DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 11 usually occurs because of incompatible hardware, outdated drivers or drivers are installed incorrectly, Or software conflicts between programs. The error can occur quite randomly or when users utilize certain software. Few users report blue screen error occurs after the Windows 11 update. DPC stands for the “Deferred Procedure Call” where the watchdog stands for the bug checker. When a DPC Watchdog Violation error occurs, it means that the system has detected a problem with the handling of Deferred Procedure Calls, leading to system instability and trigger System crash with Blue screen error. If you are experiencing such error on your computer, here is a solution to apply.
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Causes of DPC Watchdog Violation
There are multiple reasons that cause blue screen error on Windows 11. An Incompatible or outdated device drivers interfere with the proper functioning of DPC and trigger DPC Watchdog Violation error.
Conflicts between third-party software or antivirus programs can interfere with DPC handling and lead to errors. Sometimes this issue can be related to corrupted system files, disrupt the handling of Deferred Procedure Calls and result in the error.
Again, Certain hardware components, such as faulty or incompatible devices, or a Disk drive error can cause conflicts with the DPC mechanism and result system crash with blue screen error DPC Watchdog Violation on Windows 11.
Fix DPC Watchdog Violation error on Windows 11
Most of the time, removing the problematic piece of hardware and reboot your computer can be the simplest solution to fix blue screen error on Windows 11. In addition, Run System File Checker scan help diagnose your operating system and detect corrupted files that may be causing system crashes. Some users have fixed the problem by repairing hard drives for errors or bed sectors and removing conflicting software.
Let’s first unplug any external devices connected to your computer, including the secondary HDD, printer, scanner and other unessential devices, then restart your PC. Well if due to this blue screen error windows 11 restarts frequently, start your computer in safe mode and apply the solutions listed below.
Update Windows 11
Keeping Windows 11 up to date is essential for overall system stability and security. Let’s check and ensure that all pending updates are installed on the computer to make sure this problem isn’t being caused by a bug that has recently been patched out.
- Press Windows key + X and select settings
- Go to Windows Update then hit the check for Updates button,
- If Windows updates are pending there, allow them to download and install on your computer,
- It may take some time to download and install Windows update files from the Microsoft server,
- Once done reboot your computer to apply the changes and check if the blue screen error is gone.
Uninstall conflicting software
Conflicts between recently installed software and the operating system can disrupt the handling of Deferred Procedure Calls and lead to the DPC Watchdog Violation error. Let’s Remove recently installed third-party software or antivirus programs temporarily to check if they are causing conflicts with the DPC mechanism.
- Press Win + X and select “Installed apps.”
- Locate the recently installed software or any security programs.
- Click on the 3 dot menu next to the program and select “Uninstall.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
- Restart your computer after uninstalling the software
Scan for system file corruption
Corrupted system files can cause instability within the operating system, leading to various errors, including the DPC Watchdog Violation. Run System File Checker (SFC) utility with DISM restore health command and repair any corrupted files and restore the integrity of the system files. This can help eliminate the blue screen error and ensure the proper functioning of the operating system.
- Press Windows key + S, type cmd and select run as administrator,
- When the command prompt opens, first run the DISM command dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
- Once the command 100% executed, run the system file checker command sfc /scannow
- Wait for the System File Checker to scan and repair any corrupted system files.
- Restart your computer after the process completes, that probably help fix the BSOD error on Windows 11
Run CHKDSK Disk Scan
Also running a CHKDSK disk scan helps identify and fix disk drive errors that may contribute to the DPC Watchdog Violation error.
Open command prompt as administrator,
- Type the command “chkdsk C: /f /r” and press Enter. (Replace “C:” with the appropriate drive letter if your Windows installation is on a different drive.)
- Here the “/f” parameter fixes any detected file system errors, while the “/r” parameter locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
- You will see a prompt asking if you want to schedule the scan for the next system restart. Type “Y” and press Enter.
- Restart your computer, and the disk scan will begin automatically.
The scan may take some time to complete, depending on the size and health of your disk. Once completed, your computer will restart, and any repaired file system errors can help resolve the DPC Watchdog Violation error.
Update Device drivers
Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause conflicts with the operating system and lead to the DPC Watchdog Violation error. Install the latest driver updates to ensure that they are properly configured to work with the system, reducing the chances of encountering the error.
- Press Win + X and select “Device Manager.”
- Expand each category and right-click on the devices.
- Select “Update driver” and choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install any available updates.
- Repeat this process for all devices listed in the Device Manager
Also, you can visit the manufacturer’s website or use Windows Update to download and install the latest drivers for your hardware components.
Disable Fast Startup
The Fast Startup feature in Windows 11 allows for quicker system boot times by hibernating the kernel session. However, it can sometimes interfere with the proper functioning of drivers and lead to errors like DPC Watchdog Violation. Disabling Fast Startup may help resolve the issue:
- Press Win + X and select “Power Options.”
- Click on “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left-hand menu.
- Click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
- Under the “Shutdown settings” section, uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup.”
- Click on “Save changes” and restart your computer.
Restore PC to a Previous State
If the problem started after a recent driver update or new app install, you should perform System restore to revert your computer back to a previous state when it was working correctly.
- Press Windows key + R, type rstrui and press Enter to launch the System Restore wizard.
- In the System Restore window, click on “Next” to proceed.
- You will see a list of available restore points. Select a restore point that was created before the occurrence of the DPC Watchdog Violation error.
- Click on “Next” and then “Finish” to start the restoration process.
- Review the information provided and confirm that you want to proceed with the restore.
If you suspect the problem is your SSD, visit your drive’s manufacturer’s website and see if there is a firmware update you may need to install. You can usually find these on the support page.
In addition, Outdated BIOS or UEFI firmware can lead to compatibility issues with the operating system, resulting in errors like the DPC Watchdog Violation. Check your computer manufacturer’s website for any available firmware updates and follow their instructions to update your system’s BIOS/UEFI.
