Day: September 17, 2020

BSOD/DPC Watchdog Violation Whenever WIFI is Enabled

SYMPTOMS

Every time when wifi is enabled, the PC crashes with BSOD/DPC Watchlog Violation error as below:

Environment:

  • Windows 10 64bit Home Edition.
  • TP-link Archer T4E AC1200 Wireless Dual Band PCI Express Adapter 

After disabled wifi adapter, rebooted the PC successfully without any errors, then tried to enable wifi adapter, system crashed with BSOD screen.

After disabled wifi or set wifi to MANUAL, restarted PC, then PC operated normally while offline.  As soon as connecting PC to wifi, PC froze, then BSOD/DPC WATCHDOG VIOLATION.

The following methods have been tried, but still without luck.

  • Tried restoring from earliest available restore point.
  • Uninstalled driver and installed the driver download from TP-LINK website.
  • Uninstalled driver and installed the driver from original CD.
  • Uninstalled driver, and found only two drivers left. one is from RealTek ( rtwlane.sys) and another driver is Windows native ( vwifibus.sys )
  • Uninstalled device from device manager, then scan device back again.
  • Uninstalled VPN and anti-virus software.

INVESTIGATIONS

Download and install WinDbg

Download and install WinDbg as per Download Debugging Tools for Windows

Run WinDbg

a) Click Start -> All Programs -> Windows Administrative Tool -> Windows Kits ->WinDbg( X64).

b)Select File -> Symbol file path and modify it to suit your situation, then copy and paste it into the box and click OK.

I suggest and use the following as Symbol Path:

SRV*c:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

c) Select File ->Select Open Crash Dump, and then navigate to the MEMORY.DMP file originated created under C:\Windows, and select Open.

d)Click on ” ! analyze -v“

From the above screen, we can see driver “rtwlane.sys” used by “TP-link Archer T4E AC1200 Wireless Dual Band PCI Express Adapter” contributed to the BSOD issue.

For further test, plug another USB Wireless Adaptor, and found it still use the same driver as “rtwlane.sys“, and the result is still same not working.

After a couple of days further testing and investigation, the problem was identified, and resolved by just modifying one configuration, and now connect to wifi without any issues every time. .

SOLUTION

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