The driver power state failure error is one of the most common Windows BSoD issues. However, like many other driver problems, this can easily be fixed using built-in tools. Free to use and simple to understand, these methods are all you need to fix this error.
Windows systems have several drivers installed. Without constant updates, these may not perform optimally. Therefore, to avoid a driver power state failure error, it is vital that you update your system at all times.
What does the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) BSoD error mean?
The driver power state failure BSoD error typically appears as you turn on your computer, displaying the following message:
“A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE.”
This message is often followed by:
“Technical Information:
*** STOP: 0x0000009F (0x00000001, 0x00000001, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance.”
This error message suggests the Windows system cannot load one or more of the drivers it needs to function. In such cases, the system remains inactive, which helps avoid permanent damage to essential driver components.
What can cause a driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error?
To understand how critical this error is, you must first appreciate the significance of drivers. Since a Windows computer can have several external devices like a mouse, keyboard, speakers, and printers, it is not feasible to pre-install the software of every possible device you might connect to your computer. This fact, coupled with the number of manufacturers who produce these devices, means Windows must support as many as they can.
Windows achieves external device support through drivers. After connecting a device, your system will download and configure its driver. For example, if you were to connect a new mouse, the driver would inform the computer that its function is to control the cursor.
Several essential drivers allow the Windows system to run, including the monitor and GPU. When the drivers of these devices face issues, the system will deliver a driver power state failure BSoD error message.
Misconfigured and outdated drivers may also cause a driver power state failure error. Even those that are up-to-date can create issues. An old version of Windows 10 may also play a part in producing the error.
How to fix the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error
1. Disconnect all external devices
If you have recently connected a new hardware device to your computer, you should disconnect it and follow the steps below.
- Shut down your computer.
- Remove the newly added device. It could be anything from a USB to a RAM stick.
- Turn on the computer again.
- If the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error is solved, the new device was the culprit.
If the error persists, it is related to another hardware component. Move on to the next method.
2. Update your drivers
If you are using an HP laptop, you will have an option to check for multiple driver updates at once. You can do this by going to the HP Support Assistant, where you can check and apply any pending updates. Those of you without HP Support Assistant should follow the steps below.
- Type “Device Manager” in the Windows search bar.
- Click Open. You will see a window like the one below.
- Then, right-click on the device you want to be updated.
- Select the “Update Driver” option in the pop-up box.
Windows will be able to find the latest driver for most components automatically. However, if the process fails or an error is displayed, try to update that particular driver manually.
To update a driver manually, follow these steps:
- First, visit the device manufacturer’s official website.
- Search for the driver download page.
- Select the latest driver for your device.
- Once downloaded, double-click on the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the new driver.
Updating all drivers should resolve the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error. However, if this method doesn’t work, go to the next one.
3. Fix corrupted system files
If you are still looking for a solution, there is likely a missing or corrupted system file within your computer. To fix the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error in this case, you’ll have to scan all system files.
You can perform the necessary scan through a tool named System File Checker (SFC), a built-in Windows utility. Free from downloads and charges, this is one of the most effective fixes to many BSoD errors.
Follow the steps below to run an SFC check:
- Type “command prompt” or “cmd” in the Windows search bar.
- Open the Command Prompt and run it as an administrator. The SFC tool needs administrator rights to run correctly.
- Type “sfc /scannnow” and press Enter.
- The SFC utility will automatically scan all essential system files and provide results within just a few minutes.
The time it takes to complete the scan depends on how many files you have in the system and how big they are.
Note: If you run into an SFC /Scannow error when starting the scan, don’t worry. We have written dedicated articles on what to do if SFC scannow is not working, including:
- Windows Resource Protection Could Not Perform The Requested Operation
- Windows resource protection could not start the repair service
Once the scan is complete, the system automatically fixes the missing and corrupted files, potentially solving the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error where possible.
4. Run the Driver Verifier tool
The Driver Verifier is another fantastic tool in the Windows system. It verifies the validity of every driver installed on your computer, generates a report of all located issues, and potentially identifies the cause of the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error.
- Type “command prompt” or “cmd” in the Windows search bar.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type in “verifier” and when you press Enter, a new window will open.
- In this window, click the “Create standard settings” radio button then click on Next.
- Select “Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer” to scan all the drivers. If you have an idea which driver might cause the issue, you can select that single driver.
- Click Finish.
Once complete, you can use the report to identify key driver issues, focusing on those without verification. Besides the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) BSoD, you can resolve several other driver problems using this tool.
5. Uninstall conflicting software applications
If the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error occurs in your system after installing a new software app, you should consider removing it and assessing whether the issue persists. Despite being primarily derived from driver failures, the error can sometimes result from an application that has disrupted normal processes, constantly preventing a driver from loading.
Follow the steps below to uninstall your application.
- Type “control panel” in the Windows search bar.
- Once the Control Panel opens in a new window, click on Programs and Features.
- Right-click on the application you want to remove and select Uninstall.
6. Run your system in Safe Mode
Running your system in Safe Mode will prevent external software from interfering with essential components. Software conflict is often the source of the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) error, so it is important to ensure third-party code is disabled.
- Shut down your Windows computer and run it in safe mode by pressing F4 when restarting.
- An Options screen will pop up.
- On this screen, select Troubleshooting.
- In the troubleshooting menu, you will find the Safe Mode option.
We have published a dedicated article with more details about how to boot into Safe Mode and how you can turn it off once you have finished.
If you can successfully load Windows in Safe Mode, the BSoD error is caused by software that loads on normal Windows startups but is disabled in Safe Mode. This information should help narrow down what that software component might be.
While in Safe Mode, it is good practice to run the SFC scan and the Driver Verifier again, as explained in methods 3 and 4.
If you still see the error after restarting the system normally, try the method below as a last resort.
7. Run an anti-malware scan
If you don’t have a dedicated antivirus tool, we recommend using the built-in Windows Defender feature. Windows Defender is a good option. Follow the steps below to perform a full system scan.
- Type “Windows Security” in the search bar.
- You will see the Windows security homepage.
- Click on “Virus & threat protection”.
- A new page will open. Here, click on Scan options.
- Click on the Full Scan button and then on Scan Now.
- Windows Defender will scan and remove any malware from the system.
Scanning your system regularly and keeping it up-to-date is essential to maintaining its safety. It can also rid you of BSoD errors like the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) that can be caused by malware on your system.
Conclusion
We hope you have easily solved the driver power state failure (0x0000009f) BSoD error by following the above methods. Let us know in the comments which one worked.
