PC errors can be confusing and frustrating. Many times, they seem to happen for no reason at all. The DPC watchdog violation is a common PC error.
This error can cause your computer to freeze or crash and can even result in data loss. In this blog post, we will discuss what a DPC watchdog violation is, what causes it, and how to troubleshoot it.
DPC stands for Deferred Procedure Call. DPC — a Microsoft Windows operating system — allows higher priority tasks to occur while shuffling back important but lower priority tasks. A DPC watchdog violation occurs when a DPC takes too long to execute. This can be caused by a number of things, including bad drivers, hardware problems or software conflicts.
When a violation occurs, you will usually see a blue screen with an error message. The error message will typically say something like “DPC WATCHDOG VIOLATION.”
There are a number of things that can cause this type of error:
There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot a DPC watchdog violation.
First, try updating your drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause DPC watchdog violations. You can usually update drivers through your computer’s manufacturer’s website.
If updating your drivers does not fix the problem, try troubleshooting your hardware. Random access memory (RAM) — essentially your computer’s short-term memory — can cause DPC watchdog violations. You can usually test your RAM by running a memory test on your device.
If you are still having problems, try troubleshooting your software. If two programs are seemingly conflicting, try uninstalling one of them. This could solve the conflict and fix the DPC watchdog violation.
This controller is responsible for communication between the computer and storage devices (hard drives, solid state drives, etc.). If this controller is not functioning properly, it can cause a DPC watchdog violation.
External devices (USB flash drives, external hard drives, etc.) can sometimes cause a DPC watchdog violation. Try removing all external devices and see if the problem persists.
Solid-state drives (SSDs) can sometimes cause a violation. These devices store data via flash memory. Make sure that your solid-state drive is up to date.
Use a tool like Windows Defender to scan your system files and look for any potential malware or viruses. To do so:
If you find any malware or viruses, remove them from your computer.
There are several things you can do to prevent future DPC watchdog violations:
If you have recently made any changes to your system (installed new software, updated drivers, etc.), try restoring your system to an earlier point in time. This will undo any recent changes and might fix your problem.
Outdated or corrupt drivers can sometimes cause these errors. Make sure that all of your drivers are up to date.
Fast startup is a feature in Windows that can sometimes cause a DPC watchdog violation.
To disable fast startup, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Power & Sleep > Additional power settings. From there, you can select what the power buttons do. Then you will need to click “Change settings that are currently unavailable” and uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup (recommended).” Don’t forget to save!
DPC watchdog violations can be frustrating, but luckily there are several things you can do to troubleshoot and prevent them. By following the steps in this blog post, you can hopefully resolve the issue and avoid future violations.
