Stop code DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG

[AmberSearcy]

please help with repair of my laptop with this stop code DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG

[Max3Aj]

@AmberSearcy, Welcome to the HP Support Community – it’s great to have you here!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your question. I'm more than happy to assist with this and provide a solution that works for you.

The DRIVER_PNP_WATCHDOG stop code typically indicates a problem with device drivers or Plug and Play (PnP) components during Windows startup. Let’s walk through some steps to help you repair your HP Notebook.

Perform a Hard Reset

Sometimes, a simple reset can clear temporary issues.

• Power off the laptop completely.
• Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.).
• Unplug the power adapter.
• Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
• Reconnect the power and try to boot again.

Boot into Safe Mode

If the system still crashes, try booting into Safe Mode:

• Power on the laptop and interrupt the boot 3 times (force shutdown during Windows logo).
• This should trigger Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
• Go to Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
• Press F4 to boot into Safe Mode.

If Safe Mode works, the issue is likely driver-related.

Uninstall Problematic Drivers

In Safe Mode:

• Press Win + X → Device Manager.
• Look for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark.
• Right-click and Uninstall the problematic driver.
• Reboot normally.

Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

Check for hardware issues using HP’s built-in diagnostics:

• Turn off the laptop.
• Power it on and immediately press F2 repeatedly.
• Run System Tests (especially memory and storage).

Use HP Support Assistant

If you can boot into Windows:

• Download and install HP Support Assistant. HP Support Assistant | HP® Support
• It will automatically detect and update outdated drivers and BIOS.

System Restore or Reset

If the issue persists:

• Boot into WinRE again.
• Go to Advanced Options > System Restore and choose a restore point before the issue started.
• Or choose Reset this PC to reinstall Windows (keep files or remove everything).

I hope your issue is now resolved. If not, feel free to reply and we’ll continue helping until everything’s sorted!

If the post helped, please click “Accepted Solution” to help other users easily find it. And if you’d like to say thanks, just tap the “Yes” button!

Cheers,

Max3Aj

HP Support