How to Fix Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero BSOD Easily?

Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero is one of the stop error codes you might encounter in the daily computing life. It is an indication that a driver tried to remove a device object that is still active. In this post from MiniTool Solution, we will comb through the causes and solutions for you.

Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero Blue Screen of Death

Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero Blue Screen of Death is a common system failure that renders your computer inaccessible for a while. This error has a value of 0x00000036 and this indicates that a problem has been detected in your system. Here are some possible causes behind this error:

• A presence of faulty or corrupted software.
• Hardware incompatibility.
• Incomplete installations of software.

Sometimes, this error might completely crash your operating system, but you can still access the desktop after restarting your Windows machine. If you can restart your computer in the normal mode after the occurrence of Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero BSOD, it’s a good option to enter Safe Mode and then apply the following solutions one by one.

Tips:

Since blue screen errors like Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero might crop up without a warning and all your unsaved work might be lost. In this case, things will be much better if you have a backup of your important files. Speaking of backup, you can resort to PC backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker to create an automatic, incremental, differential or full backup for your files, partitions, system, and disk. After that, you won’t be afraid of any accidental data loss.

How to Fix Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero BSOD on Windows 10/11?

Fix 1: Update a Device Driver

To avoid hardware incompatibility issues, make sure to keep all your device drivers up-to-date. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Right-click on the Start icon to choose Device Manager from the context menu.

Step 2. In Device Manager, expand all the categories one by one to see if there is a driver has a yellow exclamation mark beside it.

Step 3. If yes, right-click on it and choose Update driver.

Step 4. Select Search automatically for drivers and then follow the on-screen wizard to complete the rest processes.

Tips:

If Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero crops up after updating a specific device driver, rolling it back might do the trick.

Fix 2: Perform System Restore

Recent systematic changes are another culprit of the Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero blue screen error. In this case, you can opt to perform a system restore to cancel the problematic changes and revert the operating system to a previously working state. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Press Win R to open the Run box.

Step 2. Type rstrui > hit Enter > click on Next to launch System Restore.

Step 3. Now, you can see a list of some system restore points created automatically or manually on your computer. Pick one as per your needs and then hit Next.

Step 4. After confirming all the details, click on Finish to start the process at once.

Fix 3: Uninstall Newly Installed Apps

Since recently added software or incomplete installation of a program can trigger Device Reference Count Not Zero BSOD, uninstalling the newly installed program is also worth a try. To do so:

Step 1. Press Win R to open the Run box.

Step 2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter to open Programs and Features.

Step 3. Scroll through the program list to find the newly installed program and right-click on it to choose Uninstall.

Step 4. Confirm this operation and wait for its completion.

Final Words

That’s all about Device_Reference_Count_Not_Zero Blue Screen of Death. To prevent similar errors, make sure to update your device drivers on a regular basis and be cautious with new software installation. Appreciate your time!

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