Windows 10: Daily BSOD (DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION): ntoskrnl.exe? nvstor.sys?

Please answer my question.

 

My machine uses AwardBIOS Flash Utility for Dell V1.00. I do not see an option to flash BIOS from within the current BIOS.

Per your comment that the I531_1013.exe contained a BIN, I tried multiple extractor programs but none could locate a .bin or any other files to extract.

Randomly, I went back to trying to boot the I531_1013.exe file from a USB drive (formatted to include a .cmd program), but typing C:\> I531_1013.exe kept saying "Command or filename not recognized." So get this: I type C:\> dir, and notice that the directory of USB files shows the .exe filename as "I531_1~3". So I tried running I531_1~3.exe from the USB drive's command prompt, and voila!!

It FINALLY flashed the bios and updated to the latest version. Whoa, what a rush.

Now, let's see if the BSODs stop... I'll report back. Thanks!

 

I've used 7-zip version 16.02 to find the BIN.


Good to hear *Smile

 

I just had my first BSOD since updating BIOS to the latest version *Sad

Here's the crash report (it's the same two potential causes as before the BSOD update: ntoskrnl.exe and nvstor.sys).

On Tue 12/6/2016 3:26:11 PM GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\120616-37484-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: ntoskrnl.exe (nt+0x14A510)
Bugcheck code: 0x133 (0x0, 0x501, 0x500, 0x0)
Error: DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: NT Kernel & System
Bug check description: The DPC watchdog detected a prolonged run time at an IRQL of DISPATCH_LEVEL or above. This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem. This problem might also be caused because of overheating (thermal issue). The crash took place in the Windows kernel. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver that cannot be identified at this time.

On Tue 12/6/2016 3:26:11 PM GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\memory.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: nvstor.sys (nvstor+0x7468)
Bugcheck code: 0x133 (0x0, 0x501, 0x500, 0x0)
Error: DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
file path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\nvstor.sys
product: NVIDIA nForce(TM) SATA Driver
company: NVIDIA Corporation
description: NVIDIA® nForce(TM) Sata Performance Driver
Bug check description: The DPC watchdog detected a prolonged run time at an IRQL of DISPATCH_LEVEL or above. This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem. This problem might also be caused because of overheating (thermal issue). A third party driver was identified as the probable root cause of this system error. It is suggested you look for an update for the following driver: nvstor.sys (NVIDIA® nForce(TM) Sata Performance Driver, NVIDIA Corporation).
Google query: NVIDIA Corporation DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION

The above was run with "WhoCrashed". What else would you suggest I try next? Thanks for your time.

 

BSOD Posting Instructions

 

I've run dm_log_collector three times and each time it completes successfully after a few minutes, but just leaves an empty zipped file on the desktop with nothing in it. I'll keep trying.

 

As it appears Dell doesn't provide driver updates for the Nvidia sata drivers there is not much I can suggest, I don't assume that Windows has ever updated sata drivers for your laptop?
Windows Update History - View in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Windows Update History does not show any updates to the SATA drives for my desktop.

In Device Manager, I have the following under Storage controllers:
-Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller
-NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller
-NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller

Under Properties for each, Driver Files shows:
-C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\spaceport.sys
-C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\nvstor.sys
-C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\nvstor.sys

I tried updating the drivers on all 3 (searching online) but get "Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date."

Is there anything else I can try? Disable/Re-enable? Uninstall? Look for third party driver updates? I'm an amateur with all this so any suggestions at all are appreciated.

I did notice in Device Manager an "Other devices" that says "Unknown device" and has a yellow triangle caution icon over it. Properties says "the drivers for this device are not installed" but I can't figure out what it is and cannot update drivers. I disabled it and nothing happened. Could this be related to the BSODs?

 

I also noticed in Device Manager that the NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controllers both show the following under "Events":

8/5/2016 Device migrated
8/5/2016 Device configured (nvraid.inf)
8/5/2016 Device started (nvstor)

And 8/5/2016 is *roughly* when these BSODs started. Again, I have no idea if I'm on to something here, but seems possible!

If it'd help for me to paste the full Event details for each of the above 3 events (from Event Viewer), just let me know.

 

You could try to uninstall the Nvidia serial ata controllers, reboot and let Windows reinstall. Much more than that you can't do, (and it is not recommended to install the driver outside of Windows Update, Windows device manager and Dell, because most then end up using programs that mostly screw up their systems more (driver update programs).)

Such devices are not critical to the system, because they usually are peripheral for which no driver could install at the time. Due to this Windows can't recognize what category it belongs to and puts it in 'other devices' category.
You can safely uninstall this device.

I have the same events with my Intel controller, if you look at some other devices you may notice that this happens to them too (not all though).

 

See this post: BSOD dpc_watchdog_violation - Windows 10 Forums

 

Hi valihrach - thanks! In that post, you say:

NVidia nForce SATA controller driver (nvstor.sys or nvraid.sys) can be replaced by Standard Dual-channel IDE controller driver (atapi.sys) included in Windows.

How do I do this? I want to make sure I follow accurate steps. Do I uninstall the NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller in Device Manager, and then just reboot and let Windows do its thing? Or do I need to manually replace it with the Standard Dual-channel IDE controller driver (atapi.sys)? If so, how?

Thanks for the help!

 

I haven't English system at hand, please be informed that all messages are translated.

Before modifying your system, make system image using Macrium Reflect or at least create system restore checkpoint.

Run Device Manager, then locate two instances of NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller - either under IDE ATA Controllers or under SCSI & RAID Controllers nodes.

For one of them, rightclick and select Properties, click Driver tab, click Update Driver button. Select Find Driver Manually, click Select from List, (maybe uncheck Show Compatible - I don't remember), select Standard IDE/ATA Controllers, select Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller, resume wizard without restart.

Repeat for second NVIDIA controller, this time with restart.

After restart, you should have 3 instances of PCI IDE Controller and 6 ATA Channels. This is because (I suppose) you have one real PATA controller and two NVIDIA SATA but with same driver; all of them are dualchannel.

 

I followed these steps exactly, and after restart indeed I have 3 instances of PCI IDE Controller and 6 ATA Channels. Let's hope this stops the BSODs!

I'll report back - thanks!

 

So far so good. I haven't gotten a BSOD since replacing the NVidia nForce SATA controller drivers with the Standard Dual-channel IDE controller drivers. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Question: Does this replacement mean I should no longer allow NVidia GeForce Experience to check for updates, or update GeForce drivers? I'm not sure if doing so would replace the Standard Dual-channel IDE drivers with the old nForce SATA drivers.

If I need to ignore NVidia GeForce Experience's driver update prompts from now on, forever, please let me know! Thanks!