC during the initial installation. Please check the printer manual for details.
If installation still fails, and you are using a USB connection, try using a different USB port, and make sure not to use an external USB hub between the PC and the HP printer.
Windows 10 HP Printer Compatibility
Although a lot of HP Printers are supported even under Windows 10, not all HP printers will work. Especially older printer models have no direct support under Windows 10, more so when it is the 64-bit version. There are a few things you can try to get an HP printer to install in Windows 10 anyway. The first is to try and run the printer installer in Compatibility Mode. Simply right-click the driver installer file and in the popup, select Properties.
You can now select Run compatibility troubleshooter. Windows will try to determine which Windows version the file is compatible with. Or you can manually choose the Windows version by using the Run this program in compatibility mode for option. After this, click OK, and execute the installer.
In some cases this method works, even though not all printer functions might be supported due to compatibility issues (often the case with printer/scanner combinations).
Use a Virtual Machine to circumvent the HP Printer Install Failed error
If the printer is not supported at all, even with the compatibility mode, you can choose to use a Virtual Machine (VM). In the Virtual Machine, you then run a version of Windows that still has support for your HP printer. The advantage is that you can still use the printer, the disadvantages are that you need to first still have a version of Windows that supports your printer, and you need to run the VM for all print functions, which means transferring all documents to be printed between the host (Windows 10), and the VM. Apart from being a complex solution, this is not a very convenient solution, so it is only interesting in a few scenarios.
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