Question "DPC Watchdog Violation" and no Safe Mode?
Question "DPC Watchdog Violation" and no Safe Mode?
Hi all,
I've been working on this issue for a while and I'm stuck without any guidance. Thank you for taking the time to read through this.
The problem began:
While playing Anno 1800, the graphics became extremely pixelated. You could only see large streaks across the screen and massive black areas, with everything frozen—mouse, keyboard, etc.
After restarting by pressing the main button, I managed to boot and load the game, but it would crash to the desktop right after loading.
It then triggered a DPC watchdog violation error.
After that, it would stop booting and repeatedly show the same DPC watchdog error before reaching the login screen.
I replaced two different RAM modules and took them out, but the issue persisted.
After removing the video card, I was able to enter safe mode during booting, but once reconnected, it would still show the DPC watchdog error every time.
Now, even after entering safe mode, I can't access it automatically because the prompt doesn't appear to repair itself.
I tried checking and updating video drivers, but since I'm using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi in safe mode, it didn't help.
If you have any suggestions or ideas, even a simple one, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks!
You're facing issues accessing recovery data? Check your storage options. Look for files in C:\Windows\Minidump or C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP on a flash drive using the recovery command prompt (copy command). Alternatively, boot from a live USB like Ubuntu and upload the files to cloud services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Share the links with me.
Thank you. I will proceed with this approach. For now:
...even during USB reinstallation:
Output:
USB succeeded in reaching recovery options, but the startup menu is missing. Available choices are:
Continue
Use another OS
Turn off PC
Troubleshoot > startup repair or command prompt or uninstall updates or uefi firmware settings or system restore or system image recovery (each option also lacks a startup settings menu)
That’s the complete list with expanded troubleshooting steps.
I chose to reinstall Windows from the USB again.
I did this to move the previous installation to windows.old.
After finishing, I’m back on the desktop without entering safe mode.
The graphics card remains connected (I assumed reinstalling it would work if it didn’t, but it did get to the desktop now).
Update:
According to dxdiag:
The video card is listed as:
Microsoft basic display driver
Manufacturer: standard display types
Chip type: nvidia
Notes: “There is a problem with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti device. For more info, search for ‘graphics device driver error code 43’.”
I’m installing clean drivers now:
GeForce Security Update Driver
Version: 474.82 WHQL
Release Date: 2024.2.22
During installation, the PC rebooted, became unresponsive, and experienced another blue screen DPC watchdog violation.
Initially, it's important to provide complete PC specifications when discussing any troubleshooting concerns. From my perspective, this issue seems related to a GPU VRAM corruption. It appears the card itself might be defective, though confirming this would require installing it on another system with a different power supply model. Would you like to test the video card on another PC?
Error code 43 often appears when Windows fails to recognize a device, such as a USB port, hard drive, video card, or any connected hardware. Typically, this indicates that a device driver is missing, corrupt, or outdated, causing communication problems between Windows and the hardware, or that the hardware itself is faulty and needs replacement.
This code also suggests the GPU could be defective. Before drawing any conclusions, verify the card on another system as well.
What is the model number of your motherboard? Are you able to boot your current system using the integrated graphics processor on your motherboard, if it supports it?
Do you still encounter the same issue? The problem usually arises either from driver failures or hardware malfunctions. Another possibility is that your GPU or motherboard slot has failed. If your motherboard supports multiple PCIe x16 slots, consider moving the GPU to another slot to check for board issues. Alternatively, testing the GPU on a different machine can help determine if the problem is with the card itself.
Certainly! Here is the rewritten version of your text:
- I can arrange to have the video card tested on another PC this Monday. I don’t have any alternative options, so I won’t be able to do it myself.
2. Could you provide the model number of your MOBO?
- ASUS Z97-P
3. Is it possible to start your current system or operating system properly using the built-in graphics processor of your motherboard, if it supports it?
- At this time, I can boot into Windows using these drivers:
GeForce Driver Results | NVIDIA
GeForce Driver Results | NVIDIA
www.nvidia.com
...after updating them from these sources (I previously had newer drivers and it worked fine). However, after the update, the DPC watchdog triggers.
This occurs without entering safe mode; it now boots into Windows regularly. This happened after reinstalling USB Windows or similar changes. I have updated all other drivers using Driver Easy and kept Windows updates current.
4. Is the same issue still occurring?
- Yes, the DPC watchdog violations persist when I update drivers from that source. If I leave it unchanged, I’m unable to enable the second monitor and the resolution isn’t performing well. The error message specifically mentions the video card/driver setup (basic adapter only, not the full card listed there).
It also notes that even though the NVIDIA installer claimed it installed the drivers from that link, the problem remains.
Just to confirm, if you start the PC using the built-in graphics on the CPU, you shouldn't require any Nvidia GPU drivers. However, if you're booting through the integrated graphics, then you should install or use the necessary drivers.
Try launching the system with just the integrated graphics and see if everything functions properly, without any DPC errors or other blue screen issues.
Your i5 4460 CPU supports onboard graphics. For the "Intel Graphics Accelerator Drivers" from Asus, visit their support page at www.asus.com.
It seems your BIOS is still set to version 2601 (dated 2014/12/11), while the latest is 2907 (dated 2016/03/25). Updating the BIOS isn't currently required unless you're experiencing problems.
Yeah, the video card was still active during that process. It functions well overall, though the video settings can be affected when specific drivers are installed. Once those drivers are in place, everything seems to work properly except for the video settings, which display a basic adapter for the NVIDIA chip in the Device Manager. It fails to support a second monitor and lacks available video settings. No matter what adjustments I make, the basic adapter keeps appearing. Installing other NVIDIA drivers causes DPC violations again. With the GPU installed, most things work fine except for the basic video adapter display. No blue screens or DPC issues appear. Is it still worth considering using the integrated GPU in this situation?
For the GPU, I plan to run a "does it float" test soon. XD
For the iGPU, I’ll update the drivers. For the BIOS, I spent a lot of time searching for newer versions. I didn’t find the updated tabs on the ASUS website that would include the BIOS and firmware. I assumed they didn’t have any newer updates for this motherboard. Wrong! It’s now updated to the latest version.
I’ve received some guidance now that the video card isn’t working (unless there’s another issue). This suggests I might need to purchase a new GPU, which isn’t part of my budget.
I guess the best way to confirm would be to test the GPU on another machine. I should do that before buying a replacement, or else I risk getting a new GPU and still facing the same problems.
Thanks again for your help. I’ll share the results of the "does it float" test later. XD