power | DriverFinder - We Make Drivers Work for You

How to solve a DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE Error

Blue screen errors in Windows are notorious. There are different causes, but in general, they are serious errors. When you see a DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error on the blue screen, the error is caused by a device driver.

Depending on the Windows version, you could also see the stop error code 0x0000009F.

What is a Blue Screen Error?

Blue Screen Of Death (or BSOD in short) errors are caused by stop errors. These are the types of errors that cause the operating system (Windows) to crash. Stop errors causing blue screens have been part of Windows since Windows XP and can happen even on the latest versions.

Since these errors are critical, the blue screen is shown with an indication of the stop error details. A stop error code, which can be a code or description is shown to inform the user. Further processing is halted to prevent damage or data loss if things were to continue processing.

Causes for the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error

The error driver power state failure on Windows 10 indicates that the PC has an inconsistent power state. Typically this happens when the PC changes its power mode. It could be going from sleep (or hibernation) to an active state or the other way around.

When a power transition happens, the hardware in the PC is directly affected. To communicate the power state change, Windows tells the hardware to change accordingly. This is where device drivers come into play. Communication from Windows to the hardware happens through these device drivers.

So, essentially the error is caused by non-expected behavior from a device driver. This can either mean that the hardware itself is causing it, or there is a problem with the driver.

What to do to fix it?

Although it might seem strange, in many cases the problem is not consistent and can be a one-time occurrence. Simply letting the PC reboot might result in Windows restarting without problems.

Considering the severity of the error, however, it is best to find out the cause and try to solve the issue. Device drivers operate at a high-security level in the operating system. This is why Windows will not keep running, but stops and shows the error.

Troubleshooting the Driver Power State Failure error

To see which driver, and as a result, which hardware device, has caused the error we need to find more details.

The most automated, hands-off approach is to use the Windows Troubleshooter. It is available in the latest Windows versions, and can be started from the Settings. Microsoft is also recommenind the GetHelp app to automatically find solutions to Windows problems.

To find more information on the cause of the driver power state failure manually, you can use the Event viewer and something called a minidump.

When a stop error occurs, Windows creates a log file called a minidump. These files are stored in a folder called Minidump in the system root (typically C:\Windows\Minidump). The minidump filename will contain the date and have a file extension .dmp. If no such file is created, check the configuration for creating minidumps.

These mindump (or crash dump) files when generated as a result of the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error will often contain the filename causing the error, which in turn can help pinpoint the driver.

Reading and analyzing a minidump file is a rather technical process. Luckily, tools are available that can read minidump files and show the result in a more user-friendly way. Try BlueScreenView or WhoCrashed.

Fixing the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error

Once you know which driver caused the error, you can take action. To identify the driver in a minidump file, look for the .SYS file extension. A few examples:

BTHUSB.SYS	Bluetooth device
NVRAID.SYS	NVIDIA nForce RAID Device
RTWLANE.SYS	Realtek Wireless LAN 802.11 PCI-E Adapter
IntcSST.SYS	Intel® Smart Sound Technology
HIDIR.SYS	Infrared HID Device

In most cases the .SYS file name will be a good indication of the device name to look for in the Device Manager. If it is not clear, simply do an online search for the file name to identify the device.

The first step is to roll back the driver for that device using the Device Manager. This will undo the most recent update of the driver and bring back the previous (hopefully stable) version.

Open the Device Manager.
Locate the device that caused the stop error.
Right-click the device, and in the popup menu click Properties.
In the device properties window, select the Driver tab.
Click the Roll Back Driver button.
Click the Yes button to confirm the driver rollback.

If there is no option to roll back the driver, that means the original driver is installed. The option in that case, is to update the driver for the device to a newer version. Driver updates are released to fix know issues and make sure the driver is compatible with the latest Windows version. So, installing an updated version of the driver can also help solve the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error.

Driver not known

If the minidump did not provide the name of the driver or device that caused the stop error, you need a different approach to solving the issue.

The first step is to roll back drivers for any new devices, or updated driver versions.

For updating drivers, in addition to Windows Update, you can use DriverFinder. The program will automatically find the latest versions of device drivers for all hardware devices present in your system.

If rolling back and updating does not fix the problem, here are two more suggestions to fix stop errors in general.

