How to fix
Error 0X800701B1: “A device which does not exist was specified”
on Windows

Hey. I struggle with my Windows 10 computer. I get the error 0X800701B1 and the message "A device which does not exist was specified". I try to copy files from the USB drive. I don't know what is the issue. The device gets connected to and all files can be seen, but the issue appears. Can you help me resolve this?

The error 0X800701B1: "A device which does not exist was specified" in Windows appears when moving or copying files from the separate drive or even folder. The issue causes the failure of the copying process and creates inconvenience for users.[ref en-1] There are some different factors that can trigger the error message, so solutions are not universal, but there are a few fixes for this.

The more common issue for the error is USB port problems. It also depends on the type of HDD/ SSD drive you are using when encountering the failure. You might want to switch from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 ports. Insufficient PSU output can also be considered. You can fix this particular issue by upgrading the PSU by disconnecting some peripherals.

Of course, there are common universal causes for system issues like malware[ref en-2] leftovers, compromised files, driver issues. The incompatible or damaged drivers can be the root cause because the generic drivers for the external drive can lead to the error codes like this. The size of files or space issues on the machine should also be considered.

The particular error message that appears when the process fails:

An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem.
Error 0x800701B1: A device which does not exist was specified

If the issue with the error code is related to corrupted files, damaged data, system functions, drivers, or even virus leftovers, you might want to run a tool like [d1] that checks and even repairs problems with the file damage. This option could fix update issues,[ref en-3] system damage, and even improve the performance for the other solutions and more in-depth fixes.

1. Rescan the disk 

1. Right-click Windows and select Disk Management.
2. Now expand the Action menu and choose Rescan Disks.
   

   

   
   
3. Once the scan is complete, check if the system is clear of the device does not exist an issue.

2. Reinstall device drivers

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box.
2. Next, type devmgmt.msc inside the text box and press Enter to open up Device Manager.
3. Expand the drop-down menu associated with Disk Drives.
4. Right-click on the drive that’s triggering the error code.
5. Click on Uninstall Device.
6. Confirm the uninstallation of your drive driver, then wait for the operation to complete. This will uninstall the current driver and make your Windows switch over to the generic driver after the reboot.
7. See if the problem is fixed.
8. If the problem is fixed, you can either leave the generic driver or download the dedicated driver from a legitimate source.

3. Take ownership of the problematic drive

1. Right-click Windows and open File Explorer.
2. Choose This PC and right-click on the USB drive in the right pane.
   

   

3. Choose Properties and go to the Security tab.
   

   

4. Click on the Advanced button.
5. Hit Change in front of Owner.
6. Then click on the Advanced button near the left bottom of the window and click on Find Now.
   

   

   
   
7. Click on the Change in the Advanced Security Settings.
   

   

   
   
8. Double-click on your user’s name and then click on OK.
   

   

   
   
9. Tick off the option of Replace All Child Object Permission Entries with Inheritable Permission Entries from This Object and apply your changes.

4. Rollback the drivers

1. Right-click Windows and choose Device Manager.
   

   

   
   
2. Expand USB Serial Bus Controllers or Disk Drives and right-click on the USB drive.
3. Then select Properties and head to the Driver tab.
4. Select the Rollback driver option.

5. Check disk

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator once again and run the following command:
   chkdsk c: /f
2. Note: if you are using an SSD, use the following command instead:
   chkdsk c: /f /r /x
3. Reboot your system.
4. Once the CHKDSK process is complete (without any issues), then check if the system is clear of the flash drive error.
5. If the issue persists, unplug the USB drive and shut down your system (not reboot).
6. Then power on the system with the bare minimums and plug back the USB to check if the USB drive is functioning normally.