0x00000CE_
Driver Unloaded Without Cancelling Pending Operations
The error 0x00000CE on Windows 10/11 indicates a specific failure categorized as "Driver Unloaded Without Cancelling Pending Operations" under BSOD (Blue Screen). This guide walks you through the most likely causes and the correct fix order.
What Actually Happened
Windows kernel halted due to: a driver unloaded from memory while it still had pending I/O requests outstanding.
Symptoms
Blue screen appears with stop code DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS
Common Causes
- Kernel condition: a driver unloaded from memory while it still had pending I/O requests outstanding
- Outdated or conflicting third-party driver
- Overheating or failing hardware (RAM/SSD)
How to Fix It
-
01
Boot into Safe Mode and roll back recently installed drivers
-
02
Run memory diagnostic:
mdsched.exe -
03
Run system scan:
sfc /scannow && DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
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Root Cause Breakdown
Stop code DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS (0x00000CE) triggered a bugcheck to protect memory integrity.
Should You Worry?
Urgent. Save work frequently to avoid data loss.
Power-User Tip
Check minidump logs in C:\Windows\Minidump to identify the failing .sys file.
Software fix: $0; Hardware replacement: $50�$250