Ndis.sys BSoD: How to Fix It in Windows 11 & 10
Corrupted or missing system files could be the reason
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Key notes
- The Ndis.sys BSoD error could have appeared due to corrupt network drivers or malware infection.
- NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) is the system driver for the Network Interface Controllers.
- Running the Network troubleshooter and reinstalling the driver will fix this problem right away.
If you have encountered a blue screen of death with stop code ndis.sys, then this guide can help! We will cover all the troubleshooting methods to fix this annoying BSoD error right after explaining what ndis.sys is and discussing the causes of this error.
What is ndis.sys?
NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) is a legit system driver for Network Interface Controllers. It handles communication and connections between all connected devices and components over the computer’s network.
The ndis.sys file is an essential system file developed by Microsoft. It is related to NDIS and serves as a collection of system driver configurations that Windows uses to establish communication with hardware and connected devices. The file is usually found in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder.
What causes the ndis.sys BSoD error on Windows 11 & 10?
There could be various reasons for this blue screen of death error; some of the common ones are mentioned here:
- Corrupted device drivers – If your network drivers are corrupted or damaged, it might lead to this BSoD error. You must update, reinstall, or roll back the driver to fix the issue.
- Malware infection – A virus on a computer can destroy essential system files, which might cause all sorts of trouble, including this one. To fix it, run a malware scan.
- Corrupted system files – If the system files are corrupt, it could cause issues while performing normal functions on the computer, including this error. To fix it, you need to repair system files.
- Hard disk issues – If any hardware is not seated correctly on the motherboard or is damaged, you might face this error. Check if the components are all perfectly placed.
Now that we know why this happens, let’s go to the actual solutions to fix the BSoD error on Windows 11 and 10.
What can I do to fix the ndis.sys BSoD error on Windows 11?
Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:
- Check for Windows updates.
- Check if your BIOS and firmware are up to date.
- Disable antivirus temporarily.
If these quick fixes didn’t work for you, let’s move to the solutions below.
1. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool
- Press the Windows key, type windows memory diagnostic, and click Open.
- On the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool window, click Restart now and check for problems (recommended).
- The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool scans your memory for any issues. Your computer will restart, and the tool will verify and test the RAM.
Once done, your PC will restart again. You can see the results in the Windows Memory Diagnostic notification. If it detects that one of your memory modules is malfunctioning, perform the test again. See if the memory module is connected correctly. If so, you will probably need to replace it.
2. Scan your computer for malware and viruses
- Press the Windows key, type windows security, and click Open.
- Go to Virus & threat protection and click Scan options.
- Now select Full scan and click Scan now.
- The tool will scan your computer for infection. Once the scan is complete, it will show you the malicious files. Delete them when prompted to fix the issue.
Microsoft Defender is the built-in antivirus in Windows 10 and 11 but is not infallible. If you have the option, scan your PC with a third-party antivirus as well.
3. Run Disk Cleanup
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type cleanmgr and click OK to open Disk Cleanup.
- On the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection window, select C drive and click OK.
- Now click Clean up system files.
- Again on the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection window, choose C drive and click OK.
- Under the Files to delete section, select all the entries and click OK.
- Next, click Delete Files.
4. Troubleshoot the network drivers
4.1 Roll back a driver
- Press the Windows + R to open the Run command box.
- Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
- Go to Network adapters and expand it.
- Right-click the driver listed and select Properties from the context menu.
- Go to the Driver tab on the Properties window and click Roll Back Driver.
- Select the reason for rolling back on the next window and click Yes.
The network drive will be rolled back to the previous version. If the Roll Back Driver option is grayed out, that means you don’t have an older driver to revert to, and you should go to the next solution below.
4.2 Reinstall the network driver
- Open Device Manager with the steps mentioned above.
- Go to Network adapters and expand it.
- Right-click the driver listed and select Uninstall driver from the context menu.
- Click Action and select Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver.
5. Perform a clean boot
- Press Windows + R to open the Run console.
- Type msconfig and click OK to open the System Configuration window.
- Go to the Services tab, place a checkmark next to Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
- Switch to the Startup tab, and click Open Task Manager.
- Right-click all the Enabled items one by one and select Disable. Close Task Manager.
- Next, on the System Configuration window, click Apply and OK.
- Click Restart.
Now your computer will restart with minimal drivers and startup programs. If the issue doesn’t appear, the background or third-party app is causing it. Please remove it.
6. Perform SFC and DISM scans
- Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.
- Type the following command to repair system files and hit Enter:
sfc/scannow
- Copy and paste the following command to repair the Windows OS image and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Restart your computer to let the changes take effect.
In addition to the steps, you can also choose an automatic tool capable of detecting damaged files, Windows errors, and BSoD errors in a short time. With such tools, you can launch the software to start the complete scan, find out system issues, and repair them with a single click.
7. Check your disk for errors
- Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.
- Type the following command to check your hard disk for bad sectors and try to repair them to make them readable within the file system and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
- Restart your computer.
8. Perform System Restore
- Press Windows + R to open the Run console.
- Type rstrui and click OK to open System Restore wizard.
- Select Choose a different restore point in the System Restore window and click Next.
- Select the restore point and click Next.
- Click Finish to initiate the restoring process.
If the procedure is not successful, you can read our guide on what to do if System Restore is not working on Windows 11.
What can I do to fix the ndis.sys BSoD error on Windows 10?
To fix this blue screen of death error on Windows 10, you can follow the methods mentioned above for Windows 11.
If these methods don’t work for you, you can reset your PC using this guide to resolve this problem on your Windows computer.
So, these are methods that you can use to fix the ndis.sys BSoD error on Windows 10 & 11. If nothing has worked for you, you need to perform a clean installation of Windows.
We also recommend reading our article on how to fix the NDIS_INTERNAL_ERROR because the problem is similar. For any other questions about this BSoD error, please let us know in the comments section below.
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