Run a Windows check for missing or corrupt Windows components using Deployment Image Servicing (DSIM).
Open a Command Prompt window with administrative privileges, and then type: DSIM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter.
Run a system scan to fix any Windows system file issues.
For this, again you need to open a Command Prompt window with administrative privileges, and type: SFC /scannow at the prompt. Wait for the command to finish after pressing Enter.

It is suggested to run these commands in this sequence since the DSIM service is a more recent option with better results for the latest Windows versions. Please note that you will need an active Internet connection for the first command. For Windows versions older than Windows 10, you will first need to install the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit.

Note: Both commands can take some time to complete.

Disable power saving altogether

In general, disabling the power saving is not the desired option, but it can actually be used to solve the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error. By disabling all power-saving options, no power changes take place, and as a result, devices do not cause this error.

You can use the Control Panel in Windows to change the power settings.

Open the Control Panel by pressing the Windows + R keys and typing “control panel” in the Run box. Press Enter to confirm.
In the Control Panel click the option Power Options.
Note: You may need to change the View by option from Category to Large icons or Small icons.
In the power plan selection pick either Balanced or High performance.
Next, click the Change plan settings link for the selected option.
In the Edit Plan Settings window, change the time for the options Turn off the display and Put the computer to sleep to Never.

Note: The On battery options will only show for laptops and portable devices.
Next, click the link Change advanced power settings.
In the Power Options window, open up the PCI Express category, click the Link State Power Management and select the option Off to disable it.
If there is a USB or Wireless category, also disable power management in those, or set it to maximum performance.
Click OK to close the Power Options window.
Click Save changes to close the Edit Plan Settings window and update the changed settings.

Keep in mind that this is more of a workaround than an actual solution. Even if you can prevent the error from happening, the core cause of the error is still unaddressed. It is best to still pinpoint the device or driver causing the issue and fix that, so the power management can be enabled again.

Windows will not start

If the DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE error is happening consistently, Windows might not start, or run long enough for you to take action. In that case, there are a few things to try:

Unplug external devices. The error is often caused by USB devices, so disconnecting external storage devices is essential in this case.
After this, you can try starting Windows normally, and if that still does not work, try the next step.
Start Windows in Safe Mode.
Safe Mode is a Windows state where not all device drivers are loaded. This way you will be able to make changes that are not otherwise possible.
Use a System Restore point to bring Windows back to a previous state.
If System Restore is active, driver updates are generally proceeded by Windows creating a system restore point. So, reverting to a previous system restore point is similar to a driver rollback.
Reinstall Windows. Not something anybody wants, but as a last resort, this has to be mentioned. Reinstalling Windows will ensure that all drivers are original versions and device configuration is reset. Make sure to make a backup of your data first!

Once you have Windows running again, you can roll back any new drivers as mentioned earlier, or update drivers depending on their version.

[Fixed] Windows 10 PC Won’t Wake Up From Sleep Mode

Going through Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from sleep mode problems? Solve this issue using these easy-to-follow fixes with pictures.

What do you do if your Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from Sleep Mode?

Sleep Mode is very useful for saving battery life on a laptop because saving on electricity is a good thing. More battery juice, longer laptop use. Yey!

It’s also also useful for desktop PC’s. Windows uses Sleep Mode to save the current status of your PC and easily restore it on wake-up. Wake-up is typically achieved with the move of the mouse, or tap of a key on the keyboard.

But sometimes… these ‘wake up’ things you need to do don’t work at all. So what do you do? Let’s begin…

Quick fix: Reboot!

Press the power button for about 10 seconds. That should power down the system completely. Press the power button again to restart it. After that, you can use the tips in this guide to figure out why your Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from Sleep Mode to prevent it from happening again.

Note: you should always try to shut down your system the normal way. Do this force shutdown tip only when necessary. Also, pls. don’t revert to this ‘fix’ as your go to solution for Sleep mode problems. That won’t fix the problem and can harm your system if you do it often.

Is your PC in Sleep or Hibernate mode?

First though, please note that there is a difference between your PC going into Sleep Mode or Hibernate Mode. Both are meant to save power and allow for easy continuation of work by starting Windows faster. In Sleep Mode the computer still uses a little power since the state is stored in RAM (computer memory), while in Hibernate Mode the state is saved to disk (a hibernation file), and then PC turns off.

