1. Update or Roll Back Display Drivers
- Open Device Manager - Expand Display Adapters.
- Right-click your GPU - Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- If the issue started after a driver update, choose Roll back driver under Properties - Driver tab.
- Restart the system and test for stability.
2. Repair Corrupt System Files
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Allow scans to complete, then reboot the PC.
3. Reinstall GPU Drivers Using DDU
- Boot into Safe Mode.
- Download and run Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
- Select Clean and restart.
- Reinstall the latest driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel.
- Reboot the system and check if the BSOD persists.
4. Check GPU Temperature and Hardware Health
- Use tools like HWMonitor or GPU-Z to check temperature.
- Clean dust buildup around the GPU and fans.
- Ensure proper airflow and cooling.
- Re-seat the GPU if using a desktop system.
5. Disable GPU Overclocking
- Open your GPU tuning tool (MSI Afterburner, AMD Adrenalin, NVIDIA Control Panel).
- Reset settings to default or click Restore factory settings.
- Restart your computer and test performance.
6. Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware
- Visit your motherboard/system manufacturer’s website.
- Download the latest BIOS/UEFI update.
- Follow instructions carefully to apply the update.
- Reboot and check for stability improvements.
7. Perform a Clean Boot to Identify Software Conflicts
- Press Windows + R - type msconfig.
- Under Services - check Hide all Microsoft services - click Disable all.
- Open Task Manager - Startup tab - Disable all items.
- Restart and check if the BSOD disappears.
8. Uninstall Third-Party GPU Tools
Boot into Safe Mode.
Go to Control Panel - Programs and Features.
Remove:
- GPU monitoring tools
- Overclocking utilities
- Overlay applications (Discord, Steam, etc.)
Restart the PC afterward.
9. Run Windows Update
- Open Settings - Update & Security - Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- Install available critical, cumulative, and driver updates.
- Restart your system.
10. System Restore or Windows Reset
- Open Control Panel - Recovery - Open System Restore.
- Choose a restore point before the BSOD began.
- If System Restore fails, use Reset this PC or an in-place upgrade to repair system components while keeping personal files.
The 0x000000AD (THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER) BSOD indicates GPU driver failure, overheating, or device instability.
To resolve it effectively:
- Update or reinstall graphics drivers.
- Repair corrupted system files.
- Check for GPU overheating or hardware faults.
- Update BIOS and system firmware.
- Remove conflicting GPU tuning or overlay tools.
- Use System Restore or an in-place upgrade if needed.
Maintaining updated drivers, stable GPU settings, and healthy cooling helps prevent future 0x000000AD errors and ensures smooth Windows performance.