What is NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET?
NVMe controller reset is a high-severity storage drive (SSD/HDD) issue. The NVMe storage controller has been reset by Windows due to a command timeout. The NVMe driver sends a command to the drive and waits a maximum of 8 seconds for a response. If the drive does not respond within this window, the controller is reset. Frequent resets cause system freezes, data corruption, and eventual BSOD crashes. It sometimes comes down to pCIe slot power management issue. Follow the steps below to fix it.
Common Causes
- NVMe firmware bug
- PCIe slot power management issue
- Overheating NVMe drive
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
-
1
Update NVMe drive firmware
Disabling PCIe Active State Power Management (ASPM) in BIOS resolves the most common NVMe reset caused by aggressive power state transitions.
-
2
Disable PCIe ASPM in BIOS
Firmware updates from the drive manufacturer often address specific controller timeout bugs.
-
3
Add heatsink to NVMe drive
"Add heatsink to NVMe drive" targets nVMe firmware bug, one of the documented causes of NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET.
Commands & Diagnostics
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='System'; Id=129} | Select-Object -First 10
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, nVMe firmware bug is behind NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET. PCIe slot power management issue and overheating NVMe drive can trigger it too.
The fastest fix is "Update NVMe drive firmware". Only move on to the later steps if NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET keeps coming back.
NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET is a high-severity error. It won't damage your PC instantly, but repeated occurrences usually point to a deeper problem worth addressing soon.
In most cases, yes — the guide above resolves NVME-CONTROLLER-RESET without a clean install. Treat a reinstall as the last resort, not the first move.
Open CrystalDiskInfo (free tool) to check your drive's S.M.A.R.T. status. Any yellow or red indicators — especially reallocated sectors or pending sectors — confirm the drive is degrading and should be backed up and replaced immediately.
Still Need Help?
Search our full database of 535+ documented PC errors for more solutions and step-by-step repair guides.
Search Error Database