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Windows Device Manager

Code 42: Windows cannot load the device driver because a duplicate device is already running

Windows detected a duplicate device/driver instance.

First action

Restart the computer.

Use the error code as a Windows device-state clue. It does not by itself identify the exact failed component inside the hardware.

Then verify

Do not stop at the code disappearing

  1. 1

    Remove stale/duplicate device instances only if they persist after restart.

  2. 2

    Check the device/bus driver if duplicates repeatedly reappear.

After Windows reports the device normally, run the matching DeviceOK test when one exists—for example camera, microphone, keyboard, mouse, controller or audio—to confirm the user-facing function works.