Invalid Push Lock Flags BSOD Error: 5 Methods to Fix it

A few expert solutions

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Key notes

  • The Blue screen of death error invalid push lock flags can result in crashes and screen flashes when working on your system.
  • Other reasons for this BSOD error is outdated or incompatible Nvidia drivers.
  • You can troubleshoot the error by running the DISM and System File Checker tools to fix corrupted system files. 
  • Keep your Windows 10 PC up to date to prevent frequent crashes and freezing issues.

The blue screen of death error in Windows 10 can occur for several reasons, and the error message can vary depending on the issue the system encounters. For example, the invalid push lock flag is a BSOD error that causes the screen to flash and crash.

Searching on the tech forum, you may find the reason for this error can vary. Usually, this error occurs due to a corrupted or incompatible graphics driver, corrupt system files, and problems with the storage device.

Diagnosing and fixing the problem can be a time-consuming task. Fortunately, we have compiled all the possible tried and tested fixes to resolve the Invalid push lock flags error in Windows 10.

Why does Invalid Push Lock Flags error occur?

The error typically occurs on Windows computers when it encounters a hardware device or software driver problem. The error message indicates the system has trouble accessing a specific device, usually a hard drive or a USB drive.

Here are a few triggers:

  • Corrupted or outdated drivers – If the drivers for a hardware device are corrupted or obsolete, it can lead to communication errors between the device and the operating system, resulting in the error.
  • Malware or virus infections – Malware or viruses can cause various system errors. It may interfere with system files, device drivers, or other critical components of the operating system, causing errors and instability.
  • Hardware problems or faults – Problems such as bad sectors on a hard drive or physical damage to a USB drive can interfere with the system’s ability to access and use the device.
  • Missing or damaged system files – If critical system files are missing or damaged, they can cause errors.
  • Issues with the Registry – If it becomes corrupted or damaged, it can cause the invalid push lock flags error.

How do I fix the Invalid push-lock flags BSOD Windows 10 error?

1. Update your drivers

  1. Press Windows + X, and select Device Manager.
    invalid push lock flags
  2. Expand any category with outdated drivers, right-click on the driver, and select Update driver.
    invalid push lock flags
  3. Select Search automatically for drivers.
    invalid push lock flags
  4. Follow the instructions to complete the update.

Incompatible or outdated GPU drivers are a known cause of the Blue Screen of Death error. Check for missing and outdated drivers and update them.

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2. Run the DISM tool 

  1. Press Windows + X, and select Command Prompt (Admin).
    invalid push lock flags
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter to execute:
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
    invalid push lock flags
  3. Wait for the tool to scan the system for issues.

The DISM command uses Windows update to provide the files required to fix file corruption causing the BSOD error. However, if your Windows Update client is broken, Microsoft recommends using a Windows installation drive for repair.

Once the tool has completed running, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer. After the restart, check if the invalid push lock flags BSOD error is resolved.

If the issue persists, try running the System File Checker tool to fix corrupted system files. 

3. Run the System File Checker Tool 

  1. Press Windows + X, and select Command Prompt (Admin).
    invalid push lock flags
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter to execute:
    Sfc /scannow 
    invalid push lock flags
  3. Wait for the tool to complete the scan and until you see a verification 100% complete message.

Note: Do not close the command prompt until the verification is 100% complete. If the scan is stuck at 20% or 40%, that’s normal behavior. The process will complete in a few minutes. Leave the device idle if it is taking longer to complete.

The SFC /scannow command will scan all the protected system files for corruption issues and replace the files with a cached copy that is saved in a compressed folder WinDir at System32 DLLcache.

4. Check your storage drives for error 

  1. Press Windows + X, and select Command Prompt (Admin).
    invalid push lock flags
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter to execute:
    Chkdsk /scan 
  3. Wait for the scan to complete 100%. This process can take several hours, depending on disk size. 

The above command will scan the integrity of the file system and file system metadata on your disk volume. Then, depending on the result, it will try to fix the errors. 

While using the Check Disk Utility is time-consuming and requires you to wait patiently, the tool can help you prevent more significant problems and data loss in the future.

After completing the process, reboot the computer and check if the invalid push lock flags Windows 10 error is fixed.

5. Reinstall the Nvidia driver

  1. Press Windows + X, and select Device Manager.
    invalid push lock flags
  2. Expand the Display adapters category, right-click on your Nvidia driver, and select Uninstall device.
  3. Confirm your choice.
  4. Navigate to the Nvidia website.
  5. Fill out the form with the appropriate data and click Search.
  6. Follow the directions to complete the installation.

Instead of doing this manually, you can fully erase any software or application from your PC using the best uninstaller programs.

The invalid push-lock flags BSOD error can occur for several reasons, including corrupted system files and outdated GPU drivers.

Try to resolve the problem by running the System File Checker and DISM tool. Additionally, reinstall the GPU driver to see if that fixes the problem.

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