The DPC watchdog violation error was so common after Windows 10 was released. An incompatible SSD driver originally caused it. After many people faced the same issue, Microsoft had to release an update to get rid of it. Windows 8 users also faced the same issue when it was released. This article is for you if you are facing the DPC Watchdog violation Windows 10/8. You will learn about the best ways to fix it on your own.
Part 1: What is DPC Watchdog Violation?
Part 2: What causes the DPC Watchdog Violation Error?
Part 3: Some Other DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Errors
Part 4: How to Fix DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Error
- Solution 1: Replace iastor.sys Driver
- Solution 2: Smart Repair by PassFab FixUWin
- Solution 3: Analyze dmg Logs
- Solution 4: Update SSD Firmware
- Solution 5: Perform SFC Scan
- Solution 6: Perform DISM Scan
- Solution 7: Uninstall Newly Installed Software
- Solution 8: Reset Windows
Part 5: FAQs
Part 1: What is DPC Watchdog Violation?
The DPC Watchdog Violation problem is common in all Windows versions, especially in Windows 10 and 8. When you face this error, you see a Blue Screen of Death with bugcheck 0x00000133 and a message that says "DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION."
The DPC stands for Deferred Procedure Call, and the Watchdog refers to a bug checker responsible for checking the programs and the computer's performance.
Part 2: What causes the DPC Watchdog Violation Error?
The processor processes a process for a given period, after which the running process has to go out of the processor and wait for its turn again. Whenever a process takes longer than the assigned time, and the processor does not send it into the waiting state, the BSOD DPC Watchdog Violation occurs.
The bugcheck shows that the Watchdog was executed as it detected a long-running deferred procedure call or the processor spent prolonged time on an Interrupt Request Level (IRQL) of DISPATCH_LEVEL.
The blue screen DPC watchdog violation is generally caused by a hardware failure, i.e., disk driver, to be exact. When the disk driver malfunctions, the Windows crashes, and you face a DPC error. Other causes include damaged or outdated BIOS and UEFI settings, SSD problems, viruses or malicious programs, incompatible drivers or software, etc.
Part 3: Some Other DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Errors
The DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error not necessarily occurs when the hard disk driver malfunctions. The other watchdog errors that you may encounter include:
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION while Connecting to the Internet is caused by the faulty Network card driver.
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION while Playing Games happens due to a faulty driver when you open a complex application.
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION when Installing Windows 10 is caused by misconfigured BIOS or UEFI settings.
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION while connecting to the WiFi can be triggered due to an incompatible hardware component, a faulty driver, or software.
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION in Windows 10 when you cannot boot is caused by an outdated or damaged device driver.
Boot loop DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION in Windows 10 is triggered due to an unsupported SSD firmware, corrupted system files, outdated SSD driver, or incompatible hardware.
Part 4: How to Fix DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Error
| Solutions | Features | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Solution 1:Replace iastor.sys driver |
|
Easy |
| Solution 2: PassFab FixUWin |
|
Easy |
| Solution 3: Analyze dmg logs |
|
Hard |
| Solution 4: Update SSD Firmware |
|
Medium |
| Solution 5: Perform SFC Scan |
|
Medium |
| Solution 6: Perform DISM Scan |
|
Medium |
| Solution 7: Remove Newly Installed Software |
|
Easy |
| Solution 8: Reset Windows |
|
Hard |
Solution 1: Replace iastor.sys Driver
According to Microsoft, the watchdog violation blue screen can be caused by outdated iastor.sys driver, and it can be resolved by updating it. Here is how you can update iastor.sys:
- Open the Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu.
- Look for the corresponding driver in IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers list and right-click on it when found.
- Click Properties.
- Switch to the Driver tab and click the Driver Details button.
- Make sure that there is iastor.sys on the list.
- If there is iastor.sys in the driver's list, click on Update driver.
- Click Browse my computer for drivers.
- Click the "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer" link.
- Now select Standard SATA AHCI Controller. Click Next.
Now, click close and restart your computer to ensure the problem is resolved, and you no longer face the watchdog violation stop code.
