7 simple and easy methods to fix the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT error on your Windows 11 PC.
If you’ve been using Windows for a significant period of time, you probably have a clue about an Blue-Screen-of-Death (BSOD) problem. CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT is also one of the BSOD errors in Windows that abruptly shut down your system and restart it.
Like every similar BSOD issue, this one can be a bit annoying particularly since this one can force you to restart your computer. There are a variety of reasons to experience this kind of error on your PC.
The good thing is that it’s relatively simple to identify and, in some cases, when the problem is software-related the fix is easy also. If the issue is a hardware-related one, the situation can become more complicated and you may require expert assistance to fix the issue with your computer.
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Why does CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Error Occur?
As we mentioned in this guide There are a variety of causes why this error could be experienced on your PC. Although the exact cause may differ from one user to the next however, the most frequent causes behind this issue are deadlocked CPUs, defective RAM modules, or dangerous drivers.
In addition be aware that this issue could be as much software-based as it is hardware-based, as various fixes have been successful for various users. Therefore, it is more effective to identify and fix the software-related issues since it is significantly easier contrasted with the hardware.
Now that you know the reason behind the error Let’s get to solving the issue.
Method 1: Disconnect any USB devices
Although it may appear like a simple solution, it could work amazing results. If you have USB peripherals that are connected to your computer, such as USB drives or hard disks or any other devices connected to USB port, remove them. USB port, you must remove them.
Check to see whether you can determine if the Clock Watchdog Timeout error is solved. If so then the device connected to it could be the reason behind the problem.
Method 2: Run DISM and SFC Scan
Another option can be to perform the DISM as well as SFC scans on your computer. Its DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management) will ensure that there aren’t any damaged or corrupted system files on your computer. The SFC will examine the installed image of your system and fix it, if needed.
To install the DISM in your computer, you must first go into the Start menu and enter Terminal in the search box to find it. From the results of your search, right-click on the tile ‘Terminal’ and select the Run as administrator option.
A UAC (User Account Control) window will be displayed in your browser. If you’re not logged into your account as an administrator then enter the credentials to create one. If not, click the “Yes” button within the window to continue.
On the Terminal window paste or type the code below and press Enter using your keyboard. This will run the command.
DISM/ Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealthThe DISM command can take several minutes, depending upon the bandwidth of your connection. It could also appear to be to be stuck, but this is normal for the command. Be patient until execution is completed.
After you’ve completed the process After that, copy and paste the command below to launch this command to invoke SFC (System File Checker) which will scan the currently installed Windows image and repair the damaged or damaged files by using the same image that you download in the earlier step.
SFC /scannowAfter the SFC command has completed its execution then go into the Start menu and then restart your computer. After restarting make sure that the issue persists.
Method 3: Update or Install the Missing Drivers
A damaged, missing or malicious driver may be the reason why you’re experiencing this problem on your system. As updating and installing a driver to the system can be a very simple process, it’s worthwhile to try. You can also choose to update your driver through the Settings app or Device Manager.
To update or install the driver using within the Settings app, first go towards the Start Menu and click on the icon tile ‘Settings’ located under the ‘Pinned applications section’ to proceed. Alternately, use the Windows+I keys together with your keyboard and launch the application.
Then, in the Settings window, select the Windows Update tab located in the lower left-hand sidebar, to move on.
From the left part of the window, select the ‘Advanced Options Tile’ that is located under the section ‘More options.
On another screen, you can scroll to the bottom and click on the ‘Optional Updates Tile’ that is located under the section ‘Additional options.
Then, find and click on the “Driver Updates tile to expand it. From the list of the available drivers, select the driver that is available and select the checkbox that is preceding the specific item. Then, click the Download & Install button on the right side of your screen. This will begin the installation process of the driver.
You could also install the missing driver by using the Device Manager. It’s a simple process. In addition, if you want to update or install multiple driver on the system at hand, then using the Device Manager is more efficient.
Then, go to the Start Menu and type in Device Manager into the search bar to perform a lookup for the. After that you can click on the ‘Device Manager tile in the results of your search to launch the application.
NOTE: Just for showcasing the procedure, we will be updating the Bluetooth drivers. The similar procedure for other driver that are listed within the Device Manager.
Then, in the “Device Manager window, find and click on the downward arrow that is located before the category ‘Bluetooth. From the options that are expanded, select the Intel Wireless Bluetooth driver, and then right-click it to open the contextual menu. Then, select the option ‘Properties’ to continue. It will display a new display on the screen.
In the window that is opened separately You can see the current state that the driver hardware is installed on your computer. If no driver is identified the window will declare that. After that, click the button ‘Update driver’ located just below the “Device status” area.
If you’re trying to update an existing driver, simply click the tab ‘Driver’ in the upper part in the main window. After that, click on the button ‘Update driver’ located within the window to continue. This will open a new display on the screen.
In the window that is opened separately Click on the “Search automatically for drivers” option to let the Windows look for the most recent driver on Microsoft servers.
If your computer already has a driver update program then click the ‘Browse your computer to find drivers’ button to continue. This will bring up an File Explorer window on your screen, which you can use to navigate through and choose the driver package you want to update.
After the update or install is completed successfully You may need to restart your computer to make the changes effective. It is possible to restart it via your Start Menu.
Method 4: Run Windows Memory Diagnostics
Windows Memory Diagnostics helps you identify and fix problems in the RAM. As we’ve said previously, there is an excellent chance that the problem is caused by an issue with your hardware. This solution will allow you to determine if the issue is caused by faulty RAM is to blame for this.
