Error: WHEA-Logger Event ID 17 - A corrected hardware error has occurred
Affects: Windows 10/11
Time: 15-30 minutes

Quick Fix

Most WHEA Event ID 17 errors come from outdated drivers. Run this in an elevated PowerShell:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Then update your chipset and GPU drivers from your manufacturer's website.

What This Error Means

WHEA stands for Windows Hardware Error Architecture. It logs hardware-related events in Event Viewer when something goes wrong at the hardware or driver level.

Event ID 17 is a "corrected" error, meaning Windows caught and handled the problem. Your system likely stayed running. This is different from Event ID 1, which indicates a fatal error and usually causes a Blue Screen of Death.

Common triggers include:

  • Outdated or corrupted drivers (especially GPU, chipset, and storage controllers)
  • PCIe communication issues between your motherboard and devices
  • Power delivery problems (unstable voltage, failing PSU)
  • Memory errors (bad RAM or XMP profile issues)
  • Overheating components throttling or misbehaving

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Step 1: Identify the Source

Open Event Viewer and find the WHEA entry:

eventvwr.msc

Navigate to Windows Logs > System. Filter by Source: WHEA-Logger.

Click on an Event ID 17 entry and look at the Details tab. Look for:

  • Primary Device Name (tells you which hardware reported the error)
  • Error Source (PCIe, memory controller, etc.)

Step 2: Update Drivers

Start with chipset drivers from your motherboard manufacturer (ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc.), not Windows Update.

For GPU drivers, download directly from NVIDIA or AMD. Use a clean install:

NVIDIA:

  1. Download latest driver from nvidia.com
  2. Run installer, select Custom Install
  3. Check Perform a clean installation

AMD:

  1. Download latest driver from amd.com
  2. Run installer with Factory Reset option enabled

Step 3: Update BIOS

Check your motherboard manufacturer's support page for BIOS updates. Newer BIOS versions often fix PCIe communication issues that trigger WHEA errors.

Write down your current BIOS version before updating:

wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion

Step 4: Check BIOS Settings

Several BIOS settings can cause WHEA errors:

C-State Control: Some users report disabling C-States in BIOS resolves frequent WHEA errors. C-States are power-saving features that can cause instability on certain hardware combinations.

PCIe Speed: Try setting PCIe to Gen3 instead of Auto if you see PCIe-related errors. Some Gen4/Gen5 devices have compatibility issues.

XMP/DOCP: If you have XMP enabled for RAM overclocking, try disabling it temporarily. Unstable memory timings cause WHEA errors.

Step 5: Run Hardware Diagnostics

Memory Test:

mdsched.exe

This schedules a memory test on next reboot. For more thorough testing, download Memtest86+ and run it from a USB drive.

Disk Check:

chkdsk C: /f /r

GPU Stress Test: Run FurMark or Unigine Heaven for 15-20 minutes while monitoring temperatures. Overheating GPUs throw WHEA errors.

Why This Happens

WHEA errors are Windows reporting that hardware detected an anomaly. The most common scenario: a device (GPU, NVMe drive, network card) briefly lost communication with the motherboard over PCIe.

On AMD Ryzen systems with Radeon GPUs, the AMD Adrenalin software can conflict with other overlays (Discord, Easy Anti-Cheat, NVIDIA Experience on hybrid systems) and cause driver crashes that log as WHEA events.

On Intel systems, outdated Intel Management Engine (ME) drivers are a frequent culprit. Download the latest ME driver from your motherboard manufacturer's support page, even if Windows reports your drivers are current.

When to Worry

Ignore these: Occasional Event ID 17 entries (a few per week) with no crashes or freezes. Windows corrected the error and moved on.

Investigate these: Multiple errors per hour, or errors that coincide with system freezes, crashes, or blue screens.

Call a professional: If you see Event ID 1 (fatal hardware error) repeatedly, you likely have failing hardware. Could be RAM, GPU, or the motherboard itself.

Alternative Solutions

Option A: Intel Management Engine Update

For Intel systems, download and install the latest Intel ME driver from your motherboard manufacturer:

  1. Go to your motherboard support page
  2. Find the BIOS/Firmware or Chipset section
  3. Download Intel Management Engine Interface driver
  4. Install and restart

Option B: Reset Power Settings

powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

This resets all power plans to defaults, which can resolve issues caused by aggressive power management triggering hardware errors.

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