Acer Aspire S7-392 DPC Watchdog Violation

Adalien
Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives

Hi, I have been getting a blue screen with a message saying my laptop encountered a DPC watchdog violation and my system has to restart. This seems to occur the most frequently while watching videos online. I've also seen this when downloading from the Internet. I can't recall getting this message when I was not using the Internet (although I am generally using the Internet when on my laptop). When I first got the laptop, I was using Windows 8.1 and now I am using Windows 10. This message has come up with both Windows versions. I would really appreciate help/advice in diagnosing this problem. Thanks.

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Answers

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    Adalien,

     

    It looks like this might be linked to a firewall or anti-virus application that is installed. Here is a Microsoft thread that talks about it, if that helps.

  • Adalien
    Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User

    Acer-Justin,

     

    Thanks for your comment. I tried uninstalling all antivirus software on the laptop, and the same error still occured so it looks like that was not the issue.

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    Adalien,

     

    I have seen where people turn off fast start-up and it resolves it, you can try that.

     

    Open Control Panel.
    Click Power Options.
    Click Choose what the power buttons do.
    Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
    Scroll down to Shutdown settings and uncheck Turn on fast startup.
    Click Save changes.

  • Adalien
    Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User

    Acer-Justin,

     

    Thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately, turning off fast-start up did not resolve the issue either. 

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    Adalien,

     

    Did you perform a disc check to see if there were any issues with your hard drive being corrupted, by chance? This article might help when you run it, just in case you get it.

  • Adalien
    Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User

    Acer-Justin,

     

    I scanned the hard drive and there were some errors. I fixed those and then ran into the same DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION error. I scanned the hard drive again after getting this error and no issues were found. So this does not seem to be the culprit either. Thank you for the suggestion to look at this though.


  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User

    Acer Justin,

     

    Same problem.  Started with Windows 10.  Scan no errors.  Tried changing power buttons to NOT use fast shutdown same problem.  Any other ideas?

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    Adalien,

     

    Make sure you have all the Windows updates completed, as well as the drivers we have posted on our support site. If you have not checked the Action Center to see if it has possible resolutions for this, I would check there.

     

    The next step I would offer is to make sure you are using the most up to date BIOS, we have version 2.12 posted, if you are not using it already.

     

    I have seen some posts where the SSD firmware needs updated, which would come from the manufacturer of the SSD itself, and they should have instructions how to do so.

     

    I am researching this for you in the interim, but try those things and see if they get it working right.

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    tmalter,

     

    If you did not have this problem until Windows 10, I would go through all these steps as well. You might need to reinstall Windows 10, something could have happened that is causing the issue during installation.

  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User
    Would like to be sure the SSD is firmware current as well. Model ACER S7-392-7885. Happens only during Windows boot.
  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User

    Hello Acer-Justin,

     

    Reinstalled win10 and exactly the same problem.  As it happens so quickly in the boot sequence, really think it is a drive firmware or BIOS fix.  I have 2.12 (current) BIOS and really dislike this thing locking up 90% of the times I boot up.  Please help.

  • -Justin
    -Justin Member Posts: 2,362 Skilled Specialist WiFi Icon

    tmalter,

     

    If you want to update the firmware for the SSD you will have to get that from the manufacturer of the SSD itself.

  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User

    Hi Justin-Acer,

     

    Thanks.  Can the S/N or SNID tell you which particular model I have?  I am assuming that the answer is yes as the computer is only 3 months old and opening it has warranty issues, etc.  Can you tell me what you need to help?  Possible to e-mail to keep this info private?

     

    Thanks.

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    you can check the SSD model on windows too.

    windows key logo + e

    right click on Local disk C: (your SSD)

    choose properties

    choose Hardware tab

     

    you will read the SSD model

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Adalien
    Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User

    Acer-Justin,

    Thank you for the suggestions. I tried updating all of the drivers and checked the Action Center for possible solutions. No luck with either of these.

    I looked into updating the firmware, but I have an Intel 0 Raid Volume SSD and from my understanding, I cannot update firmware with this model.

    I am currently using BIOS verson 2.08, but I have not updated it yet because I am concerned about harming my computer. Do you have any suggestions for doing this safely?


  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User

    Nope.  This does not identify the manufacturer of the drive.  Comes up as Generic Hard drive.  Using the device manager and details of Hardware MFG and Device MFG, same thing.  It will not ID the drive, only that it is an Intel Raid 0 controlled drive.

  • tmalter
    tmalter Member Posts: 6 New User

    Hi Justin-Acer,

     

    Thanks.  Can the S/N or SNID tell you which particular model I have?  I am assuming that the answer is yes as the computer is only 3 months old and opening it has warranty issues, etc.  Can you tell me what you need to help?  Possible to e-mail to keep this info private?

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    you can check SSD model on BIOS, press F2 at boot and check on main page HDD devices.

     

    also remember, updating a SSD firmware can destroy your RAID array, so backup all your data before doing it.

    normally to update SSD firmware you need to set BIOS to Legacy from UEFI

    set SATA mode to AHCI (RAID will be erased)

    update SSD firmware (normally under DOS enviroment)

    Set SATA mode to RAID

    enter Intel RAID management

    check if RAID array is still here (if is still working, try to boot without recreating the RAID array) or recreate it

    enter BIOS again

    set UEFI back and re-install everything from scratch

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Adalien
    Adalien Member Posts: 6 New User

    Hi Acer-Justin,

     

    Do you have any advice for safely updating a BIOS? Or do you have any other suggestions to tacle this problem?


  • tonytranupc
    tonytranupc Member Posts: 2 New User

    Adalien wrote:

    Hi, I have been getting a blue screen with a message saying my laptop encountered a DPC watchdog violation and my system has to restart. This seems to occur the most frequently while watching videos online. I've also seen this when downloading from the Internet. I can't recall getting this message when I was not using the Internet (although I am generally using the Internet when on my laptop). When I first got the laptop, I was using Windows 8.1 and now I am using Windows 10. This message has come up with both Windows versions. I would really appreciate help/advice in diagnosing this problem. Thanks.


    I found this from the Internet, which may help you to fix DPC Watchdog Violation error. It was helped me to fix it too.

     

    https://usefulpcguide.com/17082/dpc-watchdog-violation/