"This Device Is Not Configured Correctly" — Fixing Code 1 and Code 28 in Device Manager

A device in Device Manager carries a yellow exclamation mark and its Properties → General tab reads either “This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1)” or “The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28).”

Why: Both codes come down to the driver. Code 1 means the device has no driver installed, or the driver is configured incorrectly. Code 28 means no driver is installed for the device at all. The cure for both is to get a correct driver in place.

Fix 1: Update the driver (best first step for Code 1)

Microsoft’s recommended resolution for Code 1 is to update the driver.

1. Right-click Start → Device Manager (or press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter).
2. Right-click the flagged device → Properties → Driver tab.
3. Click Update Driver → Search automatically for drivers and follow the wizard.
4. Restart and recheck the device’s status.

Fix 2: Reinstall the driver (Microsoft’s resolution for Code 28)

If updating doesn’t help, or you’re seeing Code 28, reinstall the driver cleanly.

1. From Start, search for device manager and open it.
2. Right-click the device in the list → Uninstall.
3. Once it’s removed, click Action on the menu bar.
4. Select Scan for hardware changes — Windows redetects the device and reinstalls its driver.

Fix 3: Get the driver from Windows Update or the manufacturer

If Windows doesn’t find a driver on its own, supply one.

1. Run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, then open Advanced options → Optional updates → Driver updates and install any driver listed for the device.
2. Still missing? Download the latest driver from the hardware vendor’s website. Microsoft notes that if the wizard can’t locate a driver, the vendor simply hasn’t published one to Windows Update — get it from them directly.
3. If you have only the driver files, use Update Driver → Browse my computer for drivers and point Windows at the folder.

Tip: for an unidentified Code 28 device, read its Hardware ID first (Properties → Details → Hardware Ids) so you know exactly which driver to download.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Code 1 and Code 28? Code 1 means the driver is missing or misconfigured; Code 28 specifically means no driver is installed. Both are fixed by installing a correct driver.

These only work on Plug and Play devices, right? The uninstall-and-rescan step assumes a Plug and Play device. For non-PnP hardware, follow the device documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Windows can’t find any driver at all. That means the vendor hasn’t added a driver to Windows Update. Download it from the manufacturer’s support page (use the Hardware ID to identify the part).

Sources: Microsoft Support — Error codes in Device Manager in Windows (Code 1, Code 28), Microsoft Support — Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows