Sometimes things just don't work right on your computer, and error messages pop up that make no sense. Like when you get the "driver cannot load on device ene.sys" on your Windows 11 PC. Ugh. You have no clue what ene.sys even is. Is your computer broken? Do you need to call tech support? Don't stress. This error is pretty common and easy to fix yourself without any technical know-how. In this article, you'll learn what that ene.sys error really means and walk through the steps to get your computer back up and running in no time. With just a few clicks, your PC will be fixed and that annoying error will be gone for good.
What Is the ene.sys Error in Windows 11?
You may encounter the ene.sys error in Windows 11 when your system attempts to load a device driver but fails. The ene.sys file is a system file associated with ENE Technology Inc., which provides peripheral connectivity solutions. This error often occurs when there's a compatibility issue between the ene.sys driver file and your Windows 11 operating system.
Outdated or Corrupted Driver
The most common cause of the ene.sys error is an outdated or corrupted ene.sys driver file. To fix this, you'll need to update or reinstall the latest driver for your specific device, whether it's a card reader, webcam or other peripheral. You can download the latest drivers from the device manufacturer's website. Be sure to uninstall the old driver first before installing the update.
System File Corruption
In some cases, the ene.sys error can indicate system file corruption in Windows 11. You may be able to resolve this by running the System File Checker tool (SFC) to scan for and replace any corrupted system files. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the command "sfc /scannow". Let the scan complete and restart your PC. This should repair any issues with the ene.sys file or other system files.
Hardware Issues
Hardware problems with your peripheral device can also trigger the ene.sys error. If updating drivers and running SFC does not fix the issue, it's possible your device has failed or become disconnected. Try unplugging the device and plugging it into a different USB port. You may need to contact technical support for further help diagnosing and troubleshooting any hardware issues.
With some patience and troubleshooting, you can likely resolve the ene.sys error in Windows 11. Start with the simplest solutions like updating drivers and system files before progressing to more complex hardware troubleshooting. If all else fails, you may need to disable the problematic device to get your system back up and running.
Common Causes of the ene.sys Driver Error
Outdated Device Drivers
The most common reason for the ene.sys error is outdated or corrupted device drivers on your PC. The ene.sys file is associated with your Ethernet network adapter, so making sure your network adapter drivers are up to date is key. Go to your PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your network adapter model.
Windows Update Issues
Problems with recent Windows Updates can also trigger the ene.sys error. If you installed an update recently and then started getting this error, uninstalling that update may fix the issue. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and view your update history. Uninstall the latest update and reboot your PC.
Incompatible Software
Certain third-party software like antivirus programs can sometimes conflict with system drivers and cause issues. If you recently installed any new software and then started seeing the ene.sys error, try uninstalling it to rule it out as the culprit. You may need to update or change your software to a compatible version.
System File Corruption
System file corruption or damage can prevent the ene.sys driver from loading properly. Run the System File Checker tool to scan for and repair corrupted system files. Open an elevated Command Prompt and type “sfc /scannow”. Let the scan run and then reboot your PC. This should repair any corrupted files, including ene.sys.
If after trying the above steps you're still getting the ene.sys error, it may indicate a more serious hardware or software issue. It's best to contact official Windows support for further help diagnosing and resolving the problem. With some patience and troubleshooting, you'll be back up and running in no time.
How to Fix ene.sys Driver Errors in Windows 11
To fix ene.sys driver errors in Windows 11, you'll need to update, reinstall or rollback the driver. The ene.sys file is associated with Ethernet network adapters, so issues with it can cause problems accessing the Internet or local network.
Update the ene.sys driver
The easiest solution is to update the ene.sys driver to the latest version. Open the Device Manager, expand "Network adapters" and right-click your Ethernet adapter. Select "Update driver" and follow the prompts to search for an updated driver. Windows will automatically search for the latest driver for your specific network adapter model. Install any available updates and reboot your PC.
Reinstall the ene.sys driver
If updating doesn't work, try reinstalling the ene.sys driver. Go to the adapter manufacturer's website and download the latest network adapter driver for your specific model. Uninstall the current ene.sys driver, reboot and install the download driver. Make sure to only download drivers from trusted sources like the official manufacturer website.
Roll back the ene.sys driver
As a last resort, you can roll back the ene.sys driver to an earlier version. Open Device Manager, right-click the Ethernet adapter and select "Properties". Go to the "Driver" tab and click "Roll Back Driver". This will revert the driver to the previously installed version. Only roll back if you recently updated the driver and issues began after that. Rolling back may fix compatibility problems with the latest driver version.
