How to Rectify a Driver Power State Failure On Windows 10

When you boot your system, do you have a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error because of a Driver Power State Failure? This guide is just the right one to help you solve your problem.

The Driver Power State Failure occurs when an incompatible driver is present on any of your system hardware. Most often, restarting the system will resolve the error.

How to Diagnose a Driver Power State Failure and the Reasons One May Occur

The main reason why you may experience driver power state failure blue screen of death error is due to a power control issue. If the device moves to sleep mode or fails to come out of sleep mode, you will usually see a BSOD error with the message:

‘Your PC ran into a problem and needed to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll continue for you. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error:

• DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE

The distinct blue display screen – the blue screen of death error with this notification about Driver Power State Failure error is also known as error 0x0000009F.

The distinct blue display screen – the blue screen of death error with this notification about Driver Power State Failure error is also known as error 0x0000009F. It occurs because of missing system files, incompatible hardware, improper system configuration, or outdated drivers for display adapters.

If your device drivers for your network adapter are out of date or if you have downloaded an incompatible driver. Sometimes corrupted files can also cause the issue. If that is the case, you can use the System File Checker. The System File Checker is a built-in tool that can help detect problems.

• See Also: Windows 10 S Mode

Reason One: Sleep Mode – Change Settings

One of the reasons why you might encounter a blue screen of death with a specific error is when the computer is in sleep mode or taken out from sleep mode. It can also happen when a device driver enters sleep mode while the device is in use.

Windows transmits a signal to the driver to wake it when needed. If the driver does not respond to the wake-up call, you see the Driver Power State Failure error message. The error can be triggered by faulty power settings or a problem with the driver. You can update your power settings in the control panel to fix the error for good. For example, you disable the fast startup settings.

Reason Two: Upgrading Windows

The Blue screen of death with Power State Failure error can occur when you upgrade your operating system to Windows 10. In most cases, it is because installed drivers compatible with Windows 7 or Windows 8 are no longer compatible with Windows 10.

Reason Three: An Outdated Driver

Even if you already have Windows 10, drivers are outdated and incompatible with the operating system. Windows 10 updates frequently (sometimes daily), and significant updates are released twice a year. You must update device drivers to ensure smooth operations. With all these updates, it is easy to see how a driver can become outdated or incompatible and cause the Power State Failure.

If you know which driver on Windows 10 is causing the Power State Failure, you can find a way to fix it by downloading the upgrade. Furthermore, you should check recently installed drivers to be sure new ones are not messing up with your settings.

Another option is to set your PC so that it updates drivers automatically. In this guide, you will read about four ways to tackle the power state failure error in your driver, no matter what is causing the issue.

Methods to Fix Driver Power State Failure

Fix #1: Use the Advanced System Repair Tool (Fortect)

Fortect system repair is one of Windows’s best System Repair solutions. Fortect will scan your system and automatically fix errors.

Follow the steps below to download & install Fortect on your PC:

Step#1

Download and Install the Repair tool for free

Step #2

Click the “Install” button to begin.

Step #3:

Once installed, the program will scan your system, gathering the necessary information and checking for errors.

Step #4:

Once the scan is done, click the “Start Repair” green button.

Step #5:

Fortect will automatically create a restore point in Windows in case of any issues with the repair process. Once the restore point is created, it will attempt to fix the errors found on your system.

Fix #2: Fixing the Error in Safe Mode

To start with, you need to enter Safe Mode on your PC. To do this, you need to be able to boot the computer entirely. If it is impossible to reboot the PC, here are some steps to follow to get into Safe Mode. You should skip ahead if your computer is already booted normally and working:

Step #1

Please only use this method if you cannot enter Safe Mode any other way. To do this, you must attempt to restart your computer three times (or allow it to try to restart three times automatically). To force your computer to shut down before it is fully booted, you must hit the power button and shut it down as soon as you see the Windows logo during a boot.

Then turn the computer back on using the power button and repeat twice more (or until you see the Automatic Repair screen). You will see the system notification indicating that it is preparing for Automatic Repair once the system has failed to boot for the third time. Next, you will see a window showing Automatic Repair. Click the Advanced Options feature.

Step #2

The next screen that appears should give you the option to ‘Troubleshoot.’ Click on that.

Step #3

Now, click on ‘Advanced Options.’

Step #4

Click on the ‘Startup Settings‘ option.

Step #5

Click ‘Restart.’

Step #6

Finally, choose the ‘Enable Safe Mode‘ option. Your computer will restart in Safe Mode. Skip the next section and go to ‘In Safe Mode.’

If You Can Already Boot Windows Normally, Begin Here. Skip This Section if You Used the Above Section to Get Into Safe Mode:

If it is possible to start Windows 10 in Normal Mode, you can directly enter Safe Mode. Here are the steps to follow:

Step #1

Press the [R] and [Windows] keys on the keyboard simultaneously. This will activate the Run Command Prompt. Enter ‘msconfig‘ in the window, and click ‘OK.’

