After my recent Windows update, I was faced with an unexpected and frustrating issue: the HWiNFO64.SYS driver, which had always worked flawlessly before, suddenly stopped functioning. It all began when I noticed that my system performance was not quite right. Applications were crashing more frequently, and my system seemed unusually sluggish. I immediately suspected that the recent Windows update might have caused some compatibility issues with the HWiNFO64 driver, which I rely on for monitoring my hardware’s performance.
As someone who values having accurate and real-time information about my system’s hardware, this was a significant problem. The HWiNFO64 driver is crucial for providing detailed insights into my CPU, GPU, and other critical components. Without it, I felt blind to my system’s actual state and performance.
I started my troubleshooting journey by checking the HWiNFO64 website and forums for any announcements about compatibility issues with the latest Windows update. I quickly found that I wasn’t alone in facing this problem; other users were experiencing similar issues with the driver after the update. The situation seemed to be a widespread problem, which provided some comfort in knowing it wasn’t just a problem with my specific setup.
The first step I took was to ensure that all my drivers were up to date. Sometimes, a simple update to the HWiNFO64 application or its associated drivers can resolve compatibility issues. I visited the HWiNFO64 official website and downloaded the latest version of the software. After installing the update, I restarted my computer, but unfortunately, the issue persisted.
Next, I decided to delve deeper and check the Windows Event Viewer for any error messages related to the HWiNFO64 driver. This tool provides detailed logs about system events and errors, which could give me more insight into what was going wrong. In the Event Viewer, I found several critical errors related to HWiNFO64.SYS, which indicated that the driver was failing to load properly.
Based on these error messages, I suspected that the Windows update might have altered some system files or settings that affected the HWiNFO64 driver’s functionality. To address this, I used the built-in System File Checker (SFC) tool. This tool scans for and repairs corrupted system files, which might have been the cause of the driver issue.
I opened the Command Prompt as an administrator and ran the command sfc /scannow. The scan took some time, but once it completed, it identified and fixed several corrupted files. I restarted my computer and tested the HWiNFO64 driver again, but unfortunately, the problem remained unresolved.
Given that the SFC tool didn’t fix the issue, I decided to manually reinstall the HWiNFO64 driver. I went to the Device Manager, located the HWiNFO64 entry under the “System Devices” section, and chose to uninstall the driver. After uninstalling, I rebooted my system and then reinstalled the driver using the latest version from the HWiNFO64 website.
Reinstalling the driver did not immediately solve the issue, but it did make me realize that the problem might be related to how the new Windows update interacts with the driver. As a next step, I considered rolling back the recent Windows update to see if that would resolve the problem. This process involves reverting the system to a previous state before the update was applied, which can often resolve issues caused by recent changes.
To roll back the update, I accessed the Windows Update settings and found the option to view update history. I located the most recent update and chose the option to uninstall it. After removing the update, I restarted my computer and tested the HWiNFO64 driver once more. To my relief, the driver began functioning correctly again.
It became clear that the issue was indeed linked to the latest Windows update. However, rolling back the update was only a temporary solution. To prevent similar issues in the future, I decided to keep a closer eye on updates and their compatibility with critical software like HWiNFO64.
In the long run, I also took the proactive step of reaching out to the HWiNFO64 support team to report the issue. Providing them with details about the problem and my system setup would help them address the compatibility issue in future updates or releases.
In conclusion, resolving the HWiNFO64.SYS driver issue after the Windows update required a multi-faceted approach. From updating and reinstalling the driver to rolling back the Windows update and reporting the problem to the software developers, each step played a crucial role in restoring the functionality of the driver. Although it was a challenging experience, it underscored the importance of maintaining system compatibility and staying informed about potential issues with software and updates.