How to Fix Driver Error (Code 32) for Ryzen Processors on Windows 10?

Some Windows 10 users with certain Ryzen processor models (particularly with Ryzen 2700x) have discovered that the Device Manager utility shows a warning error for each of the core processors showing under Processors. The error message associated with this issue is “A driver (service) for this device has been disabled. An alternative driver may be providing this functionality. (Code 32)

Driver Error for Ryzen processors on Windows 10

As it turns out, this issue seems to particularly affect Windows 10 users that are using Ryzen 2700x chipsets. In this case, the most efficient way of dealing with the issue is to update the drivers manually via Device Manager. But for the procedure to be successful, you will need to install the same driver for each of your processor cores.

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However, the issue can also be caused by a BIOS glitch or some type of system file corruption that affects the installation of new component drivers. If one of these scenarios is applicable, you can fix the problem either by updating the BIOS version manually or by performing a repair install / clean install respectively.

Method 1: Updating the drivers manually

When it comes to solving this issue, the quickest and most efficient way to do it is by reinstalling every unclear processor driver manually, then perform a computer restart once every driver is installed.

As it turns out, a lot of affected users managed to get this issue resolved by selecting and installing a locally stored processor driver that corresponds to AMD. But the key takeaway here is that you need to install the driver for each Processor core that your CPU has.

After you you install every driver manually and restart your computer, the issue should be resolved completely.

Here’s a quick guide on updating the every inconsistent AMD Ryzen driver using Device Manager in order to fix the problem:

  1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘devmgmt.msc’ inside the text box and press Enter to open up Device Manager. When you are prompted by the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, click Yes to grant administrative privileges.
    Running Device Manager
  2. Once you’re inside Device Manager, scroll down through the list of installed devices and expand the drop-down menu associated with Processors. Next, right-click on the first processor entry and choose Properties from the context menu.
  3. Once you’re inside the Properties screen of your Processor, select the Driver tab from the top of the screen, then click on Update Driver.
    Updating the CPU driver
  4. After you get to the next screen, start by clicking on Browse my computer for driver software.
    Browsing computer for driver software
  5. At the next screen, click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
    Picking from the list of locally stored CPU drivers
  6. Inside the manual driver selection window, select Advanced Micro Devices, then select AMD Processor and click on Next.
    Installing the compatible AMD driver manually
  7. Click Next to complete the manual installation of the AMD driver and close the installation window.
  8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 with every remaining AMD Ryzen core.
  9. Once every driver version is replaced with the locally stored driver, do a final system restart and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.

In case this fix didn’t resolve the issue for you, move down to the next method below for instructions on fixing the Driver Error (Code 32) for Ryzen Processors issue.

Method 2: Updating BIOS to the latest version (if applicable)

As it turns out, this particular issue can also occur due to a BIOS inconsistency that ends up confusing Device Manager into believing that the CPU driver is not installed even though it is. This is typically encountered with motherboards that are specifically built to accommodate the Ryzen 2700x chipset.

Some users that were also struggling with this problem have managed to fix the issue by updating their motherboard BIOS version.

However, keep in mind that the steps of updating the BIOS version are specific to the motherboard model that you’re dealing with. Nowadays, most motherboard manufacturers have proprietary software that was developed specifically to aid users looking to update their BIOS versions. For example, MSI has MFlash, Asus uses EZ Flash and so on.

Updating BIOS version

Before going on with this method, it’s very important that you take the time to read the documentation very carefully and follow the steps explained by your motherboard manufacturer to the letter. Search online for specific steps on updating your BIOS version according to your motherboard model.

If you already updated your BIOS version to no avail or this method wasn’t applicable, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 3: Doing a repair install / clean install

According to some affected users, this issue can also be fixed by performing a clean install or repair install (or any other procedure that ends up refreshing every Windows Component (including installed drivers).

This supports the possibility that the issue can very well be caused by some serious system file corruption that you can’t resolve conventionally. If this scenario is applicable to your current situation, you can fix the issue by using one of the following procedures:

  • Repair install – This is the preferred approach if you’re looking to solve this issue without losing any important data. But to do this, you will need to use a compatible installation media in order to preserve all your personal data, applications and games.
  • Clean install – If you’re looking for the easiest approach, a clean install is a way to go since the whole thing can be achieved directly from the Windows GUI menus. However, unless you back up your data in advance, you will lose every bit of personal data stored on the OS drive (including programs, applications, personal media and everything else).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.