Have you ever encountered a sudden blue screen on your Windows 10 or 11 PC that says “Driver Power State Failure”? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This is a common BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error, especially on laptops and desktops with faulty drivers or power settings.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through step-by-step solutions to fix the Driver Power State Failure error once and for all. These steps are safe and effective for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

So let’s begin — and remember, read through each section fully before applying the fix. We’ve made sure this guide is easy to follow and beginner-friendly.

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🧠 Understanding the Error: What Causes “Driver Power State Failure”?

This blue screen error is typically triggered by one of the following:

• Improper power settings (especially sleep or hibernate)
• Outdated or corrupted device drivers
• Conflicts after a Windows update
• BIOS incompatibility
• Hardware changes (e.g., new RAM, SSD, etc.)

Now let’s fix it — starting with the simplest method and moving toward more advanced ones.

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⚡ Step 1: Modify Power Settings from Control Panel

Since this error is usually power-related, the first fix starts by tweaking your power plan settings.

Here’s how:

1. Open Control Panel
   (Press Win + S and type “Control Panel”)
2. Set the View by option to Large Icons
3. Click Power Options
4. If you’re on a desktop PC, select High Performance If you’re on a laptop, leave it at Recommended
5. Click Change plan settings next to the active plan
6. Then click Change advanced power settings
7. Expand the Hard disk section
   → Set Turn off hard disk after to Never
8. Expand Wireless Adapter Settings → Set Power Saving Mode to Maximum Performance
9. Expand PCI Express > Link State Power Management → Set to Off
10. Click Apply, then OK

So far so good? Awesome — let’s move to the next critical step.

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🔌 Step 2: Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup can cause issues with drivers not loading correctly on boot, which can trigger this error.

Disable it like this:

1. Go back to Control Panel > Power Options
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do (from the sidebar)
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
4. Scroll down to Shutdown settings
5. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended)
6. Click Save changes

Now reboot your system and check if the error has disappeared. If not, we move to the next method.

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🔍 Step 3: Run System File Checker (SFC)

Your system files may be corrupted. The SFC tool checks and repairs them.

Run it like this:

1. Press Win + S, type CMD, then right-click → Run as Administrator
2. In Command Prompt, type: sfc /scannow
3. Press Enter and wait. This may take 5–10 minutes.

Once the scan is complete, it will show you whether any system files were fixed. Either way, continue to the next step.

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💻 Step 4: Update BIOS and System Drivers Manually

Sometimes, outdated BIOS or motherboard drivers can cause this power-related blue screen error.

Here’s a human-friendly walkthrough to handle this properly.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.)
2. Search for your device manufacturer:
   • Dell Drivers: https://www.dell.com/support/drivers
   • HP Drivers: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers
   • Lenovo Drivers: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/
   • Acer Drivers: https://www.acer.com/drivers
3. Locate your device using either:
   • Model Name
   • Or use the Serial Number

To get your serial number:

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
• Type: wmic csproduct get name
• Copy the result and paste it on the manufacturer’s driver search page

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Now, search for and download the BIOS driver:

• Type BIOS in the driver search field
• Download the latest BIOS update
• Plug in your laptop charger
• Run the downloaded .exe file as administrator
• Follow on-screen instructions

⚠️ Make sure not to turn off your PC during BIOS update

After the BIOS update completes, your PC may reboot automatically.

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🧰 Additional Tip: Check for Recent Hardware Changes

If you’ve recently:

• Added a new SSD, RAM, or GPU
• Swapped out your battery or motherboard
• Installed third-party performance tools

Try removing or reseating the new hardware and see if the issue persists.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is the “Driver Power State Failure” a hardware issue?
Not always. It’s usually caused by bad drivers or power settings. But hardware changes can sometimes trigger it.

Q2. Is BIOS update risky?
Only if done incorrectly or if the power cuts off mid-update. Always plug in your laptop and close all programs first.

Q3. What if none of the fixes work?
Try performing a clean Windows reinstall. But that’s a last resort after backing up your data.

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✅ Conclusion

So, let’s recap what we’ve done:

• Changed your power and startup settings
• Disabled Fast Startup
• Ran System File Checker to repair corrupted files
• Updated all essential drivers, especially BIOS
• Verified and addressed any recent hardware changes

With these steps, 90% of “Driver Power State Failure” issues can be resolved safely.

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🏷️ Tags:

driver power state failure fix, windows 11 blue screen, windows 10 driver error, sfc scan repair, update bios, fix bsod windows, power setting fix, laptop crash issue

🔖 Hashtags:

#Windows11 #BSOD #BlueScreenFix #PowerStateFailure #WindowsFix #DriverError #BIOSUpdate #LaptopCrash #TechTips #SystemError

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If this article helped you fix the issue, consider sharing it with someone else who might be struggling. And if you want help with another specific error or Windows issue, just drop a comment below and we’ll guide you step-by-step.

Emily Carter

Emily is a Windows power user and technical writer from the UK. She has spent 7+ years in IT consulting, helping businesses migrate to new Windows versions, optimize performance, and solve common errors. Emily’s articles combine professional experience with step-by-step clarity, making even registry hacks accessible to everyday users.

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