How to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Error in Windows 10

What Is DPC Watchdog Violation in Windows 10

If you see the error message "Your PC ran into a problem that it couldn't handle" or "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart", and the stop code is DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION, it's the same issue.

A DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) is a mechanism in Windows that allows drivers to execute procedures asynchronously. The DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error occurs when the system detects that a DPC has taken too long to execute, causing the system to become unresponsive. This can happen due to a faulty driver, overheating, or other system issues.

Deferred Procedure Call (DPC) is a Windows mechanism that allows high-priority tasks to delay the execution of lower-priority tasks, enabling device drivers and other low-level consumers to prioritize their processing by handling critical tasks first and non-essential ones later.

The DPC Watchdog Timer monitors the performance of DPC routines, detecting if they or a series of queued routines run too long, exceeding a 100ms time limit, resulting in a DPC Watchdog Violation error.

What's the Cause of the DPC Watchdog Violation Error

The DPC Watchdog Violation error is distinct from other boot issues caused by system changes or corrupted system files, as it primarily results from an incompatibility between software and hardware on the computer. This conflict can be triggered by various factors, including outdated or incompatible drivers, faulty hardware components, or even a malfunctioning BIOS or UEFI firmware.

The installation of an update
Software installation
Driver installation
The connection of external hardware

With the possible causes of the issue in mind, you can now anticipate the solutions that will address them.

How to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation in Windows 10

The error may occur after an update was installed or while using your device, and the solutions depend on your specific situation.

Situation 1. Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Occurring After an Update Installation

If a blue screen of death with the error code DPC Watchdog Violation occurs after installing an update, the solution is to immediately uninstall the update.

To uninstall an update on a computer that won't boot, enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and access safe mode. WinRE offers various recovery options, including System Restore, System Image Recovery, Startup Repair, and Startup Settings, which include safe mode options. Safe Mode starts Windows with minimal necessary drivers and services, allowing you to troubleshoot errors.

To enter Safe Mode in Windows 10:

Step 1. Hold down the power button for 10s to shut down the computer.

Step 2. Press the power button to turn on the computer. As soon as you see the manufacturer's logo, immediately press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut down the device.

Step 3. Press the power button to start the computer. Then, restart Windows and immediately hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut down the computer.

Step 4. Press the power button to start the computer and don't interrupt it this time. Then you will see your computer in WinRE. In WinRE, click on Troubleshoot, then on Advanced options, then on Startup settings.

Step 5. On the "Choose an option" screen, choose "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart".

Step 6. After the restart, you will see a list of options, select "5" or press "F5" to enable Safe Mode with Networking.

You can enter Safe Mode and uninstall the update that is causing the DPC Watchdog Violation error on your Windows 10 PC, which may resolve the issue.

Step 1. Enter control panel in the search bar and click "Control Panel" from the search result.

Step 2. Among the options, choose "Programs and Features", then click "View installed updates" on the left-hand side.

Step 3. To view the latest updates, click "Installed On" to list the updates in decreasing order.

Step 4. To uninstall the suspicious update, right-click it and choose "Uninstall", then choose "Yes" to confirm.

Step 5. After the uninstallation, click "Restart Now" to restart the computer.

Situation 2. Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Occurring While Using the Device

If the DPC Watchdog Violation error occurs while using your computer, consider whether you've recently installed software, updated a driver, or connected an external device, and try uninstalling the software, rolling back or disabling the driver, or removing the external hardware to resolve the issue.

Method 1. Remove External Devices

When you encounter a BSOD due to a DPC Watchdog Violation, try removing any unnecessary peripherals connected to the computer and let it restart automatically. If it boots properly, you've resolved the issue. If not, you may need to uninstall the problematic software or driver to further troubleshoot.

To execute these operations, enter safe mode and follow the methods below.

Method 2. Uninstall Recent-Installed Software

Follow the steps here if you have just installed a program before the error occurs.

Step 1. In safe mode, click "Start" > "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & features".

Step 2. Set to sort the programs by "Install data".

Step 3. Click the target software and choose "Uninstall".

Step 4. Restart the computer.

Method 3. Change SATA AHCI controller

Blue screen errors, specifically the DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error, are often caused by issues with the IDE ATA/ATAPI controller, which is responsible for data exchange between storage devices and memory. Changing the driver for this controller may help resolve the problem.

Step 1. Type device manager in the search bar and choose "Device Manager" from the result.

Step 2. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers".

Step 3. Right-click "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" and choose "Properties".

Step 4. To resolve the issue, go to the "Driver" tab and click "Driver Details". If you see more than one driver file, proceed to the next step. If only one driver file is present, move on to the next method.

Step 5. Click "Update Driver" and choose "Browse my computer for driver software".

Step 6. Click "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer".

Step 7. Choose the driver and click "Next".

Step 8. Restart the computer.

Method 4. Rollback, Disable, or Uninstall Driver

The DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10 could also result from the latest driver you installed, which can be resolved by rolling back, disabling, or uninstalling the third-party driver.

Step 1. Type device manager in the search bar and choose "Device Manager" from the result.

Step 2. Expand the device that contains the driver you want to make changes to.

Step 3. Right-click the driver and choose "Properties".

Step 4. Go to the "Driver" tab, choose "Roll Back Driver", "Disable Device" or "Uninstall Device". (You can't disable some system-required drivers.)

Method 5. Check and Fix Disk Errors

If none of the solutions above work, you can recover your files using bootable data recovery software or create a bootable media using a partition tool like Qiling Partition Master, which can help you boot your computer and fix disk errors, or clone the disk to rescue your data.

To check and fix disk error using Qiling Partition Master:

Free Download

Step 1. To check the disk health in Open Qiling Partition Master, click on the disk you want to check in the "Disk management" page, then click on "Surface Test".

Step 2. Click "Proceed" button to start scaning sectors and all bad sectors will be marked as red.

Here are the practical solutions for the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10 in one paragraph:

You can view the disk health with Qiling disk master

Step 1. Open Qiling Partition Master. Click "Disk health" feature in the tools page.

Step 2. Select the disk that you want to view.

Knowledge Base

There are over 100 possible stop error codes that may trigger a blue screen of death, each suggesting a potential cause and solution. Some codes, like the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10, share the same fixable solutions, implying that similar troubleshooting steps can be applied to resolve BSODs with different error codes.

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED
SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

If you encounter blue screen errors or other error codes, you can try the methods in this article to resolve them.

The Bottom Line

Fixing the DPC Watchdog Violation error is relatively easy, especially if you can enter safe mode. As long as you're in safe mode, you can resolve the issue with simple steps, making it a more manageable blue screen error compared to others that may require registry changes, command lines, or system-related fixes.