Fix Stop Code DPC Watchdog Violation in Windows 10

If you’re encountering the DPC Watchdog Violation error on your Windows 10 device, don’t panic. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix it.

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Update your drivers: Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause the DPC Watchdog Violation error. Ensure that all your drivers are up to date, especially the ones related to your processor, graphics, and storage.

Understanding DPC Watchdog Violation Error

The DPC Watchdog Violation error is a common blue screen error that Windows 10 users may encounter. This error occurs when the system detects a problem with the device driver(s) or controller driver(s) that handle data transfers between devices. To fix the issue, there are a few methods you can try. Firstly, update the drivers for the devices causing the error. To do this, go to Device Manager, locate the device causing the error, right-click and select Properties, go to Driver tab, click Update Driver, and follow the steps. Another method is to update the firmware version of the AHCI Controller driver for SATA AHCI Controllers. If none of these fixes work, seek further assistance or run a bug checker.

The DPC Watchdog Violation error is one of the most common blue screen errors that Windows 10 users face.

Common Causes of DPC Watchdog Violation Error

Update Drivers:
- Identify the driver causing the error through the stop code message or event viewer.
- Open the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the driver.
- Manually install the driver or use a driver updating software.
Disable Fast Startup:
- Open Control Panel and click on Power Options.
- Select “Choose what the power button does” and then “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
- Uncheck “Turn on fast startup” and save changes.
Check and Repair Hard Drive Errors:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type “chkdsk c: /f /r” and hit enter.
- Wait for the scan to complete and follow the instructions to repair any errors found.
Disable Overclocking:
- Enter BIOS settings during startup.
- Locate the overclocking option and disable it.
- Save changes and exit.
Disable Antivirus:
- Open Windows Security and click on “Virus & threat protection”.
- Click on “Manage settings” and turn off real-time protection.
- If using a third-party antivirus, disable it through the program’s settings or uninstall it.

Disconnecting External Devices to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Error

To fix the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10, disconnect all external devices from your computer. This includes USB devices, external hard drives, and other peripherals. Shut down your PC completely and unplug all external devices. Then, turn on your PC and check if the error persists.

Sometimes, device driver(s) for external devices can be the reason for the BSOD – DPC Watchdog Violation error. In such cases, disconnecting them can be an effective fix. If the error goes away after disconnecting external devices, you can try updating the video card driver or the AHCI Controller driver. To do this, go to the Device Manager, find the controller under IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers, open its Properties, and go to the Driver tab. There, you can update the driver software.

Remember to take screenshots or images of any error messages or blue screen errors that appear. This can be helpful in identifying the root cause of the issue and finding appropriate fixes.

This error is caused by outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers.

// Import required libraries #include #include


int main()

{

    // Set up a watchdog timer to monitor system activity

    HANDLE hTimer = CreateWaitableTimer(NULL, TRUE, NULL);

    LARGE_INTEGER liDueTime;

    liDueTime.QuadPart = -100000000; // 10 seconds

    SetWaitableTimer(hTimer, &liDueTime, 0, NULL, NULL, 0);
    // Wait for the timer to trigger

    while (WaitForSingleObject(hTimer, INFINITE) == WAIT_OBJECT_0)

    {

        // Check for DPC watchdog violations

        if (IsDebuggerPresent() && GetLastError() == ERROR_DBG_DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION)

        {

            // If a DPC watchdog violation is detected, log the error

            printf("DPC watchdog violation detected!\n");

            // Write the error to a log file or send an email to the administrator

            // to notify them of the issue.

        }
        // Reset the timer

        liDueTime.QuadPart = -100000000; // 10 seconds

        SetWaitableTimer(hTimer, &liDueTime, 0, NULL, NULL, 0);

    }

return 0; }

This code sets up a watchdog timer to monitor system activity and checks for DPC watchdog violations. If a violation is detected, it logs the error and notifies the administrator. However, this is just a rough example and may not fully address the issue.

Changing SATA AHCI Controller to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Error

To fix the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10, you can try changing the SATA AHCI controller. This error is often caused by device driver issues, and updating your drivers can help, but changing the SATA AHCI controller has been known to solve the problem in some cases. Here are the steps to change the controller:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.

2. Expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers category.

3. Right-click the SATA AHCI controller and select Properties.

4. Go to the Driver tab and select Update Driver.

5. Choose Browse my computer for driver software.

6. Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.

7. Choose Standard SATA AHCI Controller and click Next.

8. Restart your computer.

If this method doesn’t work, try updating your other device drivers or running a bug checker.

Updating SSD Firmware to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Error

Updating the firmware of your SSD can help correct the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10. This error is typically caused by outdated or corrupted device drivers, including video card drivers. To fix the error, first identify the firmware version of your SSD by going to Device Manager and selecting Driver Details. Then, visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest firmware version and follow the installation instructions. Updating the firmware can help eliminate the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) and prevent future occurrences of the DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION stop code. Be sure to take screenshots or images of any error messages or screens that appear during the process, and consult the manufacturer’s support page or community forums for additional troubleshooting methods.

Checking and Fixing Disk Errors for DPC Watchdog Violation Error

Step	Instruction
1	Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin)
2	Type “chkdsk C: /f /r /x” and press Enter
3	Press Y to schedule a disk check on next restart
4	Restart your computer
5	Wait for the disk check to complete

Removing Newly Installed Software to Fix DPC Watchdog Violation Error

To fix the DPC Watchdog Violation error in Windows 10, removing newly installed software can be a solution. This error is caused by a conflict between a driver and the OS, and newly installed software can trigger it.

To remove the software, go to the Control Panel and select “Uninstall a program.” Find the software that was installed around the time the error started occurring and select “Uninstall.” Follow the prompts to remove the software completely.

Once the software is removed, restart the computer and check if the error persists. If it does, try updating the video card driver and running a system file check. These steps should help resolve the DPC Watchdog Violation error and prevent future Blue Screen of Death crashes.

Additional Solutions for Fixing DPC Watchdog Violation Error

Update Drivers

Open Device Manager
Right-click on the hardware device that needs to be updated
Click Update driver
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update

Adjust Power Settings

Open Control Panel
Click Power Options
Select Change plan settings
Click Change advanced power settings
Expand Processor power management
Change the minimum processor state to 5%
Change the maximum processor state to 100%
Click Apply and then OK

Disable Fast Startup

Open Control Panel
Click Power Options
Select Choose what the power buttons do
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended)
Click Save changes

Run System File Checker

Open Command Prompt
Type sfc /scannow
Press Enter
Wait for the scan to complete
If any issues are found, restart the computer and run the scan again

Check for Malware

Open Windows Security
Click Virus & threat protection
Select Scan options
Choose Full scan
Click Scan now
Wait for the scan to complete
If any malware is found, remove it and restart the computer

Liam Brodzky

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