Fix: Error “A device attached to the system is not functioning” on Windows 10

“A device attached to the system is not functioning” is a specific error of Windows 10, displayed in a pop-up window. It can be closed simply by clicking the X button in the pop-up window’s upper right corner.

Usually, it appears when the computer is connected to an external hard drive, [1] USB, or another device. In this case, the error is just an attempt to notify the PC user that the external device is malfunctioning and requires proper maintenance.

However, the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error often appears in Windows 10 personal computers and laptops without an external device connected. It may pop up when trying to open an .exe, [2] .doc, .png, or other file type. Sometimes, it prevents files from being copied from the desktop to another folder or vice versa.

While this is not a severe error, it isn’t enjoyable, primarily if it affects files like .png or .exe. Sometimes the culprit of the problem can be a corrupted software. Usually, it comes from corrupt system files, virus infection, corrupt Windows update files (if the problem started right after the update Japanese), and similar.

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More often than not, the device “A device attached to the system is not functioning” occurs with the external device attached, so it is advisable to put the external device in the first position. If this doesn’t work, we will try to explain how to perform Windows diagnostics and fully fix the error “A device attached to the system is not functioning”.

Method 1: Reconnect your device

You may encounter this error due to an incorrect connection between the USB storage and your computer. Perhaps the connection is not correctly connected to the USB port, or the cable you are using is faulty. You can try reconnecting your device and make sure it’s plugged into your computer securely. Then check to see if you get rid of the attached device not working error. Or you can try a different USB data cable, as it’s often helpful for fixing the error.

Method 2: Restart your computer

There are also possible corruption issues in your operating system, so you can see the error message “A device attached to the system is not functioning”. Restarting your computer can help you get rid of these problems. Try restarting your computer and see if this error goes away.

Method 3: Format your device

You may also see the error because your USB storage device is not formatted correctly. You can format your device to see if this error fixes this error. Do like that:

1) Backup your data in your USB device with another computer

2) Open File Explorer (on your keyboard, press Windows logo key + E simultaneously).

3) Right-click on your USB device and then choose Format.

4) Configure the format settings, and then click Start.

5) Try using your USB device to transfer some files and see if the error goes away.

Method 4: Update or reinstall your device driver

Errors can also occur when you use the wrong or outdated device drivers. You can try updating or reinstalling device drivers to see if this problem fixes your problem. If you aren’t confident playing around with the driver, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find out the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know what your computer system is running, you don’t need to worry about downloading and installing the wrong drivers, and you don’t have to worry about making a mistake while installing.

You can download and install the driver using the Driver Easy version of Free or Pro. But with the Pro version, it’s just two clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee):

1) Download and install drivers easily.

2) Launch Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.

3) Click the Update button next to your USB device to download the latest and correct driver for it. You can also press the Update All button in the lower right corner to automatically update all the outdated or missing drivers on your computer ( Pro version required – you will be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

You can also uninstall storage device drivers using Driver Easy (this also requires the Pro version). This is very helpful, especially when you try to reinstall your device drivers.

To reinstall the drivers, open Driver Easy and go to Tools -> Driver Uninstall. Then, select your device and click the Uninstall button. Your drivers will be uninstalled very quickly.

Method 5: Run SFC scan and DISM command

It is also possible that corrupt files in the system lead to the error. You can run the SFC (System File Checker) command and the DISM command to scan and repair your computer:

1) Click the Start button, and type ” cmd “—Right-click on Command Prompt in the list of results and select Run as administrator.

2) To run an SFC scan, type ” sfc / scannow ” and press Enter on your keyboard.

3) To run DISM command , type ” dism / online / cleanup-image / restorehealth “. and press Enter .

4) Restart your computer. Then check to see if the error is fixed.

Method 6: Restore or reset your Windows

Maybe you’ve tried all of the methods above, and the problem persists. At this point, you may need to restore or reset your Windows. You can restore your system to a restore point if you have one. You can also use Windows installation media to reinstall or reset Windows. If you are on Windows 10 and want to reset it, you can check out this guide.