How to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows 10 Easily

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DPC Watchdog Violation Windows 10

We have covered the cause of this blue screen error in your computer system and their step-by-step solution. Some easy and quick methods will help you fix DPC watchdog violations on Windows 10.

In this article, you will learn about seven different methods to solve this problem. Read further to learn how to fix the DPC watchdog blue screen error.

DPC Watchdog Violation

A Brief Introduction to the DPC Watchdog Issue

Many Windows users complain about DPC watchdog violations on Windows 10 errors and do not know its solution. More importantly, before fixing any problem, one should first have a basic understanding of the problem.

First and foremost, DPC is the acronym for Deferred Procedure Call. Watchdog is used as a bug checker and is responsible for tracking the Windows program and the performance of your computer system.

Many reasons can cause this error in your Windows 10. And you may run into this blue screen issue several times in a single day. It is frustrating to encounter the same error over and over again. Plus, it hampers work efficiency due to its frequent occurrence. Therefore, to get rid of this error, one must know why it happened and how to fix it.

If you are clueless on this matter and do not know what to do, you can go through this guide that will walk you out of this problem. 

PS: if you are facing the issues like SSD not showing up, here are the top solutions for you.


What Reasons Cause the DPC Watchdog Violation in Windows 10 Issue?

Many reasons can trigger DCP watchdog violations in Windows 10, like unsupported firmware, outdated drives, incompatibility of hardware and software, and many more. Below are the reasons that you should know before fixing this problem. 

Besides, the system cannot find the file specified error; click to fix it right now.

1. Your Device is Damaged, Installed Wrongly, or Outdated

This is a common reason that can trigger this error in your system. The devices might be damaged or outdated due to some reason.

In such a case, you must update the driver, or you can use a third party to update the drive automatically.

2. The Latest Installed Software Might Be Incompatible with the System

If you have set up a new hardware accessory and connected it to an old computer system, you may run into a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10. The compatibility issue also causes this error.

3. One Software May Not Support Another Software

If the newly installed software in your computer system does not support the software that already exists on your device, you may encounter a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10.

For instance, if you have installed two antivirus software in your system, you may run into this error.

4. Outdated Firmware SSD

Sometimes drivers or firmware of the hardware you have attached your device to does not support your device. So, if you’re using SSD on your PC, make sure to use the latest firmware version to avoid this error. 

5. Corrupted System Files 

If your computer system files are corrupted or damaged, you might not be able to boot your Windows. 

Important Note: Sometimes, your computer system only shows a blue screen with a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10 error message. It goes on the loop, indicating you will only repeatedly see an error on your computer system. If you could use the boot into Windows option, the following guide will help you fix this problem directly. If you cannot fix the error, use the following method in safe mode. 

To use Safe Mode in your system, press the ‘F8’ key on your keyword immediately after switching on your PC power. After this, in the ‘Advanced Boot’ menu, choose ‘Safe Mode with Networking’ or ‘Safe Mode.’ 

If you do not know how to use Safe Mode in Windows 10, follow this guide. Press the power key of your computer for a minimum of 4 seconds. This enables your system to disrupt the system’s boot procedure three times.

At the fourth interruption time, it will automatically upload the ‘Automatic Repair Mode’ windows in your system. Then go to Advance option > Startup Settings > Restart. Now, press the ‘4’ or ‘F4’ key to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 10. 


Top Solutions to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows

Method 1: Removing Every External Device

Due to hardware problems, a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10 can occur in your computer system. If you have installed any new hardware device, printer, external drive, or scanner, you should disconnect all the drives attached to your system. After doing this, restart your computer to check if the error still occurs. 

To identify the damaged or corrupted drive from all of those drives, you must connect one drive and check whether the error appears or not. After finding the corrupted drive, remove that drive and fix the issue. Now, you can link to other external hardware drives. 

Method 2: Try changing the SATA AHCI Controller

You can fix the SATA AHCI Controller on your own to eliminate the DPC watchdog violation in Windows 10. Follow the below steps carefully to execute this process. 

Step 1: Start the Device Manager program in your Windows 10

  • Click on the Windows and X keys together
  • From the list, choose the option of Drive Manager 

Step 2: Confirm your selected controller

  • Find ‘IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers’ and expand it. Find the ‘SATA AHCI controller’ and then right-click on it.
  • Choose the ‘Properties’ option from the new window.
SATA AHCI controller Properties
  • Navigate the ‘Driver’ tab and select ‘Drive details.’
  • Make sure to list iaStorA.sys as a driver. Now, click on the ‘OK’ button.
Make sure to list iaStorA.sys as a driver

Step 3: Upgrade the device’s driver

  • Select the ‘Update Driver’ option.
Update Driver to fix DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows 10
  • Click on ‘Browse my computer for driver software.’
Browse my computer for driver software
  • Then, select ‘Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.’
Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
  • Select the ‘Standard SATA AHCI Controller’ option and click on the ‘Next’ button.
Change SATA AHCI Controller to fix DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows 10
  • Now, restart your PC.

