0x00000044: What It Means and How to Find the Driver

Stop code 0x00000044 means MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS: a kernel-mode driver tried to complete the same I/O Request Packet twice. In plain English, this is usually a driver-stack problem, not a failing SSD or RAM issue, and the fastest safe triage is to sort recent changes into four buckets: USB, network, security software, or chipset and storage drivers. I have seen people guess here, swap the wrong driver, and turn an occasional blue screen into boot loops, lost evidence, and hours spent replacing healthy packages. This guide gives the shortest path I use to identify the likely layer, confirm it with dump clues and Event Viewer, and test fixes in the right order. Microsoft documents the bug check behavior here: Microsoft Learn.

This guide is part of our Windows BSOD stop codes: full list and fixes series.

What to do first

If you only have two minutes, do these first: preserve the dump, note what changed, and test the driver bucket that matches the crash context before updating unrelated components.

• Copy files from C:\Windows\Minidump before uninstalling anything. If you need a walkthrough, see our minidump location in Windows guide.
• Check whether the crash started after a new dock, USB device, VPN client, antivirus, storage tool, chipset package, or firmware update.
• Match the timing: USB activity, network activity, shutdown or scan, or boot and sign-in.
• If the PC is looping, boot into Safe Mode in Windows first and reverse only the newest low-level change.
• Use WinDbg for BSOD dump analysis or BlueScreenView to identify the active stack, but do not assume the first named module is the root cause.

Author and review note: This article is based on hands-on BSOD triage in test and repair scenarios using Windows minidumps, Event Viewer, Reliability Monitor, msconfig, and selective Driver Verifier runs. The interpretation advice here is practical, but minidumps, WinDbg, and BlueScreenView all have limits: they can show the active stack and useful clues, yet the first visible module may be the second driver to touch an already-corrupted IRP. Treat dump output as evidence to narrow the suspect layer, not as proof that the top named module is always the guilty package.

What does stop code 0x00000044 mean?

An IRP is the Windows I/O Request Packet used in device and file I/O paths, and it can be completed only once. When 0x00000044 appears, the useful question is not “which driver name showed first,” but “which driver stack was active when the packet was completed again.”

Why the first named module can mislead

Microsoft identifies 0x00000044 as MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS, and the failure happens when a driver calls IoCompleteRequest on a packet that was already completed. In practice, the visible module in the stack may be the second driver to touch the IRP, not the first one that mishandled it. See the Microsoft bug check reference: Microsoft Learn.

That is why blanket advice to update everything is weak. The second completion can hide the first mistake, so the safer move is to map the crash to a driver class first.

What evidence to collect before changing drivers

1. Open Control Panel > Security and Maintenance > Reliability Monitor and note what happened right before each crash: USB attach, shutdown, resume, VPN use, file copy, or sign-in.
2. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and list recent driver, firmware, and software installs.
3. Write down connected hardware: dock, webcam, headset, printer, USB storage, VPN adapter, backup agent, or antivirus.
4. Copy minidump files from C:\Windows\Minidump to another folder before uninstalling anything.
5. Open Event Viewer, then go to Windows Logs > System, and check the same minute as the crash for device resets, network disconnects, disk warnings, or service failures.

How to read the minidump fast

Minidump files are usually the best crash evidence source for this stop code. Open them with WinDbg or BlueScreenView, then check the bug check line, the active stack, and nearby third-party modules. If you need step-by-step help, see our guides to WinDbg for BSOD dump analysis and how to read minidump files in Windows.

• USB path clues: USBPORT.SYS, USBXHCI, UCX, hub drivers, dock software, webcam or printer modules. A Microsoft Q&A case tied the crash to USBPORT driver activity, and one stack showed USBPORT!USBPORT_Core_iCompleteDoneTransfer.
• Network path clues: NDIS, VPN modules, firewall callouts, packet inspection drivers, Wi-Fi or Ethernet vendor modules.
• Security path clues: antivirus, backup, endpoint, disk filter, or file-system filter drivers.
• Platform path clues: chipset, storage, PCIe, controller, or bus-facing drivers from the PC maker or platform vendor.

According to Bug Check 0x44 MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS — Microsoft identifies 0x00000044 as MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS. (source)

0x00000044 triage matrix

Sorting the crash by context is the quickest safe move. Match the moment of failure to the active device class, use the first tool that gives evidence fast, and then change one layer at a time in the least risky order.

0x00000044 triage matrix

Likely causes of 0x00000044, ranked

Most cases fit one of four buckets. The ranking below is based on scenario fit and stack patterns, not on guesswork, and it keeps changes focused so the next dump still has value if the first fix misses.

1. USB and peripheral drivers

USB-related failures are often the best match when the blue screen follows a device attach, removal, resume, or dock session. In my own triage notes, this bucket rises quickly when the stack includes USB components and the crash timing matches a dock, webcam, printer, phone sync, or external drive event. A Microsoft Q&A case also showed USBPORT activity in the crash path.

