Encounter Stop Code: DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG? Try These Methods

If you are experiencing the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG BSOD error, don’t be panic. It is not hard to fix at all. You can refer to this post offered by MiniTool Solution to get some effective methods. You can try to run a full system scan with antivirus, run SFC to repair PC registry, run Windows Automatic Repair and more.

The DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG BSOD Error

DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG is one of the BSOD errors. BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is a stop error that is used to protect your computer if the computer meets an error so that it cannot run properly.

The DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error is a system issue. It often occurs when you try to upgrade to Windows 10 version: Firstly, the update gets initiated but then it freezes at the middle and finally the Blue Screen of Death with the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error will show up.

What causes DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error? There are many reasons for this error. It may be triggered by corrupted system files and drives, outdated device drivers, the presence of viruses and other malware and so on. You will be unable to install main upgrades when the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error comes.

Thus, how to fix DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG? The following part will show you different methods to easily solve this error.

Solution 1: Check Volume Shadow Copy Service

If the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is not running properly, the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG problem may occur. Follow this method to check if the VSS is running properly.

Step 1: Press the Win key + R key together to open the Run dialog box. Next, type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.

Step 2: Find the Volume Shadow Copy service in the list. Double-click it to open its Properties window.

Volume Shadow Copy service

Step 3: Set Startup type to Automatic and set Service status set to Running. Then click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Step 4: Restart your computer.

Now, check if the problem has been solved.

Solution 2: Run a Full System Scan with Antivirus

The DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error may also occur due to viruses and malware. That’s because your important files and services which are used to communicate with any hardware device by the system will be affected.

Thus, you should run a full system scan for viruses and malware so as to remove them. You can try to use a built-in antivirus tool in Windows – Windows Defender or try any third-party antivirus to do this job. Here are the steps on how to do that with Windows Defender.

Step 1: Press the Win key + I key to open the Windows Settings window.

Step 2: Click Update & Security and click the Windows Defender option from the left side.

Step 3: Click the Open Windows Defender Security Center button from the right side.

Step 4: In the pop-up window, click Virus & threat protection.

Step 5: Click Advanced scan next to the Quick scan button.

Step 6: Check Full scan and then click Scan now. Windows Defender will start to scan your computer and report any findings to you.

perform Full scan with Windows Defender

After the scan to complete, remove the viruses or malware according to the removal instructions offered by your antivirus program. Next, check if the “Stop code: DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG” error has left your PC.

If Antivirus cannot detect any virus or malware on your computer, now move to the next method below.

Solution 3: Tweak with System Services

System services are the main components to make sure your system can function properly. If any of service is faulty, the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG BSOD error may occur. In this case, you can try to tweak with some of the required services to solve the problem.

Step 1: Type cmd in the Search bar, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. When the User Account Control window pops up, click Yes.

Step 2: Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop appIDSvc

Step 3: After running the commands, navigate to Local Disk (C:)\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Rename SoftwareDistribution to SoftwareDistribution.old.

find the SoftwareDistribution folder

Step 4: Now, navigate to Local Disk (C:)\Windows\System32\catroot2. Rename catroot2 to catroot2.old.

find the catroot2 folder

Step 5: Open the Command Prompt window again, then type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one:

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

net start appIDsvc

Step 6: Exit Command Prompt.

Step 7: Right-click the Start menu and then choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) to open it.

Step 8: Type the command: wuauclt.exe /updatenow and press Enter.

After that, restart the system and check if the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error has gone. If not, move down to the next method.

Solution 4: Run SFC to Repair PC Registry

Your system files may be corrupted and then this problem leads to damaged Windows registry. Finally, the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error appears. Thus, you should run SFC to repair your Windows registry. The following part will show you how to run an SFC scan on Windows 10.

Step 1: Type cmd in the Search bar, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. When the User Account Control window pops up, click Yes.

Step 2: Input this command: sfc /scannow and press Enter to run it. System File Checker will start to scan all system files and then help you repair the corrupted and missing system files.

run the command

Step 3: Wait for the scanning process to complete, and then restart your PC. All corrupted files will be replaced.

Now check if the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error has been fixed. If not, move down to the next method below.

Solution 5: Run Windows Automatic Repair

If you have a Windows bootable installation DVD, now you can try to Run Automatic Repair to fix this error.

Step 1: Insert your Windows bootable installation DVD and then restart your PC.

Step 2: Press a certain key (depending on the brand of your computer) to access BIOS. If you want to know how to go to BIOS, refer to this post: How to Enter BIOS Windows 10/8/7 (HP/Asus/Dell/Lenovo, any PC).

