Windows 7 M17x Drivers Not Working Upon Restart

[TAxxOUTBR3AKxx]

I am having a very unusual problem with 5 drivers on my laptop.

Alienware M17x
Windows7 x64

Everytime I restart my computer, there are 5 specific drivers that don't start when the system starts. This noticeably started when several Windows Updates installed and required restarts. All driver software is current/latest versions.

The 5 drivers are:
-Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
-NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
-USB Root Hub
-Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller (x2)

These 5 drivers show a triangle with an "!" in Device Manager on restarts. I can right-click and uninstall them, then Scan For Hardware Changes, and they will reinstall and work right away. I have no idea why it would behave this way, and I hate doing this everytime my computer needs to restart. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're experiencing an issue with specific drivers not starting properly on your Alienware M17x laptop running Windows 7 x64, especially after Windows Updates. This type of behavior could be caused by various factors such as driver conflicts, outdated drivers, or issues with the Windows registry. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this problem:

Steps to Troubleshoot Driver Issues:​

1. Update Drivers:
   • Ensure that you have the latest drivers for all the affected devices. Visit the manufacturer's website for each device and download the most recent drivers compatible with Windows 7 x64.
   []Check for Windows Updates:
   • Make sure that your Windows 7 operating system is up-to-date with the latest updates from Microsoft, especially those related to hardware drivers and system stability.
   []Device Manager Troubleshooting:
   • Right-click on the problematic drivers in Device Manager and select "Properties." Look for any error messages under the "General" or "Driver" tabs that might provide more information on why they fail to start.
   []Driver Reinstallation:
   • Manually uninstall the drivers that are failing to start and then perform a "Scan for hardware changes" to allow Windows to automatically reinstall them. Check if they start correctly after this process.
   []Check for Conflicting Software:
   • Ensure that there are no third-party applications or software conflicting with the drivers. Sometimes, security software or system optimization tools can interfere with driver operations.
   []Registry Check:
   • Incorrect registry settings can sometimes cause driver startup issues. Be cautious when working in the registry, but you can run a registry cleaner tool to check for and fix any potential issues.
   []Safe Mode Boot:
   • Try booting your system into Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. If the drivers start correctly in Safe Mode, it could indicate a software conflict causing the problem.
2. System Restore:
   • Consider performing a system restore to a point before the issue started occurring. This can revert your system back to a stable state without affecting your files. If these steps do not resolve the issue, further diagnostic steps may be needed, such as checking event logs for error messages related to these drivers or running system diagnostic tools. Let me know if you need assistance with any specific troubleshooting step or if you require further guidance on resolving these driver startup issues.