1. Shut down the PC and disconnect all nonessential USB devices, leaving only keyboard and mouse connected.
2. Open Device Manager, expand the device class tied to the suspect hardware, right-click the device, then choose Properties > Driver and use Roll Back Driver if the crash started after an update.
3. If rollback is unavailable, in Device Manager right-click the suspect device and choose Uninstall device, then restart and install the current OEM package only for that device.
4. If the dump shows USBPORT.SYS, treat it as a USB path clue, then install current chipset or USB controller packages from the PC or motherboard maker before changing unrelated drivers.

2. Network adapter, VPN, firewall, and packet filter drivers

If crashes happen during browsing, VPN sessions, file copies, or sleep and wake on Wi-Fi, the network stack moves near the top of the list. The practical pattern is not “the internet caused it,” but “a network driver, VPN component, firewall callout, or packet filter was active when the IRP stack went wrong.”

1. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click the active adapter, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Properties, then set DNS to Obtain DNS server address automatically if it is hard-coded.
2. Open the router admin page and confirm DNS is set to automatic, then change the router password if the network setup was recently modified.
3. Open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, choose Properties > Driver, then use Roll Back Driver or Update Driver with the OEM package.
4. Uninstall VPN, firewall, or packet inspection software from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart, and retest before changing the base NIC driver.

3. Third-party antivirus, backup, and file-system filter software

Security suites and backup agents run in kernel paths where IRP conflicts hurt most. In real troubleshooting, this bucket becomes especially likely when the crashes begin after installing endpoint protection, backup software, firewall tools, or disk and file filtering products, or when the failures appear during scans, shutdown, or only in normal boot.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and remove any antivirus, endpoint, backup, firewall, or disk-filter tool installed right before the first crash.
2. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, open System Configuration, go to Services, check Hide all Microsoft services, click Disable all, then restart for a clean boot.
3. If the system stabilizes, re-enable services in small groups until the conflict returns, then remove the offending suite completely.
4. Retest with Microsoft Defender only before reinstalling any third-party security product.

4. Chipset and other platform drivers

When the crash starts at boot, after sign-in, or right after BIOS, storage, or motherboard package changes, platform drivers become a stronger fit. Chipset packages affect USB, storage, PCIe, and bus communication, so a bad or mismatched package can stain several stacks at once.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and note any recent chipset, storage, RAID, or firmware package.
2. Open Device Manager, locate the recently changed controller or storage device, choose Properties > Driver, and use Roll Back Driver if the blue screen started right after that update.
3. If the system is using old inbox drivers after a clean install, install the current chipset package from the PC maker or platform vendor, then restart.
4. After the next crash or successful boot, compare the new minidump with the old one and confirm whether the same path remains.

Can USB drivers trigger a 0x00000044 blue screen?

Yes. USB drivers, docks, hubs, and peripheral filter drivers are often the first bucket to test when the crash follows device attach, resume, or external storage activity. USBPORT.SYS can appear in the stack, but that points to the USB path, not always the exact vendor driver.

How to test the USB path safely

1. Shut down the PC and disconnect every nonessential USB device. Leave keyboard and mouse only.
2. Start Windows, use the system normally, and note whether the crash timing changes.
3. Open a dump from C:\Windows\Minidump in WinDbg or BlueScreenView and look for USBPORT.SYS plus nearby vendor modules such as a dock, printer, webcam, audio, or controller driver.
4. Open Device Manager, uninstall the suspect device, restart, then install only the current vendor package for that device or dock.
5. Reconnect one device at a time and retest after each change.

Can antivirus or backup software cause 0x00000044?

Yes. Third-party antivirus, endpoint, backup, VPN, firewall, and packet capture tools load filter drivers into file and network I/O paths, which makes them strong suspects when crashes begin after install, during scans, during shutdown, or only in normal boot.

How to isolate security and network filters

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and sort by install date. Remove anything added right before the first crash.
2. Run a clean boot through msconfig > Services > Hide all Microsoft services > Disable all, then restart.
3. If the dump points at network activity, uninstall the VPN or firewall product first, then update or roll back the NIC driver in Device Manager.
4. If the crash stops, re-enable services in groups until the failing filter is clear, then leave that product removed or install a newer supported build.

Should I update or roll back drivers for this BSOD?

Roll back when the blue screen started right after one driver package change. Update when the system is on old OEM drivers, a clean install used only inbox packages, or the stack keeps pointing to chipset, USB, storage, or network layers that have known OEM replacements.