Step 3: Set the DVD as the first boot device so as to boot your computer from DVD.

Step 4: Select your language and other preferences, and click Next.

Step 5: Now, click Repair your computer.

Step 6: Click Troubleshoot > Automatic Repair and choose your target operating system. Then, wait for the Windows Automatic Repair to be complete.

Step 7: Restart your PC.

Check if you are still encountering the same problem.

Solution 6: Run the Windows Updates Troubleshooter

If Windows Update fails to perform a particular operation, BSOD always appears. Now try to run the Windows Updates troubleshooter to deal with this the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error.

Step 1: Press the Win key + I key to open the Windows Settings window.

Step 2: Click Update & Security and click the Troubleshoot option from the left side.

Step 3: Find Windows Update in the list on the right. Click it, click Run the troubleshooter.

run the Windows Updates troubleshooter

Restart your PC and check if the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error has been resolved.

Solution 7: Reset Your PC to Its Factory Settings

You can also try to reset your OS to its factory settings. In this way, all of your services, drivers and apps will be uninstalled. Meanwhile, all the changes you have made to your system settings and preferences will be cleared.

As for your data and files saved on the computer, you can choose to keep or remove them. Now, let’s start to reset your PC with the following instructions.

Step 1: Press the Win key + I key to open the Windows Settings window.

Step 2: Click Update & Security and click the Recovery option from the left side.

Step 3: Click Get started under Reset this PC.

Reset this PC

Step 4: Choose Keep my files or Remove everything. Take the latter as an example.

Tip: If you choose the latter option, it is recommended that you back up your file in advance.

Step 5: Choose Only the drive where Windows is installed or All drives.

Step 6: Choose Just remove my files or Remove files and clean the drive.

Step 7: Click Reset in the Ready to reset this PC window.

Step 8: Wait for the process to complete.

I was so frustrated when the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG BSOD error occurred on my computer. Fortunately, I successfully solved this error with the methods mentioned in this post. Click to Tweet

Useful Suggestion: Create a System Image

After trying the fixes above, you should manage to solve the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error. Right now, here is a useful suggestion for you. To avoid something wrong with your system in the future, you had better create a system image.

In this way, you can perform quick disaster recovery with the created system image if you encounter the BSOD error again.

A piece of free backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker will be your good assistant. It is compatible with Windows 7/8/10. With it, you can back up files, folders, partitions, the hard drive or your Windows operating system. Its functionality is more than this.

If you have a need, you can free download MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial now. You can use the Trial Edition for 30 days for all backup features. If you want to use MiniTool ShadowMaker permanently, upgrade this freeware to its Pro Edition by clicking this link.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Right now, let’s start to back up the system with MiniTool ShadowMaker.

Step 1: Choose a Backup Mode

1.Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker.

2.Click Keep Trail to use the Trial Edition.

3.Then click Connect in the Local section to manage the local computer.

click Connect in the Local section

Step 2: Select Your System as Backup Source

Actually, the system reserved partition and C drive on your computer are already selected by default. Thus, you don’t need to choose them again.

select the system reserved partition and C drive as backup source

Optional: If you want to choose another backup source, you are allowed to do so.

Step 3: Select a Destination Path to Save Your System Image

1.Click the Destination tab in the Backup page.

2.There are four available destination paths. Select a suitable destination path and then click OK. It is recommended to select an external hard drive as your destination path.

choose a destination path

Step 4: Start to Back up

1.Click Back up Now to start this backup task immediately. Alternatively, if you want to delay this process, you can also choose Back up Later and then click Back up Now on the Manage page to continue.

click Back up Now

2.Click Yes to confirm to perform the backup operation right now. At the same time, you can also choose whether to check the option: Shut down the computer when all the running backup tasks are finished.

After you finish all the steps above, right now you should create a system image with MiniTool ShadowMaker successfully.

This post offers a powerful backup program- MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up my system. After following the instructions from this post, I successfully make a backup.Click to Tweet

Conclusion

Hopefully, you should have solved the DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error and now you can use your computer normally. Besides, hope you have successfully made a backup with our powerful backup program – MiniTool ShadowMaker.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

If you are having some trouble when you are using MiniTool ShadowMaker, contact us by sending an email to [email protected].

About The Author

Echo

Position: Columnist

Echo is a technology enthusiast, has published many professional technical articles. She previously specialized in backup and recovery of data, files, disk partition, and system. Now she writes mostly about YouTube expertise. As an enthusiastic technical writer, Echo believes that technology makes our life better and she has been trying to make her technical articles easier to understand and help more people. You must benefit a lot from reading her article. On her spare time, she likes listening to songs and hiking.