To begin go into your Start Menu then type in Memory Diagnostics to perform a lookup for the. After that, in the results of your search select the ‘Windows Memory Diagnostics’ tab to continue.
On the Windows Memory Diagnostic’ window, click the ‘Restart now and look for issues’ tile to continue. This will instantly restart your PC and test the RAM installed for any errors that may occur at the time of booting your PC.
When your PC is restarted, Windows Memory Diagnostic window will be displayed on screen. This is where you can view what the result of your previous test. If there is a problem it will be necessary to replace the memory module.
Method 5: Update Windows to the Latest Build
In general, Windows is the one that handles all updates. In some instances it could require your involvement to finish an important update which may solve the issue for you on your PC.
To upgrade your computer to the most recent version, go into the Start menu, then select the ‘Settings’ tile under the ‘Pinned Apps section’ to proceed. If you prefer, use the Windows+I keys to open the application.
On the Settings window, look for then click the Windows Update’ tab on the left-hand sidebar to continue.
Then, in the right part of the window, click the “Check for updates” button to see if there are any updates. If the updates are already downloaded, click on the Restart Now button to reboot your device and install the latest updates to your computer.
After the updates have been installed, check if you encounter the same error.
Method 6: Roll Back to a System Restore Point
If you’ve recently upgraded your operating system or installed an application from a third party on your system , and you’ve been experiencing this issue, there’s an increased chance that this latest change is the cause of the problem.
To restart your computer to a previous state, first use your Windows+R key combination on the keyboard to open the Run Command tool. After that, type control and press Enter at the keyboard for you to continue. This will bring up your Control Panel on your machine.
Then, find then click the “Recovery Tile’ from the options grid to proceed.
Then, select the “Open System Restore” option from the menu of choices on your screen. It will then open a new System Restore display on the screen.
In the window that is opened separately Click on the button ‘Next’ on the lower right of the screen to move on.
Then you will be able to see the listing of System Restore points you can restore to. Select one from the list, and then press the Next button.
Now, you will be able to see the drives that are set to be restored using the selected restore point in the section ‘Drives. If you want to view the programs and files that are affected, select”Scan affected programs’ option. It will display a new window.
In the screen that appears, you will be able to look at the programs that will be removed and those which are to be restored (in the case of our system there were no applications that would affect the restoration so the list shown in the image below is not complete). Click the ‘Close’ option to shut down the screen.
Then, click the ‘Finish button to begin your System Restore process on your Windows 11 PC.
In the event that this error is caused through a recent update or any other third-party software install then you won’t be faced with the problem. If, however, you’re still experiencing the issue, move on to the next option.
Method 7 Method 7: Reinstall Windows using the Settings App
If none of the methods mentioned above are able to fix the problem on your computer It’s time to pull the big guns out and install the entire operating system. But, reinstalling the operating system can erase the personal folders and files. Therefore, it is suggested to backup the important files elsewhere prior to proceeding.
Then, open the Settings app on your Start menu. Alternately, you can use the Windows+I shortcut on your keyboard to open this Settings app.
Then, click the tab ‘System’ from the left side of the screen.
Then, scroll down to select the ‘Recovery’ tab that is displayed on the screen.
After that, select the Reset PC option in the Recovery Setting’ screen. After you click ‘Reset PC option, a new window will be opened.
In this window, select the option ‘Remove everything’ to completely cleanse your device and install the operating system again.
You’ll need to select from ‘Cloud download’ and Local reinstall in the following screen. Click on the “Cloud download’ tile to ensure that the new copy of Windows is downloaded from Microsoft servers. If your device doesn’t have connectivity to the Internet, you can click the option ‘Local Reinstall’ to let the system collect and install Windows by using the existing files stored locally on your device. Additionally, any of these choices will not require plugging into any other installation media.
NOTE: The Cloud download option requires at least 4GB of data from cellular networks.
Then, you’ll be able to view the current settings you have to reset your PC. If you want to alter these settings, select the option to change settings. If not, click the button ‘Next’ in the display.
In the ‘Choose settings In the ‘Choose settings’ window, you be presented with three options to change the settings. Let’s dive into it for the purpose of improving the performance for your computer:
- Clean data? This is typically employed when you wish to donate your computer and don’t want anyone to have access to your personal data.
- Remove the files on all disks? The name implies this option allows you to select if you want to delete all data from just the Windows installation drive, or wipe it clear. If you want to erase the files on all drive, flip the switch to the ‘Yes’ position. Additionally, the option to clean data applies to all drives, if it is enabled.
- Download Windows? This feature would permit you to change from cloud download to local reinstall if you decide to alter the method of reinstallation prior to starting.
After you’ve toggled the additional settings according to your preferences, click the “Confirm” button to continue.
Then, click the button ‘Next’ in the lower part of the window.
It could take some time to wait for Windows to display the following screen. Keep your eyes on the screen as the process runs on the background.
The next step is Windows will display the effects that resetting can affect your computer. Take a look and then click the Reset button to begin the process of resetting for your computer.
When you click Reset the computer may restart several times , which is normal when reset. Resetting can take up to a few hours, depending on the machine and the settings selected by you to perform the procedure.
You’re right, folks. It’s a fact. Clock Watchdog Timeout error can be a bothersome error, however, the solutions mentioned above will fix this issue for you on your computer.