Windows users, at times, face the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT blue screen occurs when they try to wake their PC from a low power state. Affected users report that when they try to resume from standby modes such as sleep, instead of restoring system processes, the PC throws up this error.
Since its introduction in Windows 8, the Desktop Activity Moderator (DAM) is responsible for the working of applications and drivers during low-power modes. The DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT error (with a value of 0x000001EB) indicates that upon waking from hibernation, the DAM was unable to respond within a set time limit (the “watchdog” timer).
DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Error: What Do We Know
The dam.sys is a system file responsible for the working of DAM at the kernel level. It sets the “Watchdog Timer” which is basically a time limit for GPU drivers to respond when the system is resumed from a low-power mode. When the driver fails to respond before watchdog timeout, it leads to DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT blue screen error on your PC.
The common causes behind DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT blue screen error are:
- You are running faulty, outdated, and incompatible GPU driver on your PC.
- The dam.sys file on your PC is either missing or has become corrupt.
- You have enabled Fast Startup on your PC which is affecting driver initialization.
- You downloaded new Windows update and it is conflicting with the drivers.
- You have overclocked your CPU/GPU settings and it is destabilizing your system.
- RAM, GPU, or some other hardware is about to fail.
- Some third-party program is conflicting with the Desktop Activity Moderator.
Fixing the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Error: 5 Methods
First, try some basic workaround like repairing system files. Press Win + S, type CMD and click Run as administrator. Now execute the following commands one after another:
- sfc /scannow
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This will fix corruption in dam.sys and its dependent files.
1. Update the Graphic Drivers
Go to the Device Manager and update all important graphic drivers. If Windows fails to find the latest version locally, download it from the OEMs official site.
- Open Device Manager.
- Scroll down to Display adapters and expand the entry.
- Right-click on the active graphic adapter and click Update driver.
- Click Search automatically for drivers.
2. Perform Windows Memory Diagnostic
Usually DAM-related issues are the main factor behind this error but occasionally a user or two may face it because of faulty RAM. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to quickly get past RAM related problems.
- Press Win + S, type CMD and click Run as administrator.
- Type mdsched.exe and press Enter.
- Click Restart now and check for problems.
- The PC will restart and automatically check for memory faults and resolve them.
3. Disable Overclocking on Your PC
Try disabling the overclock settings to effectively resolve this issue.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security.
- Click Recovery from the left sidebar.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now and wait till Windows boots into Advanced Startup Options.
- Now, click Troubleshoot and select Advanced options.
- Click UEFI Firmware Settings and hit Restart.
- Your computer will now boot into BIOS.
- Navigate to the Advanced tab, and select Performance.
- Now find the Overclocking option and disable it.
- Press the Esc key and choose Save and Exit.
4. Roll Back Graphic Driver
If you notice the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT blue screen error started occurring after updating your graphic driver, you need to roll it back.
5. Disable Fast Startup on Windows
The Fast Startup feature on Windows makes your PC boot faster but, at times, it can prevent Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) from initializing. This may lead to Watchdog timeouts. To fix this, disable Fast Startup to provide the system with sufficient time to load all services.
Recover Lost File After the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Error
BSoD errors like the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT can interrupt the file writing process on Windows. If the error occurred while you were still writing data to the drive, it can result in data loss. In such cases, we recommend using a Windows data recovery software – Stellar Data Recovery Standard to reclaim your lost files. The software helps you recover data in complex loss scenarios like BSoD errors, logical drive failures, lost partitions, and more.
Bottom Line
To prevent the DAM_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT from occurring in the future, keep your drivers updated, check for and install BIOS updates, and run the memory diagnostic feature to fix any underlying RAM issues. In case the crash results in lost or corrupted data, use a Stellar Data Recovery to reclaim your files.
