If you receive an error message stating dpc_queue_execution_timeout_exceeded, it means the system has determined that a DPC or ISR has exceeded its time allotment. This can occur for various reasons and usually has an easy resolution; in this article, we’ll show you how to fix the problem.
Error message
The dpc_queue_execution_timeout_exceeded error message is a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) warning that appears when the DPC watchdog timer detects that a DPC has run past its predetermined runtime. It can appear at random times or during specific scenarios such as when booting up or shutting down your computer, shortly after updating Windows or other software, or while using certain programs or devices.
The DPC watchdog timer functions by queuing Deferred Procedure Calls (DPCs) for later execution in response to high-priority interrupts. These DPCs may be directed at either the current processor or another target processor depending on the type of interrupt.
Each DPC is stored in a queue within the Processor Control Region (PCR) and has an address in _KPRCB data structure which can be retrieved using!dpcs. The base address for PCRs is stored in either the fs segment register on x86 systems or gs segment register for x64 systems.
Causes
Deferred Procedure Call (DPC) is a Microsoft Windows operating system mechanism that permits high-priority tasks to defer lower priority operations for later execution. The DPC Watchdog timer detects when a DPC has run too long and generates an error code of DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION.
The DPC Watchdog timer works similarly to Windows’ memory management system in that it detects when a DPC is using too much memory and alerts the user of this issue.
The most frequent cause of dpc_queue_execution_timeout_exceeded is when an agent fails to connect to the server. This could be due to various reasons, such as an incorrect subject name or certificate name in the agent’s security certificate or poor authentication credentials. Depending on what’s causing your issue, you may need to perform some basic troubleshooting; however, for best results contact SAP support for assistance. They can help identify what’s causing the issue and offer solutions.
Symptoms
A dpc_queue_execution_timeout_exceeded error message occurs when Windows’ watchdog detects that it must wait longer than acceptable for a response from the operating system. To protect itself, this watchdog causes a blue screen error and shuts down your computer.
Deferred Procedure Call, commonly referred to as DPC for short, is a system within Windows that permits high priority tasks to interrupt the task queue. Essentially, something Windows considers important can jump ahead of other tasks and hold them until it is completed.
This can lead to a variety of issues, such as performance problems and errors. To investigate further, examine the percentages that make up CPU usage: privilege time, DPC time and interrupt time.
If either of those percentages exceeds 20 percent, hardware issues are likely the culprit. Furthermore, if your system spends more than 30 percent of its time processing privileged instructions, look into potential driver problems.
Resolution
The dpc_queue_execution_timeout_exceeded error occurs when a process or driver does not complete its task within the time allocated. Common causes include driver bugs, but this issue could also be due to hardware problems or software problems with low-level drivers.
The DPC queue is an invaluable resource for efficiently allocating work between threads, and it plays a significant role in system performance. If you notice that your queue peak value frequently increases, this could indicate contention on your system that should be investigated further.
DPCTime and InterruptTime are two essential metrics that provide insight into your system’s CPU usage. If either of these percentages exceeds 30%, it could indicate a hardware issue.
Furthermore, a high PagesInputPersec per second indicates a hard page fault that requires the processor to fetch pages from disk. Tracking these numbers together with PageFaultsPersec can help identify whether hardware or software issues are responsible for this error.
