Windows 10: Frequent BSOD crashes - DPC Watchdog Violation

Hey all, I'm getting frequent DPC Watchdog_Violation BSOD crashes and I just cannot figure out why.

A bit of background: I bought an ACER Aspirer TC-280 Desktop in March. It ran okay for about a month then it started acting up. I had a ticking hard drive, multiple crashes etc. In Late June/early July, I had the HDD replaced by ACER. It continued to act up so the following week in July I had the entire tower replaced, with an indentical model.

This second TC-280 is the one currently experiencing frequent crashes. It will often go days without issue, and then have a crash with another one shortly after. The most recent crash was around 3:45 am on the morning of August 25, and one about 1:40 am on the morning of August 23. It almost crashed around 2:30 pm, today August 26 (frozen picture, buzzing sound) but it resolved itself.

It usually happens when watching videos on the computer. Youtube, from the HDD, doesn't matter. The screen will freeze and the audio will buzz until the blue screen pops up saying the system experienced an issue, and the code is DPC Watchdog Violation. However, it can also happen when doing something benign, for example, I had it freeze when simply scrolling through a text webpage.

I have done multiple Google searches and checked numerous forums and to try and fix this issue I have tried:

• Updating display/audio/chipset/etc drivers
• Changing from HDMI-DVI to DVI-DVI to connect my monitor to the tower because I read that HDMI can cause issues
• Turning of Fast-start up (I have since turned it back on because it made no difference)
• Uninstalling Kaspersky (anti-virus) because I read that 3rd party antivirus can cause issues

The only thing that is constant between this computer and the last that also experienced BSOD crashes is my software (most of which I have used for years on multiple systems without issue) and monitor (again, also been using for years on multiple systems without issue) and I've searched multiple times to see if a monitor can cause this issue and have come up with nothing.

I followed the steps in the posting instructions and will attach the created zip file. Any help is greatly appreciated with this issue. It is driving me insane and I know I'm going to end up with a corrupted system/HDD if these crashes continue.

:)

 

BSOD- DPC Watchdog violation

BSOD - DPC watchdog violation how to fix?

 

Bluescreen DPC Watchdog Violation

It did just crashed again. The same problem - DPC Watchdog Violation

 

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If you have installed any driver with DriverEasy, please remove them as it may cause trouble.
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It seems that your wifi driver is causing the crashes.
Check Acer for driver updates.

 

Do you have a custom wifi card installed?

 

I do not. Everything I have is stock, whatever came with the tower. I bought it from a retailer, I didn't build it myself.

 

I find it a bit odd that you have a Realtek wifi card installed, but no drivers from Acer for it.

 

Download the wlan driver from Realtek, see if it helps.

 

That does seem strange but I couldn't tell you why that is. I downloaded the zip from Realtek and ran the setup in the folder. Is that correct? And how do I know if it worked?

 

This may clear up the confusion about the wireless LAN:

On the Acer web site the driver is listed as Azurewave.

However when google is searched with the driver it displays Realtek

Wireless LAN
Wireless LAN Driver
Date:
2016/03/24
Version:
2023.10.415.2015
Vendor:
AzureWave
Size:
40.6 MB

wireless 2023.10.415.2015 - Google Search

Also in this link that was once stamped confidential the last page displays AzureWave and Realtek on the same wireless card:
file:///C:/Users/aaaaaaa/Downloads/awcb161hb2_v07_std.pdf

 

Oh

Oh okay. So how do I do it? Just run the setup file in the folder?

 

The only result I can find is from Lenovo..

 

There are other Acer computers that use the Realtek wireless LAN:

Download Acer Aspire TC-220 Realtek WLAN Driver 2023.10.415.2015 for Windows 10 64 bit

Download Acer Aspire E5-721 Realtek WLAN Driver 2023.10.415.2015 for Windows 10 64 bit

If a search is made for just the TC 280 it displays AzureWave.
The driver number is the same.

The earlier post had a PDF image of a wireless LAN that had both names on the hardware: AzureWave and Realtek
So it appears to be a name issue??? Whether it is named AzureWave or Realtek???

It's unclear how they decide which name to use when the version is 2023.10.415.2015

 

It'd be best to not use drivers that are meant for other systems, compatibility is not guaranteed.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all your help so far. It does appear to be a name issue. If you google Azureware Realtek, the first result I got was a video for the 8821AE which is what I have. When extracting the Azureware folder contents the setup icon was the Realtek Icon and when running the install file it said Realtek will now install.... Perhaps Realtek is the brand but they didn't manufacture the card itself? I have no idea. But I installed the Azureware one from the Acer website (after creating a restore point) so I guess we'll see. Again, thanks so much for you help so far. Hopefully this will fix the issue that axe0 narrowed it down to. If it doesn't I guess the only thing left is to install a different wireless card altogether, correct?