If none of these steps work, there could be a hardware issue with your network adapter. Check for any visible damage or corrosion to the adapter port or cable. You may need to have the network adapter replaced. But in most cases, updating, reinstalling or rolling back the ene.sys driver should get your Ethernet adapter working properly again in Windows 11. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Update or Reinstall the ene.sys Driver
If you see the error message “A driver cannot load on this device” for ene.sys in Windows 11, it means that there’s an issue with the ene.sys driver software. To fix this, you’ll need to either update or reinstall the driver.
Check for Driver Updates
The easiest first step is to check if there’s an update available for the ene.sys driver. Open the Device Manager, expand the “System devices” section, and look for the entry named “ENE PCI Memory Stick Controller.” Right-click it and select “Update driver.” Windows will search for the latest driver software and install any available updates.
Reinstall the ene.sys Driver
If no updates were found or the error continues after updating, you’ll need to reinstall the ene.sys driver. Here’s how:
Open the Device Manager again and locate the “ENE PCI Memory Stick Controller” entry under “System devices.” Right-click it and select “Uninstall device.” Confirm to uninstall the driver.
Restart your PC. When Windows restarts, it will automatically detect the device and reinstall the ene.sys driver.
Check if the error message is still appearing. If it is, you may need to manually install the latest ene.sys driver. Download it from your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support website. Locate the driver file on your PC and double-click it to start the installation. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Restart your PC again. The ene.sys driver should now be properly installed and the error should be resolved.
If the issue continues even after trying the steps above, it’s possible there may be a hardware problem with your memory card reader or motherboard. You may need technical assistance to troubleshoot further. But in most cases, simply updating or reinstalling the ene.sys driver will get your device working again.
Roll Back the ene.sys Driver Update
If the “A driver cannot load on this device ene.sys” error appeared after a recent Windows Update, rolling back the driver update should fix the issue. Windows automatically downloads and installs driver updates to keep your system up to date, but sometimes an update can cause compatibility problems with your hardware or software.
Find the ene.sys driver update
Open the Device Manager and expand the “System devices” category. Locate the “ENE PCI Memory Stick Controller” device—this is the hardware device associated with ene.sys. Right-click it and select “Properties”. Go to the “Driver” tab and click “Roll Back Driver”. This will uninstall the latest driver update and reinstall the previous version.
Reboot your PC
Once the rollback is complete, reboot your Windows 11 PC. This will load the previous driver version and should resolve any issues caused by the automatic update. After rebooting, the ene.sys error should no longer appear.
Prevent future update issues
To avoid potential driver update problems in the future, you can disable automatic driver updates for the ENE PCI Memory Stick Controller device. In the Device Manager, right-click the device again and select “Properties”. Go to the “Driver” tab and click “Disable device”. Windows will no longer automatically update the driver software for this device.
Of course, disabling updates also means you won’t get any future driver fixes or security patches for this hardware. If additional ene.sys errors appear in the future, you may need to re-enable the device to install an updated driver. But for now, disabling the auto-update feature ensures the current driver conflict won’t reappear on your system.
By rolling back the driver update and then disabling future changes, you should be able to resolve the “A driver cannot load on this device ene.sys” error and get your Windows 11 PC running smoothly again. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Uninstall Problematic Devices
If you’re getting an error that says “A driver cannot load on this device ene.sys in Windows 11,” chances are you have a hardware component with an outdated or incompatible driver. The best way to fix this is by uninstalling the problematic device.
To uninstall a device in Windows 11, open the Device Manager by searching for it in the search bar. Look under the categories for the device giving you issues, like “Network adapters,” “Sound, video and game controllers,” or “USB controllers.” You may see a yellow exclamation point next to the device—that’s the one you want to uninstall.
Right-click the device and select “Uninstall device.” Check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device” and click “Uninstall.” Restart your PC to complete the uninstallation.
After restarting, Windows 11 will detect the device again and attempt to reinstall it. This often fixes compatibility issues and allows Windows to install an updated driver. If the error message still appears, you may need to check the device manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver software and install it manually.
As a last resort, you may need to disable the device to stop the error. Go back to Device Manager, right-click the device and select “Disable device.” This will prevent it from loading when your PC starts up. The downside is the device won’t be usable until you enable it again or uninstall and reinstall the driver.
Checking for driver and firmware updates, uninstalling problematic software, and ensuring all your devices have the latest updates can help prevent issues like “A driver cannot load on this device ene.sys in Windows 11.” Perform regular PC maintenance and you’ll keep your system running as smoothly as possible.
