If updating the driver does not resolve the issue, try these advanced troubleshooting steps: Check BIOS/UEFI Settings
Use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant to scan for chipset updates.
A common source of confusion: plugging a USB-to-serial adapter (e.g., FTDI FT232, Prolific PL2303) into a Windows PC. These adapters appear as PNP0500. Instead, they have their own HWIDs like USB\VID_0403&PID_6001 (FTDI) or USB\VID_067B&PID_2303 (Prolific). However, after the driver loads, they create a virtual COM port that behaves exactly like a PNP0500 port. In some rare cases, Windows may show "PNP0500 driver updated" for the virtual serial enumerator.
Download the latest or Intel Management Engine Interface .
Once you have downloaded the driver, follow these steps to install it: the downloaded driver package to a known folder. Open Device Manager . Right-click the *PNP0500 device -> Update driver . Select Browse my computer for drivers .
If you are seeing a "Communications Port" with a yellow exclamation mark in your Device Manager Troubleshoot Windows Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter to let the OS attempt a repair. Manual Search : Right-click the device, select Update driver , and choose "Search automatically." Official Samples
: If the driver is missing after an update, it can usually be reinstalled by choosing "Let me pick from a list of available drivers" in Device Manager and selecting "Communications Port" Microsoft Learn If you are seeing a specific error code like
Even though serial ports are "legacy" tech, many modern motherboards still include headers for them, or you might be using a USB-to-Serial adapter. An outdated driver often results in the "Device Cannot Start (Code 10)" error or erratic behavior in terminal software like Putty or TeraTerm.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the PNP0500 driver, common issues, and how to manage its updates smoothly.
If the driver is updated but the device still won't start, the COM port might be disabled in your BIOS. Restart your computer, enter the BIOS (usually F2 or Del), and look for or Super IO Configuration . Ensure the Serial Port is set to Enabled . Windows Update Optional Updates Windows 10 and 11 often hide legacy drivers.
with another device. This can sometimes be resolved in the BIOS/UEFI settings by manually assigning resources. Boot Freezes
Click , select the folder where you extracted the files, and click Next . Windows should install the nuvserial.inf driver. Troubleshooting: PNP0500 Still Showing Errors
Once the driver installs:
Unplug the adapter, install the downloaded driver package, plug the adapter back in, and check Device Manager. Troubleshooting Persistent PNP0500 Errors