Eliminate DPC Guard Error Swiftly - Your Ultimate Troubleshooting Solution

If you’re in the middle of your work, and suddenly you see the blue screen popping up saying that you’re having a_DPC WATCHDOG VIOLATION_ blue screen error, you’re not alone. Many Windows users have reported about this error. But no need for you to worry about it, this error is possible to fix.

5 fixes for DPC WATCHDOG VIOLATION

Here are 5 fixes for you to try. You may not need to try them all; just work your way down until you find the one works for you.

1. Change SATA AHCI controller driver
2. Update all device drivers
3. Check hardware and software compatibility
4. Perform a disk check
5. Run Event Viewer

You’ll need to be logged into Windows on the problem computer to try any of these solutions. If you can’t log into Windows, power on and off your PC 3 times to perform a hard reboot and restart it in Safe Mode , then try these solutions.

What is DPC Watchdog Violation ?

TheDPC Watchdog Violation blue screen of death bug check has a value of 0x00000133 . [1]

DPC stands for Deferred Procedure Call. Watchdog refers to the bug checker, which usually monitors or track your Windows programs and your PC performance.

When you see theViolation message, your PC watchdog (aka bug checker) is overwhelmed. Probably because a DPC is running too long a time, or your system is stuck at an interrupt request level (IRQL) of DISPATCH_LEVEL or above. [1]

Why would I have the DPC Watchdog Violation error?

In most cases, you will see this error when your device driver(s) is outdated or installed wrongly. For example, if you haven’t installed the video card driver for your new operating system,DPC Watchdog Violation could easily happen when you try to watch a video online.

In some cases, incompatible hardware with your operating system can be the cause as well. For example, if your external hard driver is not longer supported by Windows 10, or that you have recently installed a new hardware device on your older computer, you will seeDPC Watchdog Violation error as well.

Sometimes, this error could be caused by software conflict, although not as common as the two causes above.

Fix 1: Change SATA AHCI controller driver

This is the most effective method according to a wide range of Windows users. So you might want to try it first:

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key andX at the same time, then click Device Manager .
   
2. Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers .
   
3. Right-click SATA AHCI controller and clickProperties .
   
4. To verify that you’ve chosen the correct controller : go to the Driver tab, click Driver Details .

Make sure the iaStorA.sys is listed as a driver. ClickOK to exit.

If you’re seeingstorahci.sys listed here, move on to Fix 2 for more help.

5. Navigate to theDriver tab, then click Update Driver… .

Click here

6. Select Browse my computer for driver software .

7. Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer .

8. Click Standard SATA AHCI Controller , then click Next . Finish the rest of the procedure as instructed.

9. Restart your computer after for the change to take effect.

You may need to repeat the same procedure again every time after your Windows update. This is a normal situation. So there is no need for you to worry about it.

Fix 2: Update all device drivers

If you’re seeingstorahci.sys listed in the properties of SATA AHCI controller driver, you should update your driver in this way.

In addition, o ne reason for DPC Watchdog Violation is outdated drivers for your hardware devices. You should check that if all your devices have the correct and latest drivers. If they are not, you should update them.

You can update your driver manually, by visiting the manufacturer’s website, downloading the latest correct installer and installing step by step. But if you don’t have the time or patience to do that manually, you can use Driver Easy to update automatically:

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
   
3. ClickUpdate All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.
   (You’ll need the Pro version for this – when you select Update All, you’ll get a prompt to upgrade. If you’re not prepared to purchase the Pro version yet, Driver Easy provides a 7-day trial at no cost, granting access to all Pro features like fast downloads and easy installation. No charges will occur until after your 7-day trial period ends.)
   

The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support. If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at support@drivereasy.com .

If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at [email protected] .

Fix 3: Check hardware and software compatibility

As mentioned, incompatible hardware devices with your PC operating system, and/or conflicted software programs could be one of the causes of the DPC Watchdog Violation error as well.

Check hardware compatibility

If you have some external devices plugged or installed on your PC, such as external hard drive or a USB flash drive, disconnect them all (leave your mouse and keyboard connected), then restart your computer.

See if this error persists. If the error stops, plug your external devices back, only one at a time, then restart your PC. If you get the error again after certain device, you have got the culprit already. You can either replace this device completely from your PC, or update its driver as instructed inFix 2 .

Check software compatibility

If this error only happens very recently, try to reflect if you have made some changes to your PC. For instance, have you installed a new application, or have you upgraded some programs.

If you are not sure what changes you have done, you might want to do asystem restore , to help you go back to the previous stage of your PC.

Fix 4: Perform a disk check

A blue screen of death error could indicate a disk problem. You may want to make sure that your disk is at a good state:

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key andR at the same time to invoke the Run dialog. Typecmd and pressCtrl ,Shift andEnter at the same time torun Command Prompt as administrator .
   
   When prompted with the administrator permission, clickYes to continue.

2. On your keyboard, type chkdsk /f /r , then press Enter .

3. Press Y on your keyboard.

IMPORTANT: Disk check will start the next time you boot your PC and it might take some time to complete (could be a day for some). If, when you restart, you don’t have time to wait for the disk check to complete, you can skip it. You’ll need to reschedule it again, as described above, though.

Fix 5: Run Event Viewer

This method does not provide you with a solution, but you might be able to find the culprit driver or device that is causing you the DPC Watchdog Violation blue screen error.

1. On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key andX at the same time. Then clickEvent Viewer .
   
2. On the left side of the panel, clickWindows Logs , and thenSystem .

Click here

3. In the middle part of the panel, you will be able to some entries. Check the ones marked byError orWarning , then you should be able to see the detailed information of what exact went wrong at a certain time range.

Reference

[1] Microsoft debugger bug check 0x133

• Blue Screen
• BSOD

Also read: