Expand Minimize
2 out of 2 rated this helpful - Rate this topic

Bug Check 0x36: DEVICE_REFERENCE_COUNT_NOT_ZERO

The DEVICE_REFERENCE_COUNT_NOT_ZERO bug check has a value of 0x00000036. This indicates that a driver attempted to delete a device object that still had a positive reference count.

Important Info If You Have Received a STOP Code

If you received a blue screen error, or stop code, the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from data loss. A hardware device, its driver, or related software might have caused this error. If your copy of Windows came with your computer, call the manufacturer of your computer. If you purchased Windows separately from your computer, Microsoft provides support. To find contact info for Microsoft or your computer manufacturer, Contact Support.

If you have experience with computers and want to try to recover from this error, follow the steps provided in the Microsoft article Resolving STOP (Blue Screen) Errors in Windows.

These actions might prevent an error like this from happening again:

  1. Download and install updates and device drivers for your computer from Windows Update.
  2. Scan your computer for computer viruses.
  3. Check your hard disk for errors.

DEVICE_REFERENCE_COUNT_NOT_ZERO Parameters

The following parameters are displayed on the blue screen.

ParameterDescription

1

The address of the device object

2

Reserved

3

Reserved

4

Reserved

 

Cause

A device driver has attempted to delete one of its device objects from the system, but the reference count for that object was non-zero.

This means there are still outstanding references to the device. (The reference count indicates the number of reasons why this device object cannot be deleted.)

This is a bug in the calling device driver.

 

 

Send comments about this topic to Microsoft

Build date: 4/9/2013

© 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.