How to fix clock watchdog timeout on Windows

Experiencing a blue screen error on your Windows PC is never fun. So, here’s how to fix clock watchdog timeout on Windows.

When you get a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error when booting your PC, you might think your system is done. But there's no need to panic.

Clock_Watchdog_Timeout BSOD errors are related to issues with communication between your system and the CPU. This is a system-level process called "system interrupt" and is normal behavior. However, if your system spends too long in the interruption phase, a blue screen error will occur.

You may be able to resolve the issue with a simple reboot, or you may need to perform additional troubleshooting steps from the command line. So, here’s how to fix clock watchdog timeout on Windows.

Restart your PC

The first time you get a clock watchdog timeout BSOD on Windows, the first step is to reboot the system and reinstall the external equipment. Since BSOD errors prevent you from entering the Windows environment, you need to hold down the physical power button for 10 seconds until your PC shuts down completely.

Unplug all peripherals connected to your PC, such as mouse, keyboard, printer, and monitor. If you have a desktop, reinstall the RAM, SSD (if applicable), and GPU, and check for loose cables. Reconnect all external devices to ensure secure connections. Wait 30 to 60 seconds, then press the Power button again to restart.

Check for Windows Updates

Windows usually updates in the background; however, you may not have the latest updates. For example, a pending update might contain a bug fix that your PC is waiting for.

Do the following to get pending updates:

1. Click the Windows key IOpen Settings and select Windows Update.
2. Click the Check for Updates button and install any updates it finds. A reboot may be required to complete the process.

Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Utility

Memory problems can cause errors that you need to scan for errors. You can check your system's RAM by running Microsoft's built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic utility.

To run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Utility, do the following:

1. Press Windows key ROpen "Run ”Dialog box.
2. Type mdsched and click OK.
3. When the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool opens, click the Restart now and check for problems option.
4. Your PC will restart and the utility will run a diagnostic scan of your system RAM. If any issues are detected, the diagnostic tool will automatically fix the issues it finds.

NOTE: This utility will take a long time to run. If it doesn't find the problem but you need a second opinion, try the free and open source utility memtest86.

Manage Hardware Drivers

Updating hardware drivers can fix a range of issues, including clock watchdog timeout errors. You are supposed to receive driver updates through Windows Update, but sometimes problems can occur. However, you can have Windows search for specific hardware drivers or install them yourself.

To manually check for driver updates, use the following steps:

1. Press the Windows key or click the Start button.
2. Type Device Manager and click the Device Manager Control Panel option under Best Match.
3. Check the list for any yellow error indicators. If found, right-click on the listed device and select Update Driver from the menu.
4. Select Automatically search for drivers and let Windows update drivers automatically.
5. If the Watchdog error persists and Windows does not find the driver, you can install the driver manually.

Run DISM and SFC scans

Run DISM and SFC scans to fix BSOD errors. Both utilities scan for corrupted system files and replace them with working files. System File Checker(SFC)The scan finds file errors and replaces corrupted files with working files stored on the drive.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)The scan will detect errors and replace corrupted files with working files downloaded directly from Microsoft servers.

To run SFC and DISM scans:

1. Click the Start button or press the Windows key and search for PowerShell.
2. Select the Run as administrator option to the right of the results.
3. After opening PowerShell, run the following command in the terminal.

   sfc /scannow

   

##After a
4. SFC scan, a best practice is to run a DISM scan - especially if SFC cannot replace a specific file .
5. Run PowerShell as Administrator and run the following commands.

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   

Check the disk for errors

Usually, SFC and DISM scans will fix clock watchdog timeout errors on Windows, but the problem may go deeper level. The Windows

Chkdsk utility will scan the hard drive to make sure it is error-free.

To run a Chkdsk scan:

Launch
1. PowerShell Terminal as Administrator Or Command Prompt.
Run the following command and press
2. Enter.

   chkdsk /r /f

The ChkDsk utility will prompt you to scan the next time you reboot - type
3. Y and press Enter.

The next time you restart your PC, the ChkDsk utility will scan for any errors and fix them.

Try Safe Mode or Clean Boot

If you are unable to pass the Clock Watchdog Timeout BSOD, try a clean boot into Windows. A clean boot uses minimal startup applications and drivers to load the operating system.

When clean boot works, enable one application and service at a time until you find the culprit.

#If clean boot doesn’t work, you can boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode. Or, if you're not on Windows 11, boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode.

When you enter

Advanced Boot Options, make sure you select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt. You can start Command Prompt in safe mode and run utilities such as ChkDsk, SFC, and DISM scanning by selecting this option.

Fix Clock Watchdog Timeout on Windows

Having a Windows blue screen error is never fun. However, if you are experiencing a clock watchdog timeout BSOD, one of the above solutions should get your system running again.

It’s also worth noting that this error can be caused by malware on your system. Windows has real-time virus protection, but some malware can become entrenched and nothing is 100% effective. Therefore, be sure to scan for malware using a Windows security application. If it doesn't find anything and you need a second opinion, try AVG AntiVirus or Avast.

If all else fails, you can reset Windows to factory settings—but only as a last resort. Before resetting Windows, back up all necessary files to a cloud service like OneDrive or a paid service like BackBlaze. Additionally, create a complete system backup so you can restore your system quickly.

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