Step #2

Click the ‘Boot‘ tab. Under ‘Boot Options, ‘ click the ‘Safe boot’ option and mark ‘Minimal.’ Click on ‘OK.’

Step #3

The computer will then ask if you want to ‘Exit without restarting.’ If you choose this option, you can save and close down any other open programs. However, you will need to manually restart your computer to enter Safe Mode.

If you choose to restart immediately, the computer will restart in Safe Mode, and you will lose any unsaved work if you use this method to enter Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, you must repeat these steps and unclick ‘Safe boot,’ or your computer will continue rebooting in Safe Mode.

In Safe Mode:

Once you have entered ‘Safe Mode,’ you need to check for driver status. These steps will show you how to do this:

Step #1

Please type and select Device Manager in the Search box and click on it. This will open a device manager window.

Step #2

If you find a yellow mark near a device, you have to uninstall the particular device. Usually, these will be listed under ‘Other Devices.’ Restart your computer in Normal Mode once you have finished removing the incompatible devices. If this method does not work, you should re-enter Safe Mode using one of the techniques mentioned above and continue to the next.

Fix #3: Uninstall Drivers

Step #1

Press the [R] key and [Windows] key on the keyboard simultaneously. This will activate the Run Command Prompt. In the Run Command window, enter the following command:

devmgmt.msc

Now, click ‘OK.’

Step #2

As in the previous method, you should see some devices with a yellow mark.

Step #3

Right-click on a device with a yellow mark next to it, which opens a menu. Click the ‘Uninstall‘ option.

Step #4

Repeat the above steps for other drivers that have the yellow mark beside them.

Step #5

After completely uninstalling the problematic drivers, you can restart the PC.

Remember: Once you have uninstalled the faulty drivers, you may need to uncheck the Safe Mode boot option and return the Windows to Normal Boot Mode before you can restart the PC normally.

Step #6

Once you have restarted in Normal Mode, change settings and click on ‘System and Security.’ Choose Windows Update and then click on ‘Check for Updates’ to reinstall any missing drivers.

Fix #4: Roll Back Drivers

The drivers can be uninstalled using the device manager. The device manager is one of the best routes to remove drivers altogether.

Step #1

Press the [X] and [Windows] keys simultaneously. Select ‘Device Manager‘ from the menu that opens.

Step #2

Look for devices that have a yellow mark next to them and right-click on them.

Step #3

Choose properties from the dropdown menu that opens.

Step #4

Choose the ‘Driver‘ tab on the window that opens. Under that tab is a button with ‘Roll Back Driver‘ available if you recently had an update. Choose to do this if the option is available. If it isn’t, continue to the next step.

Step #4

Choose the ‘Driver‘ tab on the window that opens. Under that tab is a button with ‘Roll Back Driver‘ available if you recently had an update. Choose to do this if the option is available. If it isn’t, continue to the next step.

Fix #5: Perform a System Restore

Using this function, you can make the Windows Operating system revert to its previous version.

If the above methods are ineffective and you are still left with the Driver Power State Failure error when you start your PC, you need to use its System Restore feature as long as you previously activated it. This will help fix the issue. Here is how you can return your system to its previous state:

Step #1

Type ‘Restore‘ into the search box and choose ‘Create a restore point.’

Step #2

When the ‘System Properties‘ box opens, choose the ‘System Protection‘ tab and click the ‘System Restore‘ button under ‘System Restore.’

Step #3

This opens the System Restore wizard. Here you will find different ‘Restore Point‘ options as long as you have already activated this feature in Windows 10. Before you proceed to a Restore Point, you can click on the ‘Scan for Affected Programs‘ button. This allows you to view the changes to the PC if you choose Restore Point.

Step #4

Once you find the correct restore point, click on ‘Next‘ to proceed and continue following the onscreen instructions in the wizard.

Fix #6: Change Power Settings – The Power Saving Mode

Your device’s power settings can cause issues. This can be a common occurrence when you are experiencing power settings issues. You can also change advanced power settings to resolve the problem.

Follow the steps below:

1. If your PC won’t boot normally, boot your PC into Safe Mode.
2. Next, press the Win+R on your keyboard simultaneously to start the Run box.
3. Open the control panel by typing control panel in the run dialog box.
4. View by Small icons and select Power Options.

5. Ensure Balanced (recommended) is selected. Also, click Change power plan settings right next to it.
6. Click Change advanced power settings.
7. Expand Wireless Adapter Settings and Power Saving Mode, then change the setting to Maximum Performance.
8. Expand PCI Express and Link State Power Management, then change the setting to Maximum power savings. Click Apply and hit OK.
9. Finally, reboot your computer to see if you can fix the driver power state failure error.

Conclusion

As you can see, rectifying a Driver Power State Failure error on Windows 10 is easy, provided you follow our step-by-step guide. You can use any of the above methods to correct the fault and have your PC working as efficiently as ever.

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