The DPC Watchdog Violation error is a common problem for Windows 10 users. A variety of things can cause this error, but fortunately, there are a few simple solutions that you can try to fix the problem. This article will show 10 ways to fix the DPC Watchdog Violation error.
As you know, Windows 10 has a built-in DPC watchdog that monitors your system for performance issues and takes action when it detects problems. If the DPC watchdog detects problems, it will shut down your computer to help protect against data corruption and other issues. In this article, we'll look at several ways you can fix DPC watchdog violations in Windows 10.
What is DPC Watchdog Violation?
DPC watchdog violation is a common problem when your computer's DPC watchdog timer is not working properly. It can cause your computer to freeze or restart unexpectedly, which can be very frustrating for you and your computer's users.
Reasons Why You’re Getting the DPC Watchdog Violation Error
There are several reasons why a driver may be unable to update its timestamp correctly:
Incompatible drivers
If you have updated drivers from Windows Update, but they are still incompatible with your system, you may see this message: “Your device is not compatible with this version of Windows.”
Software conflicts
This can happen if multiple applications are installed on your machine using different versions of drivers for their respective hardware.
Another potential cause of DPC Watchdog Violation errors is a corrupted system file.
The Windows 10 DPC watchdog is an important feature that keeps your computer safe from crashes and slowdowns. But if you're experiencing a problem with the watchdog, here are some ways to fix it:
1. Check and Replace the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller
One way to fix a DPC watchdog violation is to check and replace the IDE ATA/ATAPI controller. It can be done by following these steps:
Step 1: Click the Start button and type Device Manager into the search box.
Step 2: Click on Device Manager in the search results.
Step 3: Find the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers section and expand it.
Step 4: Right-click on the SATA ACHI controller in the list and select Properties.
Step 5: Go to the Drivers tab and click on Update Drivers.
Step 6: Follow the prompts to update the driver for the controller.
Step 7: Restart your computer and see if the problem has been fixed.
2. Update the Solid State Drives SSD
Updating the SSD firmware may help to fix the DPC watchdog violation error. Here are the steps to update the SSD firmware:
Step 1: Click on the Start
Step 2: Select Device Manager.
Step 3: Click on Disk Drives to expand the menu, right-click on SSD drive, and select Properties.
Step 4: Click on Details
Step 5: Tap on the Property menu and select Hardware ids. Note down the model number.
Step 6: Download the latest SSD firmware from the manufacturer's website.
Step 7: Connect the SSD to your computer.
Step 8: Open the SSD firmware update utility and follow the instructions to update the firmware.
Step 9: Once the update is complete, restart your computer.
These steps may help to fix the DPC watchdog violation error on your Windows computer.
3. Run CHKDSK Utility in Windows 10
One of the most effective ways is to run the CHKDSK utility in Windows 10. This utility will scan your hard drive for errors and attempt to fix them. To run the CHKDSK utility, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu and selecting “Run as administrator.”
Step 2: In the Command Prompt, type “chkdsk /f” and press Enter. It will start the CHKDSK utility and scan your hard drive for errors.
Step 3: Once the scan is complete, reboot your computer and see if the DPC watchdog violation error has been fixed. Suppose it has not; try another method to fix it.
4. Check Software and Hardware Incompatibility Issues
If you have this error, it's important to check for any software or hardware incompatibilities before you make any changes to your computer.
To start:
Step 1: Open the Start menu and search for “Settings.”
Step 2: Go to Update and Security.
Step 3: Choose the Troubleshoot
Step 4: Click on Additional Troubleshooters and select Compatibility Troubleshooter.
Step 5: Click on Run as administrator.
The system will detect incompatible hardware. If you don't see any errors listed in this window for any of these components, then it means none of them is compatible with Windows 10. If so many are listed as incompatible with Windows 10, then there may be some compatibility issues with other parts of your system that need fixing before you can use
5. Run Event Viewer
The first step to fixing a DPC watchdog violation is to run an event viewer. This tool will help you identify the specific driver causing the problem. To do this;
Step 1: Click Start
Step 2: In the search box, type Event Viewer and press Enter.
Step 3: Go to the Windows Logs.
Step 4: Click the System List under Windows Logs in the Event Viewer console.
Look for Error events that have a source of Disk Defragmenter. These events' descriptions will say something like “DPC Watchdog Violation.”
6. Update Your Drivers
Outdated or corrupt drivers can sometimes cause DPC watchdog violation errors. You can check to see if your drivers are up to date by going to the manufacturer's website and looking for any available updates. To update your drivers:
Step 1: Open Device Manager.
Step 2: Click on the Disk Drivers to expand the category you want to update.
Step 3: Right-click on the device, and then click Update Driver Software.
Step 4: Search Automatically for Updated Driver Windows will search for and install any available updates.
Restart your computer after installation.
7. Remove All External Devices
Another method of fixing this problem is removing any external devices from your computer so that they don’t interfere with the operation of Windows 10 itself (for example, if you have an old printer connected via a USB cable). You should also ensure that none of these devices is plugged into ports labeled “USB Hub” or anything similar because those connections have been known to cause malfunctions.
When it comes to PCs, it's always a good idea to make sure that everything is plugged in properly and up to date before troubleshooting issues with hardware or software updates on your system. If you're having issues with the DPC watchdog and don't know what else to do, try unplugging any external devices connected to your computer to see if that helps.
8. Scan Your System Files
Sometimes malware can cause the problem after all—it's always important to check through all of the files on your computer for signs of infection at least once a month, if not more often than that, depending on how often you use them.
Step 1: You must open the Command Prompt as an administrator to scan and fix the system files.
Step 2: In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
Step 3: The command will scan all system files on your computer and attempt to repair any corrupted or damaged.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, restart your computer and see if the DPC watchdog violation error has been fixed.
9. Restore Your System
You can try restoring your system to an earlier point. It will undo any recent changes that may have caused the DPC watchdog violation error. To do this, go to the Control Panel and open the System Restore tool. Choose a restore point before the date you started seeing the DPC watchdog violation errors.
If restoring your system doesn't fix the problem, you can also try running a registry cleaner to fix any registry errors that may be causing the DPC watchdog violation. You can find registry cleaners for free online. Just download one and run it on your computer to scan for and fix any registry errors.
10. Update your OS
One way to fix a DPC watchdog violation is to update your operating system. To do this,
Step 1: Open the Settings
Step 2: Go to the Update & Security
Step 3: Click the Check for Updates button and wait for Windows to check for updates.
If any updates are found, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.
Conclusion
DPC watchdog violation is a common error in Windows that various things can cause. You can try the above methods to fix the problem.
If you still see the DPC watchdog violation error, your computer may have a more serious problem. In this case, you should contact a professional for help.
