Resolved: This Device Cannot Find Enough Free Resources [Code 12]

Encountering the “This Device Cannot Find Enough Free Resources to Use” error, also known as Code 12, can be frustrating. This error typically occurs when a device in your system is unable to obtain the necessary resources to operate correctly, often due to conflicts with other hardware devices. In this guide, we’ll explore several methods to troubleshoot and resolve this issue effectively.

Understanding the Code 12 Error

The Code 12 error appears in the Device Manager and indicates that a particular device does not have enough resources, such as IRQs (Interrupt Requests), memory ranges, or I/O ports, to function properly. This issue is usually caused by resource conflicts between devices, outdated drivers, or incorrect BIOS settings.

1. Restart Your Computer

The first and simplest step is to restart your computer. This can often resolve temporary conflicts and free up resources for your devices.

Steps:

1. Click on the Start menu.
2. Select the Power icon and choose Restart.
3. After the computer restarts, check the Device Manager to see if the Code 12 error is resolved.

2. Update Device Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause resource conflicts that lead to the Code 12 error. Updating your drivers can help resolve this issue.

Steps:

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Locate the device with the Code 12 error (indicated by a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark).
3. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Follow the prompts to install any available updates and restart your computer.

3. Disable Conflicting Devices

If two devices are conflicting for the same resources, disabling one of them can free up resources for the other.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Look for any devices with a yellow triangle (indicating a conflict) under the System devices or Network adapters sections.
3. Right-click the conflicting device and select Disable device.
4. Restart your computer and check if the Code 12 error is resolved.

4. Check for BIOS or UEFI Updates

An outdated BIOS or UEFI firmware can cause hardware conflicts and resource allocation issues. Updating your BIOS/UEFI to the latest version can help resolve these problems.

Steps:

1. Identify your motherboard’s make and model by checking the documentation or using a system information tool.
2. Visit the manufacturer’s website and look for BIOS/UEFI updates related to your motherboard.
3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to download and install the update.
4. Restart your computer and check if the Code 12 error is resolved.

5. Adjust BIOS/UEFI Settings

Sometimes, incorrect BIOS/UEFI settings can cause resource allocation issues, leading to the Code 12 error. Adjusting these settings can help.

Steps:

1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing Del, F2, or Esc during startup).
2. Navigate to the Advanced or Integrated Peripherals section.
3. Look for settings related to Plug and Play OS, PCIe configuration, or Resource Allocation.
4. Set Plug and Play OS to No and ensure other settings are configured to automatically allocate resources.
5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup.

6. Use the Device Manager to Manually Configure Resources

If automatic resource allocation fails, you can manually configure device resources in Device Manager.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Right-click the device with the Code 12 error and select Properties.
3. Go to the Resources tab.
4. If there are conflicts listed, try manually adjusting the resource settings (IRQ, DMA, I/O range) by unchecking the Use automatic settings option and choosing a different configuration.
5. Click OK and restart your computer.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “This Device Cannot Find Enough Free Resources to Use [Code 12]” error and restore proper functionality to your device. Regularly updating drivers, keeping your BIOS/UEFI current, and managing hardware configurations can help prevent such issues in the future.