Experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error can be distressing, especially when it happens unexpectedly without a chance to save your work. These errors often occur suddenly and rarely provide any prior warning, adding to the frustration for users.
Imagine working on your graphic design project for hours and then getting the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error while using Photoshop. Or maybe you’re writing a very long article, only to be interrupted by a BSoD error. Some programs may auto-save files being edited, but others don’t. So, if you’re unlucky to have all your efforts wasted, you can only blame the error.
DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE is one of the most common bug checks or BSoD errors Windows users encounter. It forces one’s computer to reboot, and all unsaved data are lost.
What Is the Blue Screen Error DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE?
The DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error has a stop code value of 0x0000009F. The error message differs depending on the cause of the error, but the most common one looks like this:
Expert Tip: For smoother PC performance, consider using a PC optimization tool. It handles junk files, incorrect settings, and harmful apps. Make sure it's right for your system, and always check the EULA and Privacy Policy.
Special offer. About Outbyte, uninstall instructions, EULA, Privacy Policy.
A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE
Users who encountered this error reported that there had been nothing unusual going on before the blue screen had popped up. However, once the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE appeared, their system became sluggish and less responsive. The blue screen also kept appearing and wouldn’t go away no matter what they did.
Causes of DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE Error
The main reason why the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error happens has something to do with a particular driver on your computer. It could be an incompatible driver or one that is in an invalid power state. The incompatibility between your computer’s power management features and one of your drivers can also lead to this BSoD error.
The problem is usually triggered by power state transitions, such as:
- Waking up from Sleep Mode
- Waking up from Hibernate Mode
- Shutting down or starting up your computer
If you were lucky enough to read the entire message when your computer had a blue screen error, you can find out which driver caused the issue because The cause of a particular BSoD is usually listed on the screen. Otherwise, you’ll have to try and guess which driver is the culprit.
Aside from an incompatible driver, it is also possible for other factors to cause the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error. Corrupted system files, problematic third-party software, or a glitch in the operating system can also result in this BSoD error.
How to Fix DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE Error
Fixing the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error can be tricky, especially if you have no idea which driver is causing it. Before you begin troubleshooting this BSoD error, it is best to clean up your computer first with Outbyte PC Repair to prevent further errors.
If you have antivirus software installed, disable it temporarily while you’re applying the fixes here. You might also need to run the sfc /scannow command to repair corrupted system files.
Once you’ve gone through all these steps, restart your computer and try each of the methods below.
Fix #1: Disconnect Computer Peripherals.
If the error started after you plugged in a new piece of hardware, such as a camera, speaker, or printer, disconnect it from your computer and see if the BSoD message still appears. If the problem has been resolved after doing this, you might need to update or roll back that hardware’s driver. See the next step for instructions.
Fix #2: Update or Roll Back Your Drivers.
As mentioned earlier, the primary cause of the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error is an incompatible driver. If you know the specific driver that’s causing the error, updating that driver or rolling it back to its previous version should fix the issue once and for all.
If you’re not sure which driver is causing havoc, try updating your network card, video card, and wireless card drivers. These three are the most common troublemakers, so start with them.
To update your device driver, follow these steps:
- Click Start and search for Device Manager in the search box.
- In the Device Manager window, expand the category the driver you wish to install falls under.
- Right-click on the device driver, then select Update.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Your computer then scans for the latest drivers and installs them on your computer.
If your computer failed to find the latest version of the driver, check the manufacturer’s website and download it from there.
If you need to roll back your device driver to its previous version instead, follow the instructions below:
- Follow Steps 1 and 2 above, then right-click on the device driver.
- Choose Properties and go to the Driver tab.
- Click Roll Back Drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the procedure is completed, restart your computer and observe whether the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE error has been resolved.
Fix #3: Run Driver Verifier.
The Driver Verifier Manager is a Windows built-in tool designed to identify faulty drivers on your computer. It can identify, troubleshoot, and repair common device driver problems.
To run this utility:
- Click Start and type verifier in the menu search box.
- Hit Enter to open the Driver Verifier Manager.
- Click Create Standard Settings, then hit Next.
- Choose Automatically select unsigned drivers, then press Next to continue.
You will then see a list of all unsigned drivers on your computer. If you don’t know which driver is causing the issue, this list should narrow down your choices. You can then update, roll back, or uninstall the driver.
Fix #4: Uninstall the Problematic Program.
If the BSoD error appears whenever you open a particular program, then there must be something wrong with it. Uninstall the program first, then install a fresh copy from the Windows Store or the developer’s website.
Fix #5: Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter.
Not many users may know it, but Microsoft has included a Blue Screen troubleshooter in the Windows operating system. This tool helps deal with common blue screen errors, such as DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.
To run the troubleshooter:
- Click Start, then search for bluescreen in the search box.
- Click Find and fix bluescreen problems in Control Panel.
- When the troubleshooter loads, click Next. It will then scan your computer for BSoD errors.
Once the scan has been completed, you will see a list of errors that may cause a blue screen on your computer, along with instructions on how to fix them.
Summary
Running into a critical BSoD error such as DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE can be nerve-wracking. But BSoD errors aren’t as scary as they seem if you know what caused them. You just need to deal with the root cause of the problem, and everything will be back to normal.