Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for optimizing system configuration after replacement of one or more defective devices in the system. Upon detection of a failure in the system, one or more devices may be identified as failing devices. The devices may be grouped in an error log maintained by the operating system, and excluded from the system during configuration. A priority for each device in the group may indicate the likelihood that the device is the failure causing device. When a device from a group is replaced, devices connected with the replaced device may be cleared for configuration into the system, thereby eliminating the need for manual intervention to clear the devices.