Method 3: Fixing Disk Error

Sometimes a problem in the disk also causes a DPC watchdog violation on Windows 10. You can check the disk to see whether the hard drive is working properly.

Below are the two methods that will help you to do so. 

  1. Run CHKDSK in Windows 10.
  2. Run the CHKDSK utility in your computer system to check the error in the disk. 

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as the administrator window

  • Type cmd in the search box in Command Prompt window.
  • Select the best match and right-click on it. Now, click on Run as administrator.

Step 2: Check the disk error and fix it.

  • Input chkdsk c: /f command and press Enter.
  • Input Y and push Enter.
Fix disk error to avoid DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows 10

Method 4: Updating SSD Firmware

Many Windows users use SSD on their PCs for fast speed and high performance.

However, if SSD does not support your computer system, it may trigger a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10. If you have encountered this blue screen issue, you can update the SSD firmware and fix this problem. 

You can download and set up the latest edition of SSD firmware from the official manufacturer’s website and upgrade your SSD firmware. Please follow below simple steps for your SSD update.

Step 1: Open ‘Device Manager’ in your computer system.

Below are the two ways to start ‘Device Manager.’

  • Press Windows and R keys together and then type msc. And press Enter after the input 
  • Press the Windows and X keys together and select ‘Device Manager’ from the list 
  • Right-click the ‘Start’ menu and select Device Manager

Step 2: Search for the model, plus update the SSD firmware.

  • Go to the Device Manager and expand it.
Disk drives on Device Manager
  • Take note of your SSD’s model number.
update Disk firmware
  • Visit the manufacturer’s site and download the firmware.
  • Install the SSD in your drive and restart your computer to check whether the error persists.

Method 5: Uninstall the Latest Installed Software

If you are running into a DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10 after installing new software in your computer system, then uninstall that software. Updating the new version of any installed software also causes this blue screen issue.

Some users have complained that they encounter DPC watchdog violations in Windows 10 after setting up two antivirus software in a single system. To fix this error, you should uninstall them.

Method 6: Fixing System Files

The damaged or corrupted system file is one of the causes of the DPC watchdog violation of Windows 10. In such a case, you need to check and confirm Windows 10 system files to ensure they are not damaged or corrupted.

Following are the steps that will help you to execute this process.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt in your Windows.

  • Type cmd in the search box. 
  • Select the best match and then right-click on it. Then, select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Run the SFC test

  • Type sfc/scannow in the prompt and press Enter.
  • Now, wait for a while. This process takes a few minutes to scan the files.  

After completing the scanning, the corrupted files will appear. However, if your system did not find any corrupted files, you just need to close the window. When it has scanned and fixed corrupted files in your system, restart your PC.

sfc /scannow

Method 7: Run Event Viewer

If you run the Event Viewer on your system, you might discover the cause of the DPC watchdog violation in Windows 10. 

Follow the below steps to know the process of running the event viewer.

Step 1: Running Event viewer from the desktop

  • Press the Windows key + X key to open the menu
  • Select Event Viewer and click on it 

Step 2: See the error details

  • Navigate ‘Windows logs’ at the left-hand side of the Event Viewer window and click on it
Event Viewer window under Windows Logs
  • Click on the ‘System’ option.
Click on the 'System' option
  • In the center of the window, you can view the list of events. Select those that are marked as ‘Warning’ or ‘Error’ to know the error details.
Run Event Viewer to view error details

This will help find the cause of the DPC watchdog violation on Windows 10. After successfully finding the cause, you must resolve the DPC watchdog violation Windows 10 error.

Keep in mind that these are not the only reason that may cause DPC watchdog violations of Windows 10. If you still run into this blue screen error, try performing a clean Windows 10 installation.


FAQs

Q1: Is the DPC Watchdog Violation error specific to Windows 10?

Yes, the DPC Watchdog Violation error is predominantly observed in Windows 10.

Q2: Can outdated BIOS cause the DPC Watchdog Violation error?

Yes, outdated or incompatible BIOS can contribute to the DPC Watchdog Violation error. It is recommended to update the BIOS to the latest version provided by the manufacturer.

Q3: What should I do if the DPC Watchdog Violation error persists even after trying the suggested methods?

If the error persists, it is advisable to seek professional assistance or consult Windows support forums for further guidance tailored to your specific system configuration.

Q4: Should I back up my data before resetting Windows 10?

Yes, it is always recommended to back up your important files and data before performing a Windows 10 reset to avoid any potential data loss.

Q5: How can I prevent the DPC Watchdog Violation error from occurring in the future?

To prevent the DPC Watchdog Violation error, keep your system drivers and software up to date, avoid overclocking beyond stable limits, and maintain a reliable antivirus software to protect against malware infections.

Summary

Till now, you must get an idea of the DPC watchdog violation on Windows 10 and the methods to fix it. You can see that it’s not difficult to fix this issue.

For any other questions regarding this topic, please comment and let us know.

Jack
Jack

Ten years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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