Several users reported encountering a BSOD Error Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc when they were trying to enter into their PCs or downloading/installing new apps. If that’s the case and you are looking for resolutions to this, read and apply the fixes well-elaborated in this article.
This blue screen error usually occurs while shutting down or powering On your computer. The DPC at the end of this error message stands for Delayed Procedure call and this occurs when you are running some buggy or illegal apps. This stop error may also occur due to the presence of outdated drivers, crashing ntoskrnl.exe, etc.
Fix BSOD Error ATTEMPTED_SWITCH_FROM_DPC
If you are getting a blue screen error Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc while starting Windows, try the below fixes and see if any resolve this issue.
When a BSOD error occurs, it prevents users from accessing the login screen. As a result, you can’t get past the blue screen. Switch to Safe mode without networking on your Windows 11/10 PC and apply the below fixes.
- Remove third-party antivirus or recently installed apps
- Update all your drivers
- Run SFC and DISM
- Try Automatic Startup Repair
- Run Memory Diagnostic
- Run CHKDSK to inspect hard drive
- Try System Restore Point
1] Remove third-party antivirus or recently installed apps
Blue screen errors primarily occur after you install some third-party apps or using an external antivirus program. It could be possibly due to the installation of buggy software, so uninstall all recent installation(s) including update(s) on your PC. If the error persists, disable or simply uninstall the third-party antivirus on your computer.
Windows Security is a great alternative that you may use on Windows 11 or Windows 10, version 1903 or later. This security app works efficiently most of the times. If there were no third-party apps running on your PC, make sure to disable Windows Security as well.
2] Update all your drivers
The drivers play a vital role in providing a smooth interface between software and their hardware parts. With passing time, drivers also become obsolete and may trigger a blue screen error when corrupted. So, it is expected of you to timely update all your drivers.
Go to Settings (Win + I) > Windows Update, and hit Check for updates. If you see any optional updates link, click on it. Tick all the checkboxes and hit “Download and Install“. Wait for all the drivers to update accordingly. Once this is over, reboot your PC and check if the Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc error resolves.
3] Run SFC and DISM
Due to the presence of third-party apps or antivirus, the system files or folders may become corrupt and result in an error code Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc. Assuming you have already removed such programs, find and repair the missing or damaged system files via SFC. Run DISM together so that any system image corruption get resolved as well. Here’s how to run both these tools together –
- Boot into the Safe Mode first and press Win + R.
- When the Run dialog launches, type “CMD”, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys altogether.
- Doing so will invoke Command Prompt having admin rights.
- On the elevated console, run the System File Checker command first –
sfc /scannow
- Wait for 10-15 minutes for this code to run successfully. When this is over, run the DISM command –
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- This will also take 10-15 minutes to find and repair any corruption inside the System Image. The timing might increase depending upon the level of corruption.
- When this runs successfully as well, reboot your PC so that the recent changes come into effect.
4] Try Automatic Startup Repair
In case you are not able to boot into the Safe Mode, you won’t be able to apply the above fixes and so the BSOD error continues to occur. To overcome this problem, you may initiate running Startup Repair on your computer. Here’s how to run this tool on your Windows 11/10 PC –
- Power On/Off your computer 2-3 times and your device will display the Startup Repair screen.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options and hit Startup Repair.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the diagnostic tool to find and resolve the underlying causes.
Your system may restart several times during this process. Make sure to keep your device connected to a power source and have patience. Hopefully, the error Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc should resolve once the Startup Repair concludes.
What extra could you check or perform to fix a BSOD error?
Running the above four fixes are enough to resolve a stop error on Windows 11 or 10 PC. However, at times, when this problem originates because of a failing RAM or hard disk, you must do the replacement. Here’s how to check for bad sectors in Memory or hard drive.
5] Run Memory Diagnostic
Memory diagnostic tool can check for faulty RAM lying or running on your system. This basically, runs a set of tests and detect if there actually lies some hardware issues or not. The areas of its inspection are Motherboard and RAM. Here’s how to run this tool on Windows 11/10 –
- Open Start menu (Win +S).
- Search for Windows Memory Diagnostic and click on the top result.
- When the diagnostic tool opens up, hit Restart now and check for problems (recommended).
- Your computer will immediately restart and begin searching for any bad sectors inside RAM.
- Once this is over, it will present the full diagnosis report.
In case it suggests replacing the Memory, do the same. Else, inspect hard disk via CHKDSK. Do restart your PC so that changes made become effective from the next logon.
6] Run CHKDSK
Since you have already checked your Memory and you didn’t find any issue with it, make sure to inspect hard disk as well. You may check for bad sectors in the hard drive using CHKDSK –
- Launch Command Prompt from the Startup Repair screen.
- When this launches, copy/paste the following, and press Enter –
chkdsk c: /x /f /r
- As you are still logged into your PC. you can’t start checking the hard disk. A message will appear stating the same on the elevated console. Type “Y”, and press Enter.
- Restart your PC next so that the CHKDSK command begins checking your hard drive.
- In the end, you will get a report stating whether you need to replace the HDD or not.
- Do as the report says so and the error Attempted_Switch_From_Dpc will resolve next.
7] Revert back your PC to its previous state
If you had generated a system restore point while using your device for the first time or later, you may use the recent backup to revert back your device to its previously working state. Do so and check whether the blue screen resolves next.
In case you don’t have any restore point, you must not have yet enabled System Protection. As a result, there is no backup available for your computer. In such scenarios, all you can do is clean installation of Windows on your PC.
I hope this article was easy to follow and our solutions indeed solve the error that was bothering you. Let’s know in the comment box which solution exactly work in you case.