Choose the direction by timing, not by panic

1. If the first crash followed a driver or firmware install, open Device Manager > Properties > Driver for that device and use Roll Back Driver.
2. If rollback is not available, uninstall the recently added package from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart, and confirm whether the system stabilizes.
3. If the PC is on a fresh Windows install or generic drivers, install current chipset, USB controller, storage, and network packages from the OEM or platform vendor.
4. Do not update everything together. Change one layer, reboot, and keep the next dump if the crash returns.

When Driver Verifier fits

Driver Verifier is a diagnostic tool and is usually better saved for later rather than used as a first step. I use it only after the suspect list is short, target non-Microsoft drivers, and reset it after testing because aggressive settings can make an unstable machine harder to boot. Even when Verifier helps, the result still needs context from the dump, installed software, and crash timing.

1. Boot into normal mode or Safe Mode.
2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run verifier.
3. Select standard settings, choose non-Microsoft drivers in the suspect bucket, restart, and wait for the next crash.
4. After testing, open an elevated Command Prompt and run verifier /reset, then restart.

What should I do if 0x00000044 keeps happening after reboot?

If the PC crashes every boot, protect the evidence first. Enter Safe Mode, copy the minidumps from C:\Windows\Minidump, disconnect nonessential peripherals, and reverse only the latest low-level change before trying broader repair steps or Driver Verifier.

Safe mode and boot-loop recovery

1. Enter Advanced startup, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and choose Safe Mode.
2. In Safe Mode, copy C:\Windows\Minidump to another folder so the crash evidence is preserved. Microsoft Learn
3. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Device Manager and remove or roll back the latest driver, VPN, antivirus, backup tool, or dock package.
4. Leave nonessential peripherals unplugged until the system survives a normal boot.
5. Change one variable at a time. If the next dump points to the same stack, move to the next bucket, not to random updates.

After driver checks, run system repair tools

SFC and DISM are generally more appropriate after driver-focused checks than before them. They help when crashes or forced shutdowns have damaged Windows files rather than causing the original IRP conflict.

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run sfc /scannow.
2. After SFC finishes, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
3. Restart and see whether the next crash, if any, still points to the same driver class.

If that didn’t work

When the same stop code returns after a careful driver rollback, uninstall, clean boot, and dump review, the next step is controlled escalation. Keep the test narrow, save each dump, and avoid reinstalling Windows until lower-risk reversals and OEM support options are exhausted.

Escalation ladder

1. Use System Restore from Advanced startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore if the failures started after a single recent change.
2. Recheck the OEM support page for a newer chipset, storage, USB, or network package, especially on Dell systems where bundled platform packages can matter more than individual device drivers.
3. If Driver Verifier identified one non-Microsoft driver, remove that package and keep Verifier reset afterward.
4. If Windows remains unstable even in a clean boot, use Reset this PC from Settings > System > Recovery after backing up files.
5. If the machine is managed by work IT or uses endpoint security, contact the vendor or IT team before forcing more boots.

Prevention

Keep a short change log. Record the date of each new dock, VPN client, security suite, chipset package, and BIOS update, because 0x00000044 is much easier to sort when one recent low-level change stands out.

Frequently asked questions

Which driver usually causes MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS?

No single driver “usually” owns it. The best fits are USB and peripheral drivers, network and VPN filter drivers, third-party antivirus or backup filters, and chipset or storage drivers. Use the crash context plus the minidump stack to pick the bucket first, then change that layer only.

How do I identify the faulty driver behind 0x00000044?

Copy files from C:\Windows\Minidump, open them in WinDbg or BlueScreenView, and read the stack around the bug check. Then compare that stack with what was happening at the time: USB use, network activity, shutdown, or a recent security install.

How do I collect minidumps for 0x00000044 troubleshooting?

Boot into Windows or Safe Mode, open File Explorer, and copy all files from C:\Windows\Minidump to the Desktop or another folder before uninstalling drivers. If the PC is stuck in a 0x00000044 loop, use Safe Mode first so the evidence is preserved.

Can USB drivers trigger a 0x00000044 blue screen?

Yes. USB controller, dock, hub, webcam, printer, and external storage drivers can trigger it, and USBPORT.SYS may appear in the stack. Treat that as a clue to the USB path, then disconnect nonessential devices, reinstall the suspect device package, and check the chipset or USB controller driver next.

Should I update or roll back drivers for this BSOD?

Roll back if the crash started right after one driver update. Update if the system still uses old OEM packages or generic inbox drivers, especially for chipset, USB, storage, and network layers. Change one driver class at a time, then reboot and keep the next dump for comparison.

What should I do if 0x00000044 keeps happening after reboot?

Use Advanced startup > Startup Settings to enter Safe Mode, copy the minidumps, unplug nonessential devices, and reverse the latest low-level change first. If the system later boots normally, test with a clean boot. If it does not, move to System Restore or OEM support before broader repairs.

Sources

• Microsoft Learn
• Microsoft Learn