No one enjoys getting a random Blue Screen of Death. They’re terrifying and usually don’t give you much detail. Usually, there’s an error code or message on the screen. If you see the “driver power state failure error,” don’t worry. This is one of the errors that you can usually troubleshoot and fix all on your own. All you have to do is know where to start.
Common Causes of Driver Power State Failure Error
Based on the name, you might think this error has something to do with drivers or your power supply. Both could be correct. While it’d be nice if Windows gave you more to go on, you’re left to figure out the exact cause, which could be any of the following:
- Incorrect power settings
- Driver issues
- Incompatible hardware
Windows gives you this error when the system tries to wake a specific device driver, and it doesn’t respond. This usually happens when you boot, restart, or wake your computer from sleep mode. It can also happen if the device is in use and the driver suddenly stops responding.
As you can tell, usually it’s a driver issue, though it can be mixed with the other two common causes. No matter which of the three is the main culprit, there are several ways to diagnose and fix it.
Narrow Down Your Search
To help narrow down the root cause of the driver power state failure error, it’s a good idea to detach any external hardware, such as external drives, keyboards, etc. Boot your computer and see if you still get the error. If not, a driver for one of your external devices has been corrupted.
Connect each device one at a time to see which one gives you an error. Then, when you find the problematic device, detach it and reboot.
Reconnect the device when your system’s booted. Right-click Start and choose Device Manager. Right-click the device name and choose Uninstall.
Restart your computer again and let Windows reinstall the device correctly. If you still have the error, visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver and follow any included instructions to install it.
Look for Errors in Device Manager
If you’re able to restart your computer normally, do so. If not, boot into Safe Mode. This will let you bypass the driver power state failure error BSoD.
Right-click Start and choose Device Manager. Look for any devices that may have a yellow exclamation point beside them. This indicates an error. Right-click the device with the error and choose “Update Driver.” If nothing’s found, right-click the device and choose Uninstall.
You can either right-click your computer name and choose “Scan for Hardware Changes” or reboot your system. Both will automatically try to reinstall the correct driver.
If you continue having issues, reinstall drivers starting with your newest hardware. If you’ve recently installed something new and started getting the error, this is likely the culprit.
Adjust the Power Save Plan
If you’re using a laptop, you might have your power settings optimized to reduce energy consumption. This is great most of the time, but it can wreak havoc with some of your device drivers. Instead of letting Windows wake the device like it should, your system cuts power to it, resulting in the driver power state failure error.
Even though your computer may use a little more battery, you should avoid the error by making a few quick changes to the power plan.
If you can’t boot normally, boot into Safe Mode to do this. Otherwise, boot normally.
Go to Start and type Control Panel. Select Control Panel from the results. Look for Power Options. If you don’t see it, type “power options” in the search box at the top right.
Choose Power Options to open your current power settings and plan.
Select “Change Plan Settings” and click the “Change Advanced Settings” link.
The driver power state failure error often comes from incorrect power settings with your wireless adapter and PCI express drivers.
Start by expanding Wireless Adapter and Power Saving Mode. Ensure both options are set for “Maximum Performance.” This prevents power saving plans from turning the wireless adapter off to save energy.
Do the same process for PCI Express. Click Apply when you’re finished. Then, click “Save Changes” when you return to the original power settings screen.
Reboot your computer to see if this fixes your error. If not, you can change other options to Maximum Performance one by one to see if that changes anything.
While troubleshooting the driver power state failure error in Windows 10 can be tedious, this is an error that’s fixable. Be patient and you’ll find the cause and get back to using your PC without the BSoD.
If, however, you are seeing the “The Parameter is incorrect” error, here is how you can fix it.
Image credit: Flickr
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Crystal Crowder - Staff Writer
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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