On a laptop though, even if a computer goes into Sleep Mode, Windows will still go into hibernation mode if the battery runs out.

Waking up from Hibernation mode

Waking up from hibernation not only takes longer, but it also requires different actions. On a laptop, you obviously first want to make sure there is sufficient power, so plug it first to charge the battery.

Opening the lid on your laptop will normally bring Windows back on from hibernation mode. If that does not work, press the power button. On a desktop, the power button should be used.

Waking up from Sleep mode

To wake up a laptop from Sleep Mode you use the same actions as on a desktop (mouse or keyboard). Some PCs have a separate sleep button. If so, you need to press that to wake up the laptop from Sleep Mode.

Ok, say you’ve established that your system is truly into Sleep Mode, and it really won’t wake up. Now what? Read on for the fixes folks!

Check your mouse or keyboard settings

Often, it’s your mouse or keyboard that’s the problem. To fix this, follow these steps.

Right-click the Start menu button and select Device Manager.
In Device Manager, you will see a list of device categories. Open the category called Keyboards. (Click the down arrow in front of it).
Next, right-click your keyboard device in the list, and in the popup menu, select Properties.
In the keyboard Properties window, select the Power Management tab.
After that, make sure the checkbox named Allow this device to wake up the computer is selected.
Click OK to confirm.
Repeat these steps for the category called Mice and other pointing devices, with your mouse device.

Now try again if you can wake up your Windows 10 PC using the mouse and keyboard. In most cases this should fix the issue. If not, please try the steps below.

In Device Manager, open the category called Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Right-click the USB Root Hub device and click Properties.
Note: If there are multiple devices, repeat these steps for each until you have pinpointed the right one.
Select the Power Management tab.
Now clear or uncheck the checkbox named Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Click OK to confirm.

This will ensure that the USB port remains powered, so the keyboard and mouse devices will still work when in sleep mode. Even when using a wireless mouse, the receiver is still connected to a USB port.

If you are using a Bluetooth mouse, you might need to perform these steps for the Bluetooth USB module device in the Bluetooth category instead.

Configure your Power Options

To configure which power mode Windows uses, follow these steps.

Right-click the Start menu button, and click Power Options.
In the Power Options window, click Choose what the power buttons do.

Note: On a laptop, you can also use the Choose what closing the lid does option. This will show you the same options, but now includes an option for closing the lid and differentiates between On battery and Plugged in modes as shown below.
In the next window, ensure that the option selected next to When I press the sleep button is Sleep. (If not, then change it to Sleep.)
Next, click Change settings that are currently unavailable. (This will enable the options under Shutdown settings.)
Clear (uncheck) Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Click Save changes to confirm and close this window.
Note: If after this change the Windows 10 sleep mode error is not resolved, you can re-enable this option. The Fast Startup option can cause problems, that is why it is mentioned as a tip here to fix wake up problems. But when it is not the cause of the wake up problem, it is beneficial to keep it turned on.
Back in the Power Options window, click the Change plan settings for the current power plan being used.
Now click the Change advanced power settings.
Verify the settings for Allow hybrid sleep, and Allow wake timers.

You want to make sure that the Allow hybrid sleep setting is turned Off, and that Allow wake timers is set to Enable. Click the + symbol to open the option and then click the setting to change it.
If these changes still don’t fix your Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from sleep problem, then Disable the USB selective suspend setting.
A less common setting that can cause issues with Sleep mode in Windows 10 is the multimedia sharing setting.
Allow sleep during media sharing
Open the Multimedia settings. Click the When sharing media option, and then change the setting to Allow the computer to sleep.
Click OK to confirm and save the settings.

You may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Hibernate mode – disable, reboot, enable

If your PC uses the Hibernate option for power saving, it can help to disable and re-enable this option. If none of the previous steps have solved the Windows 10 wake up from sleep problem, it is useful to try this, especially on laptops where Hibernate mode is used frequently.

The easiest way is to use the Advanced settings in the Power Options menu.

