How to fix DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error in Windows 10

What is DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error

Receiving any BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) errors can be very frustrating and annoying especially when you do not know how to solve the appeared problem. During regular work or browsing, users may be interrupted with a sudden shutdown resulting in a Blue Screen. DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION is an error code that pops up due to hardware/software incompatibility, damaged files, and driver issues. However, there is no reason to worry since we will help you get rid of this problem in the article below.

Automatic Repair

Download Windows Repair Utility

1. Update SATA AHCI controller driver

SATA AHCI controller is a vital component that specifies the operation of Serial ATA (SATA) host controllers in its motherboard. Simply said, it ensures proper communication between storage devices and memory. Thus, we will try to update it by following the steps below:

1. Left-click on the Start Menu button and choose Device Manager.
2. Now find and expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
3. Right-click on SATA AHCI controller and choose Update driver.
4. In the opened window, select Browse my computer for driver software.
5. Then click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
6. Select Standard SATA AHCI Controller, click Next and follow on-screen instructions to finish the process.

Once installed, restart your PC and check if the problem persists.

2. Update drivers

If updating the SATA AHCI controller did not help you, then you can try to update all available drivers because they can be outdated or malfunctioned and cause the following issue as a result. You can download IObit Driver Booster for automatic updating via the button below.

Download Driver Booster  
However, if you are willing to update them manually, follow the steps listed below. Note that it will require much more time in comparison to the automatic option.

1. Open Device Manager as we did before.
2. If you do not know which driver is causing the problem, then you should update them one-by-one. Right-click on them and choose Update driver. Sometimes malfunctioned drivers are marked with a yellow rectangle.
3. Let Windows search for new drivers and download them by following the on-screen instructions. Note that this time you should choose Search automatically for updated driver software option instead of browsing your PC for available drivers.

3. Damaged disk fragments

Sometimes hardware may be damaged by third-parties programs, malware or manual manipulations. Thus, this method will require scanning the local disk for available errors and instantly fix them. To do this, we will need to boot the console instructed below.

1. Find Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box. Then right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
2. In the black console, you should paste the chkdsk /f /r C: command and press Enter. If necessary, replace “C” with the letter of your hard drive.
3. The system will scan for both configuration and physical errors and automatically repair them.

4. Check hardware compatibility

Rarely, but external devices that are connected to your PC can cause the same problem. Try to unplug USB devices and restart your computer to see if the problem appears. If not, you probably found the reason. Sometimes, in order to solve device-related issues, you simply need to update USB drivers through the Device Manager as we did previously.

5. Scan for malware

Malware can also become a culprit for the issue incidence. Potentially unwanted programs are capable of altering multiple settings, therefore, impacting some of the processes which can lead to BSOD errors like “DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION”. Even if you think that your PC is virus-free, we still recommend you to download Norton Antivirus that will find and eliminate rogue applications that possibly infiltrated your system. Remember that malware can be disguised as ostensibly useful programs that secretly gather your data and sell it to cybercriminals.

Download Norton Antivirus

6. Running the System File Checker (SFC) scan

Finally, the lack of core files or damaged segments also leads to multiple BSOD errors that pop-up spur of the moment. Therefore, you can easily scan your device for corrupted or missing components by using the steps below:

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching tab next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

“DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION” error is very similar to “DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG” issue that was previously discussed on our blog. In fact, all of the issues require pretty much the same approach and can be easily solved by using the abovementioned guideline. Take care of your computer by sustaining it clean and updated to prolong the life spine and reduce the number of errors.