Windows has another version known as Purple Screen of Death, or PSOD, in case the Blue Screen of Death wasn’t enough to haunt you. BSOD errors are closely related to Windows; without them, the operating system appears lacking.
Anyway, joking apart! Let’s talk about one of the deadly BSOD errors that many Windows users are currently experiencing. We’ll talk about the PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR, which shows up out of the blue and then shuts down.
What is PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR on Windows?
Before delving into the specific cause of the Windows error, it’s crucial to note that this error frequently coexists with numerous other stop codes, including 0x000000CA (0x01681690, 0xEA96A7BE, 0x938A81AD, 0xF8362881).
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The primary cause of Windows’ PNP DETECTED FATAL ERROR is when the operating system is unable to identify a suitable drive for the connected Plug and Play devices.
For example, if you have just installed a plug-and-play hardware component on your PC, and when Windows fails to detect its driver, you will encounter the BOD.
The BSOD can also appear due to incompatible, outdated, or corrupted driver files. So, it mainly concerns the drivers.
Since this BSOD error mainly appears due to drivers, we will focus more on fixing problems related to the drivers. However, if repairing the drivers didn’t help, you can try these few things.
Reconnect the newly installed hardware.
Disable the BIOS Memory Options.
Update all Device Drivers.
Run the Disk Check Utility.
Check and rule out the hardware issues.
Perform a System Restore.
Update the Windows Operating System.
1. Remove the Newly Installed Hardware
Newly installed hardware is the prominent reason for PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR on Windows. You may have encountered the error after installing new hardware.
The hardware could be anything like a webcam, microphone, mouse, keyboard, etc. Whatever it is, you must temporarily remove it to check whether the error still appears.
If the error resolves and no longer appears, you have the culprit.
2. Update or Roll Back Device Drivers
If removing the hardware didn’t help, you can try updating or rolling back the device driver updates. Here’s how to update or roll back drivers on Windows.
- Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box.
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Type devmgmt.msc on the RUN dialog box and press Enter.
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Now, right-click on the drivers (Keyboards, mice, headphones, etc) and select Update Driver.
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On the prompt, select Search automatically for drivers.
That’s it! You need to repeat the steps and update the drivers of every device you’ve recently installed.
How to Roll Back Drivers?
If updating the drivers fails to fix the error on Windows, you must roll back the device drivers. Here’s what you need to do.
- Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box.
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Type devmgmt.msc on the RUN dialog box and press Enter.
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Now right-click on the drivers (Keyboards, mice, headphones, etc.) and select Properties.
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On the Properties, switch to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
Now the operating system will roll back the device drivers you have selected. Once the process is complete, restart your PC.
3. Check the Disk for Errors
Many Windows users have claimed to fix the PnP Detected Fatal Error BSOD by running the Disk Check utility (ChkDSK). Hence, you can also try that to improve your chances of getting the problem fixed.
Open the Windows File Explorer.
Right-click on the System installation drive (C: Drive) and select Properties.
On the drive properties, switch to the Tools tab.
Next, click on the Check button underneath Error checking.
On the Error checking prompt, click on the Scan Drive.
Now, the Disk Check utility will run. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the disk error-checking process.
4. Uninstall the Security Program
Sometimes, security programs, especially Norton Antivirus, can trigger a PNP-detected fatal error in the Windows operating system.
Several users have reported that removing the security and recently installed programs has helped them fix the 0x000000CA Error.
You need to open the Control Panel and uninstall all programs, including the security tools you just installed on your device.
Press the Windows Key + R button on your keyboard. This will launch the RUN dialog box.
On the RUN dialog box, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
This will open the Control Panel.
Now, uninstall the recently installed security programs.
You also need to uninstall the programs you’ve installed recently.
To uninstall, right-click on the program and select Uninstall.
That’s it! After the uninstallation, make sure to restart your Windows computer.
5. Update Your Windows Operating System
Some users have faced the PNP Detected Fatal Error BSOD because of an outdated system version. If you are using Windows, it’s best to keep the operating system updated.
Keeping the operating system up-to-date has a few advantages; you will enjoy new features, get the security patches, and the bugs & glitches will be less.
If you haven’t updated your operating system in a while, go to Settings > Windows Update and click on the Check for Updates button. Windows will automatically find and download all pending operating systems and security updates.
6. Perform a System Restore
If you are still getting the PNP Detected Fatal Error BSOD, it’s time to perform a system restore.
System Restore will roll back your computer to its previous state, ultimately fixing the BSOD error. Here’s how to perform a system restore.
- Open Windows search and type Recovery. From the list of results, click on the Recovery app.
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On the Recovery screen, select Open System Restore.
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Now, pick the restore point you want to use and click on the Next button.
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Click the Finish button on the Confirm your Restore point screen.
Now, Windows will automatically roll back your settings to your selected point.
7. Reset your PC
If nothing has worked for you until now, you only have one option: resetting your computer.
System Reset will erase everything on your PC, including user-made settings and personal files. So, create a backup of your important files before resetting your PC.
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Reset Windows 11:
Click on the Windows Start button and select Settings.
Switch to the Windows Update on the left sidebar.
On the right side, click on Advanced Options.
On the Advanced options, click on Recovery.
On the Recovery screen, click on the Reset PC button.
You will now see a prompt providing you with two options. Select Keep My Files.
On the next prompt, select Cloud Download.
Finally, click on the Reset button to reset your Windows 11 computer.
Reset Windows 10:
The steps to reset Windows 10 vary from Windows 11. We have shared a detailed guide on how to reset Windows 10 computer.
In that guide, we shared three ways to reset Windows 10 to its default factory settings. If you use Windows 10, check out that article and follow the steps.
8. Check for Hardware Issues
Hardware issues like a faulty hard drive or RAM module can also be a reason for this BSOD error.
The likelihood that your gadget has undiscovered hardware problems increases if everything fails. It can be a failing hard drive or a malfunctioning RAM module.
The error screen might occasionally also be brought on by incorrect BSOD settings. Therefore, if you are clueless, you can bring your computer to a nearby service facility and ask them to resolve the problem.
PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR can be annoying, but with the correct method, it’s simply fixable. We have provided every practical solution for fixing the BSOD error. Please share this article with your friends if it was helpful. Learn More
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