Solution 2: Smart Repair by PassFab FixUWin
The PassFab FixUWin is an amazing Windows repairing tool that scans for any possible issue and fixes it automatically with its magical Automated repair feature. It can rescue you from 200+ problems, including blue/black screen of death, Windows crashing, being stuck on a boot loop or restart loop, login screen keeps loading, etc. This outstanding software is fully compatible with all PC brands and can be installed on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. You can use PassFab FixUWin to get rid of any possible problem that you might face on Windows as follows.
- Install and launch PassFab FixUWin on any accessible PC.
- Plug a USB/DVD/CD device into the PC and click "Create boot disk now".
- Switch to the problematic computer and plug in the bootable USB/DVD/CD.
- Restart your computer and press the boot key to open the boot menu.
- Set your bootable media on priority, save settings, and exit the boot menu.
- Click Automated Repair.
- Click Restart after rapir successfully.
Let the software burn boot instructions on your USB/DVD/CD.
Solution 3: Analyze dmg Logs
You can find and resolve the DPC error by analyzing the dmg log as follows
- Install Microsoft's system debugging tool WinDbg Preview and start it.
- The software will detect the latest dmp log automatically. Click Yes to open the log.
- After loading, click !analyze -v.
- Analyze the log from the bottom two to three lines. Usually, the cause of the blue screen error is mentioned in the lower part of the log.
- When you find the conflicting file, check if it is *.sys or *.exe.
- If it is *.sys, open the Device Manager, look for the corresponding driver file, backup and restore it to the previous version.
- If it is a *.exe file, locate the program, create a backup and try to delete it.
If you succeed in finding and removing the correct file, the DMP watchdog violation will be resolved. However, this solution is risky as you might lose important data or files.
Solution 4: Update SSD Firmware
If you use SSD, there is a chance that you have multiple SSD drives installed on your computer. An outdated SSD firmware can produce a DPC problem. You can update the SSD firmware easily by following these steps.
- Launch the Run dialog.
- Type "devmgmt.msc". Press Enter.
- Expand disk drives and look for your SSD's model number.
- Now open the browser, go to the manufacturer's website and search for your SSD's model number.
- Download and install the latest SSD Firmware on your PC.
After updating the firmware, your computer will start functioning normally and will not show a DPC Watchdog violation.
Solution 5: Perform SFC Scan
SFC is a built-in tool that scans your computer for any damaged, missing, or misconfigured system files. Damaged system files are a major cause behind many blue screen errors, and you can fix these files by running an SFC scan as follows.
- Run Command Prompt as admin.
- Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
After scanning completes, restart your computer. The issue would be resolved if corrupt system files were causing the problem.
Solution 6: Perform DISM Scan
The DISM is another tool to fix any corrupt system files, just like the SFC, but the major difference between both is that the SFC checks for the corrupt files in the folder where the OS is installed, whereas the DISM tool looks for the corrupt files in the entire disk.
- Run Command Prompt as admin.
- Type DISM.exe /Online /Clean-up image /scanhealth. Press Enter. This will search for any corrupt files.
- Now type DISM.exe /Online /Clean-up image /restorehealth and press Enter to fix the corrupt files.
Solution 7: Uninstall Newly Installed Software
If you installed software before you encountered the problem, there is a possibility of that software conflicting with other programs and operating systems. You can try to fix the Watchdog Violence issue by uninstalling the program as follows.
- Open Control Panel. Click on Programs and Features link.
- Look for the software you installed recently and click on Uninstall button.
After uninstalling the program, restart your computer to see if you got rid of the DPC problem.
Solution 8: Reset Windows
When none of the above solutions work, you only have to reset Windows to factory settings or reinstall Windows. Make sure to back up your data before performing a reset or reinstalling the Windows, as you might lose it during the process if you choose any incorrect options.
Part 5: FAQs
1. Can RAM cause DPC watchdog violation?
Yes, faulty or damaged RAM can be a reason behind DPC watchdog violation.
2. How do I fix DPC Watchdog Violation when connecting to WiFi?
You should reset network drivers if you face DPC Watchdog Violation error during connecting to WiFi.
3. Is Watchdog violation a virus?
No, it is not a virus.It is a Bluse Screen error with the dpc_watchdog_violation and a sad face showing on the screen.
Conclusion
Getting stuck on a Blue Screen of Death with a strange error message causes frustration, due to which many people end up losing their data in an attempt to resolve the issue. In this article, we have addressed DPC Watchdog Violation bugcheck 0x00000133 problem.