Run SFC and DISM Tools
Sometimes system files or drivers can become corrupted in Windows, causing issues like not being able to load certain drivers. Two built-in tools, the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool, can help scan for and repair corrupted system files.
Run the System File Checker (SFC)
The SFC tool scans for and restores corrupted system files in Windows. To run SFC, open an elevated Command Prompt by searching for “Command Prompt” in the search box, right-clicking “Command Prompt” and selecting “Run as administrator.” In the Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will scan your system files and may take a while to complete. If any issues are detected, SFC will repair them. Restart your PC and see if the ene.sys error is resolved.
Use the DISM Tool
If SFC didn’t fix the issue, run the DISM tool next. DISM works to repair system image files. In the elevated Command Prompt, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This scans the system image and repairs any detected issues. The process can take 15-30 minutes to finish. Once it’s done, restart your computer and check if the ene.sys error is gone.
Running SFC and DISM are two of the best ways to troubleshoot and fix driver load errors in Windows. They scan deep within the operating system to detect and repair any corrupted system files that could be causing issues. After running these tools, you may need to reinstall any recently installed hardware drivers or system updates. If the ene.sys error still appears, you may need to perform a system restore or reset to fix any major system file corruption. But in most cases, SFC and DISM do the trick!
Clean Boot Windows 11
To perform a clean boot in Windows 11, you'll need to disable certain system services and startup programs that could be interfering with your device. This is a good first step to take if you're getting an error message like "A driver cannot load on this device ene.sys."
First, open the Start menu and select "System Configuration." In the window that opens, click the "Services" tab. Check the box next to "Hide all Microsoft services" so you only see third-party services. Then, check the box next to "Disable all" to disable those services.
Next, click the "Startup" tab. Here, you'll see a list of programs that launch when Windows starts up. Click "Open Task Manager" to see the impact of each item on your system's resources. Disable any startup programs that aren't essential. You can always re-enable them later if needed.
Restart your PC. When it comes back on, only Microsoft services and critical system programs will be running. This is known as a "clean boot" state. See if the error message appears now. If it's gone, it's likely that a third-party service or startup program was causing the conflict.
You can then re-enable the services and startup programs one by one, restarting after each change, to isolate the problematic program. Once you find it, you may need to update or uninstall it to resolve the issue. Be sure to re-enable all the other services and startup programs when you're done troubleshooting.
A clean boot is a useful way to diagnose and fix issues with software conflicts or resource usage in Windows. Give it a try if you get a driver error or your system is acting sluggish. With some patience, you can get to the root cause of the problem and get your PC back to running smoothly again.
Fix a Driver Cannot Load on This Device ene.sys in Windows 11 - FAQs
Having issues with the ene.sys driver on your Windows 11 PC? Don't worry, this is a common problem that can often be resolved. Here are some frequently asked questions and solutions to try:
Why am I getting the ene.sys error? This error means that Windows cannot load the driver for your Ethernet network adapter. It's usually caused by a missing or corrupted ene.sys file, outdated network adapter software, or a conflict with another driver.
How do I fix the ene.sys error? First, restart your PC and router. This simple step fixes many temporary software issues. If that doesn't work, try updating or reinstalling your network adapter software and drivers. You can find the latest versions on your adapter manufacturer's website.
Make sure the ene.sys file is present and not corrupted. Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers and look for ene.sys. If it's missing or damaged, you may need to restore it from a backup or do a system restore to an earlier point.
Check for driver conflicts in Device Manager. Expand "Network Adapters", right-click your Ethernet adapter and select "Update Driver Software". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". This will reinstall the latest driver and may resolve any conflicts.
Still not working? It could indicate a hardware issue with your network adapter. Contact your computer or adapter manufacturer for further help diagnosing and replacing the hardware.
Why does this issue keep coming back? If the ene.sys error continues appearing, it's likely due to an underlying problem that hasn't been resolved yet. Make sure you've installed the latest Windows and network adapter updates, performed a full system scan for malware, and disabled any recently installed software that could be causing a conflict. You may also want to do a repair install of Windows 11 to refresh the system files.
I hope these tips help you get your Ethernet adapter functioning properly again. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Conclusion
So there you have it! A few simple steps can get that pesky ene.sys driver issue sorted out in no time. First, try updating or reinstalling the driver. If that doesn't do the trick, uninstall the driver and scan for hardware changes to reinstall it. Worst case, use Device Manager to manually point Windows to the right driver. With a little trial and error, you'll be back up and running. Don't let ene.sys get you down. A few tweaks and you'll have your PC working like new again. Hopefully this gives you the info you need to get past ene.sys and on with your day!