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Question

Weird IDE Controller Device Driver Missing (Error 39)

Aug 25, 2011 1:20AM PDT

In my device manager under storage controllers, I have an IDE controller listed with error message 39 (Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing.) I've tried running the driver update but a driver can't be located.

Here's the weird part; I tried uninstalling & reinstalling (by scanning for new hardware in device manager) the controller and when it reinstalled, the name of the hardware was completely different from the first time I uninstalled it. For example; Before uninstall it'll be something like AQXFHYW2 IDE Controller & after reinstall it'll be a completely different series of random numbers & letters. In the properties of the controller, the driver provider, date, version etc. are all unknown.

Anyone ever hear of anything like this? Thanks in advance for any help

Here are my system specs

HP Pavilion Dv5t 1000 cto
Intel Pro Core Duo 2 2Ghz
4GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 9200M GS Graphics Card
Windows Vista Home Premium 32bt Service Pack 2

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Yup.
Aug 25, 2011 1:37AM PDT

But driver update is the last tool I suggest using. If you keep at this you learn to find the driver from the maker first.

Also, CODE 39 is one of the well discussed failures. If it's working don't fix this. Also 4GB on 32 bit OSes tend to do this a lot. Chalk it up to bad choices made years ago.
Bob

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My bad choices or HPs?
Aug 25, 2011 1:57AM PDT

This is actually a manufacturer replacement for the the first computer I ever owned (that was an older Pavilion series). That one kept crapping out so they finally replaced it with this, & everything, including the RAM, was installed by HP. I haven't upgraded it @ all.

That aside, how do I fix this? What will this problem effect? Can I just disable it & forget about it? There is another device listed under storage controllers: Microsoft iSCSI Initator & it's working fine.

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Sorry.
Aug 25, 2011 5:47AM PDT

But a few owners go looking at the device manager and find things like this EVEN IF the machine is working fine.

In those cases my advice is to ignore it.
Bob