Right-click the Start menu button, and click Power Options.
Click the Change plan settings for the current power plan being used.
Click Change advanced power settings.
Under the Sleep category, open the Hibernate after option and then change the Setting to Never.
Click OK to save and confirm.
Reboot your PC.
Now re-enable this Hibernate option again, by changing the Setting to the previous value.

Update your device drivers

Windows controls devices using device drivers. This includes the power management control on devices; because of this, it is important to ensure that you have the correct drivers installed for your devices.

You can use the Windows 10 Device Manager to update the drivers individually, or get the latest drivers from the PC manufacturer.

If you don’t have time or the know-how to properly select, download and install the drivers you need, you can try using DriverFinder.

DriverFinder will automatically recognize your system and find the correct and most-updated drivers for it.

Click here to download and install DriverFinder.
Click Activate to register your copy of DriverFinder.
Click Start Scan to check for new drivers.
Download and install the latest device drivers specifically recommended for your system.
Restart your PC or laptop.

Check the BIOS resume settings

Ok, this fix is really more for older PC systems. And although Windows 10 is not often run on older computers due to compatibility issues, I still want to mention it here, especially since many of these steps are also useful on troubleshooting the same issue on older Windows versions.

If the above fixes didn’t solve your Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from sleep mode, reboot your PC and go into the BIOS (press Esc, Del, or F2 during startup in most cases).

Look for the settings pertaining to the Resume from S3 By USB Device or something similar, and make sure the setting is Enabled. Please note that the location and name of the option depend on the BIOS version.

Note: If you are using a cabled mouse or keyboard with PS/2 connection (typical the green and purple connectors), then make sure to enable those options in the BIOS as well.

Press the F10 key to save the setting after changing it, and then reboot the computer.

Windows 10 PC won’t wake up from sleep mode – what if the problem is the monitor?

When Windows 10 wakes up from sleep mode, the PC starts, and the screen comes on. So what if the PC starts and it is only the screen that does not power up?

This is not something that would happen with laptops a lot, but in case of a desktop, it is very possible. The PC starts (you can either hear the fans or the hard disk spinning up), but there is no display.

The first thing to try is to simply turn off the monitor, and turn it back on again. This way, you at least know that this is the problem you are dealing with. If that does not work, following are other possible solutions.

Monitor Settings

A common cause of the monitor not waking up from sleep is a setting called “auto-detect” on the monitor. This setting helps the monitor detect the signal on the connections and use the proper input for the video signal. Go into your monitor settings and disable this feature. After that try the wake up from sleep mode again and see if it is fixed.

Note: Instructions for this will vary a lot depending on the monitor type. In most cases there will be buttons on the monitor on the bottom or side of the monitor to access the settings.

More Power Settings

Windows 10 has some more advanced Power Options that control how power is saved and restore to the PC hardware. A setting that can affect the graphics card, and thus the monitor, is called Link State Power Management in the PCI Express category.

Disable this option with these steps:

Open Power Options from the Control Panel.
Select the option Change plan settings for the current power plan.
Next, click the Change advanced power settings
In the Power Options dialog box, in the Advanced Settings tab, scroll down to the PCI Express entry and click the + sign to open it.
Now click Link State Power Management, and clickSetting to change it to Off.
Click OK to confirm, and close the open windows.

After this, try putting the computer to sleep again and wake it up to check if the monitor comes on as well.

Trigger the graphics driver to rebuild the screen

If the permanent settings in the earlier steps do not help with the problem of waking up the monitor, then triggering the graphics driver to refresh the screen could help.

This is actually a Microsoft recommended solution to deal with a black screen problem. Simply press the Windows Logo + Ctrl + Shift + B keys all at the same time.

The computer might beep, and the screen flash, but hopefully the monitor will show your Windows Desktop again.

This solution has been introduced with Windows Vista, when the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) was added to Windows. It acts like a graphics reset.

Check the monitor cable

This might seem like an odd suggestion. But it is definitely possible to have a defect or non-standard cable that causes the problem of the monitor not waking up on a Windows PC. If you have tried all other solutions, do consider this option too. Ideally, try a cable from which you know it works correctly on a different system.

If you are using a converter for your PC display output to the monitor display input, you should also check it. Converters from Display Port, HDMI, DVI and VGA (and vice versa) are not always compatible with the power options offered by Windows 10.