Is Kernel Security Check Failure a virus?

Kernel Security Check Failure is not a virus in itself, it is an error message that Windows 10 displays on the screen when certain data files are corrupted. The root cause of data corruption may indeed be malware and virus infections, incompatible settings, memory issues, incorrect Registry changes and more.

Can Blue Screen of Death be caused by overheating?

If you computer overheats, the chances of getting the infamous BSOD error increase exponentially. When your CPU overheats, the work load is suddenly interrupted and this leads to system crashes with BSOD errors.

Can Blue Screen of Death fix itself?

Your computer cannot fix itself after a BSOD error. You need to restart your device in order to fix Blue Screen of Death crashes. As a matter of fact, most BSOD error messages will ask you to restart your computer so as to fix the error or launch any troubleshooting actions.

Can dust cause Blue Screen of Death?

Dust specks might trigger BSOD errors, especially if those dust particles interrupt the connection between various system components. For safety reasons, we recommend having a specialist clean the dust from your computer so as to avoid repositioning the RAM slots by mistake.

Does Blue Screen of Death mean I need a new computer?

If your computer often crashes with a BSOD error code, this doesn't mean you need to buy a new device. This simply indicates there is something wrong with your system files or hardware configuration but you can fix these problems by refreshing your Registry, scanning your computer for malware and virus infections and making sure there are no hardware compatibility issues or faulty hardware components.

How we fixed Kernel Security Check Failure error for good

by Ivan Jenic

Author

December 11, 2019

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Affiliate Disclosure

The meaning of the Kernel Security Check Failure in that one or several files failed a compatibility or integrity check and you have to update or replace it. The most common reason for this are the outdated drivers when you upgraded Windows to a new version.
System File Checker is a utility in Microsoft Windows that allows users to scan for and restore corruptions in Windows system files. Read everything about it in our complete guide.
We wrote extensively about Windows 10 errors. If you experience any other issue please refer to our hub.

fix Kernel Security Check Failure errors

10 Quick Solutions to Fix Kernel Security Check Failure

Enable legacy advanced boot menu
Use System File Checker and Memory Diagnostic
Check the memory slot
Check your hard drive
Update your PC
Scan your PC
Check your disk for errors
Kernel Security Check Failure after overclock
Run System Restore
Run Safe Mode

If you are reading this article, it means that you have gotten the Kernel Security Check Failure Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error.

Many other users who upgraded their operating system toWindows 10 have experienced this issue.

Fortunately for you, by reading the lines below you will get a clue as to why you have this issue and what you need to do to fix this Windows Kernel BSOD onWindows 10.

The Kernel Security Check Failure PC error can occur for various reasons like memory issues, virus infections, and more.

However, the most common reason is that the drivers you were using for the previous Windows version are not compatible with the new Windows version.

As a result, the OS gives you the Kernel Security Check Failure error message followed by the 0x000000139 error code.

In this article, we’ll explain why this issue occurs and how you can fix it.

There are two possibilities to this issue, either you can get into your Windows 10 PC and from time to time you get the “Kernel Security Check failure” Blue Screen of Death, or you simply cannot log in to your operating system and your device gives you this error message every time you power it up.

If you cannot log in at all into Windows 10 then follow the steps below:

We’ve written extensively about Kernel security issues before. Bookmark these guides in case you need them later.

Steps to fix Kernel Security Check errors

1. Enable legacy advanced boot menu

Restart your computer and insert a Windows 10 bootable media into the optical media drive. For more information on how to create a Windows 10 bootable media, check out this article.
On the displayed Windows Setup box, click Next
On the next page, click on Repair your computer
On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot
Click on Advanced options
Now select Command Prompt
On the newly opened Command Prompt window, type C: and hit Enter.
On C: prompt, type the following command and press Enter to enable legacy advanced boot menu:
- BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY
Once the command executes successfully, type EXIT to close the Command Prompt window.
Go back to the ‘Choose an option’ screen, click Continue and start your computer normally.

If this didn’t help, use the solution below.

2. Use System File Checker and Memory Diagnostic

If your Windows 10 fails to start correctly, go to Settings , select Advanced Startup to open the ‘See advanced repair options’ menu
In the new window, left click or tap on Troubleshoot
Go to Advanced Options and click or tap on Startup Settings.
Left-click the Restart button located on the lower right side of the screen.
Your operating system should boot with the minimum system requirements.
When your PC has booted, move the mouse over to the upper right side of the window.
Left-click the Search feature located on the menu.
In the search box, type cmd.
Launch Command Prompt as an Administrator.
Type the following command: sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
Wait until the scanning process completes. Type Exit to close the Command Prompt window and hit Enter.
Move the mouse cursor again over to the upper right side of the screen.
Go to the Search feature.
In the search box, type memory, and select Windows Memory Diagnostic
Run as administrator and select Restart now and check for problems
After reboot, the OS will automatically check your RAM and display the possible reasons as to why you get the Blue Screen of Death error.
Reboot your PC normally.
Check to see if the Kernel Security Check Failure BSOD error persists.

Learn everything about System File Checker and your nightmare with Windows errors will end!

3. Check the memory slot

Don’t forget to check the memory slot to make sure it’s properly placed into the socket and functioning correctly.

It is always a safe bet to try and replace the memory slot or change the slot in which it is plugged into the motherboard. Reboot your PC to see if the issue persists.

4. Check your hard drive

Make sure that your hard drive functions correctly. More specifically, make sure that it is plugged in correctly into your device. If you have a spare hard drive, try changing it to see if it starts correctly.

Now, if your operating system starts and only gives you this Windows Kernel error occasionally, continue with the following steps below.

5. Update your PC

Make sure that you’re running the latest Windows OS updates on your machine. As a quick reminder, Microsoft constantly rolls out Windows updates to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues.

To access the Windows Update section, you can simply type “update” in the search box. This method works on all Windows versions. Then go to Windows Update, check for updates and install the available updates.

Editor’s Note: This article continues on the next page. If you’re interested in learning more about BSOD errors, check out our wide collection of guides.

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