How to Resolve Error Code 41

You may encounter the following error messages and problems on your Windows XP computer after you uninstall CD or DVD recording software or some other software from your computer:

  • Notification area displays the error message: Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)
  • Error Message: The device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device (Code 31).
  • Error Message: A driver for this device was not required, and has been disabled (Code 32 or Code 31).
  • Error Message: Your registry might be corrupted. (Code 19)
  • Error Code 39 is generated.
  • You will be unable to access the CD drive or DVD drive from My Computer.

Resolution Method

You can resolve error code 41 and other error messages in this situation by using the Microsoft Guided Help given on the Microsoft Knowledgebase Web site. To manually repair the problem, you may perform the following steps:

Warning: The methods discussed below require you to make direct changes to the Windows registry. Due to the importance of the registry in the working of your Windows computer, it is essential that you act very careful while making this edits. For safety, it is recommended that you back up the registry before proceeding. To make a registry backup, you may either use the Windows Registry Editor or a third-party, advanced registry tool.

  1. Uninstall all CD writing and recording programs installed on your computer. You may do this by using Add or Remove Programs, or a reliable third-party program uninstaller, such as Perfect Uninstaller.
  2. Open Start menu, select Run, type regedit, and then press Enter to open the Registry Editor window.
  3. Navigate to the following registry entry:

    4. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

  4. In the right-pane, right-click on UpperFilters and delete it.
  5. Confirm your decision when a confirmation message box is displayed.

    6. Note: Do not delete UpperFilters.bak

  6. Next, right-click on LowerFilters and delete it.
  7. Confirm your decision when a confirmation message box is displayed.

    8. Note: Do not delete LowerFilters.bak

  8. Restart your system.
  9. Reinstall the CD recording and writing programs and try to use them again.

To prevent error code 41 and other error messages that are generated due to registry problems, it is recommended that you perform regular preventive maintenance of the registry. Problems in the registry usually occur due to the accumulation of invalid, obsolete, and other junk information within it. This junk data causes the registry to bloat up and may even cause damage to other registry entries. To prevent this situation, you must perform thorough registry scans and clean ups on regular basis. You can do these tasks easily with the help of a reliable registry tool, such as RegServe.