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0x000000B8BSODCritical

0x000000B8 — Attempted Switch from DPC | Blue Screen Fix Guide

ATTEMPTED_SWITCH_FROM_DPC

Windows XPWindows VistaWindows 7Windows 8Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x000000B8 Mean?

A thread switch was attempted from a DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) routine, which is not allowed.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Driver attempting to wait or yield during DPC
  2. 2Kernel scheduling violation in driver
  3. 3Driver bug in DPC handler

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code ATTEMPTED_SWITCH_FROM_DPC
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  3. 3Check Windows Update
  4. 4Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze minidump with WinDbg
  2. 2Check Event Viewer for correlated errors
  3. 3Use Process Monitor to trace system activity
  4. 4Perform clean boot to isolate the cause

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes ATTEMPTED_SWITCH_FROM_DPC?
A thread switch was attempted from a DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) routine, which is not allowed.
Can I fix Attempted Switch from DPC myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x00000133DPC Watchdog Violation Deprecated0x000000C7Timer or DPC Invalid

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.