Clean windows 10 install - bsod driver pnp watchdog

Xarold · 23 Nov 2022

recently I've been running Into problems installing a clean install of windows 10. Everytime, I Boot windows boot manager to finish the install, "getting devices ready" will proceed to automatically start a different percentages (ex: 33%, 25%, 63, etc). Right afterwards for being stuck on the "getting devices ready " bsod shows up and everytime giving the error "driver pnp watchdog".

Here's what I had prepared before clean install of windows 10:

- bootable usb media with windows 10, formated with rufus (GPT-UEFI) (non csm) (FAT32)
- unallocated ssd (target drive for install)
- all other drives unplugged, assied for target drive for install and bootable usb
- secure boot disabled (state: setup)
- fast boot disabled
- compatibility mode disbaled

I also want to mention that my asus bios firmware is uefi (model: Asus rog strix b450f gaming) and my previous install of windows 10 on my drive was pro version.

TV2 · 23 Nov 2022

That error usually comes up because of a hardware problem.
It sounds like you have simplified the system (no unneeded devices connected). So that eliminates a lot of things.
It could be an incorrect driver because a device is not being recognized correctly.

Two ideas:
Reset the BIOS to defaults, then minimize any changes to those absolutely needed.

Create a bootable USB to install with, using the most current version of Windows, from the Media Creation Tool here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10
There could be an problem with the installation media you created with Rufus.

John Ellis · 08 Feb 2024

I was getting the same BSOD message, but in my case, it was because of the internal WiFi adapter connected to the motherboard. I was able to determine this by booting up from Strelec WinPE. It booted to the Strelec Desktop, but the driver installation hung at 98 percent for the WiFi adapter:

Clean windows 10 install - bsod driver pnp watchdog-20240208_105429.jpg

Once I saw that hang, I pulled the WiFi adapter from the mainboard and the computer booted right up. I tried Windows to Go, but it just BSOD'd with the same DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error and no useful information. Strelec actually showed the device that was causing the driver to hang.