Fix: ntoskrnl.exe BSoD errors [Complete Guide]
- The ntoskrnl.exe BSoD happens when a driver accesses the paged memory at DISPATCH_LEVEL.
- The easiest way to get rid of this error is by installing a third-party system restoration tool.
- Make sure your Operating System and hardware drivers are up to date.
- You should also troubleshoot your system with the SFC scan to quickly solve the issue.
Windows 10 is filled with Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) reports and now it’s time to provide a fix for the one caused by the ntoskrnl.exe program.
Apparently, this is an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL bug check problem which indicates that Microsoft Windows or a kernel-mode driver accessed paged memory at DISPATCH_LEVEL or above.
The explanation goes on like this:
This bug check is issued if paged memory (or invalid memory) is accessed when the IRQL is too high. The error that generates this bug check usually occurs after the installation of a faulty device driver, system service, or BIOS.
Why does ntoskrnl.exe BSOD appear on startup?
This is a system file, and if the file is damaged or it has crashed, you’ll encounter a BSOD error. Do keep in mind that Ntoskrnl.exe can also cause high CPU and disk usage so it might be a good idea to check your hardware as well.
It has been reported that this file can also lead to Driver power state failure, so we encourage you to check your drivers and update them to avoid this issue.
In some instances, this file can also cause Critical_process_died csrss.exe BSoD, but luckily there are multiple solutions that you can use to fix this problem.
How can I fix Windows 10 ntoskrnl.exe BSOD errors?
- Use a third-party BSoD fixer
- Update your computer
- Disable the overclocking settings
- Update your Realtek audio driver
- Turn off BlueStacks/ another Android emulator
- Clean your registry
- Check your disk for errors
- Fix bad memory issues
- Remove faulty sticks of RAM
1. Use a third-party BSoD fixer
Fix any BSoD errors automatically with the help of a nifty third-party program. The software will restore your damaged, corrupted or missing system files.
You won’t have to worry about fatal errors and crashes anymore. The process is, once again, automated. You only need to click a few times and the program will start scanning and repairing your computer.
Restoro is powered by an online database that features the latest functional system files for Windows 10 PCs, allowing you to easily replace any elements that can cause a BSoD error.
This software can also help you by creating a restore point before starting the repairs, enabling you to easily restore the previous version of your system if something goes wrong.
This is how you can fix registry errors using Restoro:
- Download and install Restoro.
- Launch the application.
- Wait for the software to identify stability issues and possible corrupted files.
- Press Start Repair.
- Restart your PC for all the changes to take effect.
As soon as the fixing process is completed, your PC should work without problems, and you will not have to worry about BSoD errors or slow response times ever again.
⇒ Get Restoro
Disclaimer: This program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.
2. Update your computer
- Press the Windows Key + S.
- Type Settings and press Enter.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Then go to Windows Update.
- Select Check for Updates.
- Install anything that pops up.
Note: If your Windows search box is missing, get it back in a couple of easy steps from this useful guide.
3. Disable the overclocking settings
If you installed overclocking software on your computer, this may explain why you’re getting the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD errors.
These game boosting tools put a strain on your hardware, forcing them to run beyond the recommended frequency.
As a result, this may cause various issues, including Blue Screen of Death crashes. The quickest solution to fix them is to disable the overclocking software.
If you are looking for some good overclocking software, know that we have a dedicated list of the best software.
4. Update your Realtek audio driver
So, in this situation, it was discovered that the Realtek HiDefinition Audio driver, labeled as Creative Audio Driver, was out of date.
If you have been experiencing a similar BSOD problem in Windows 10, you need to download the latest Realtek drivers. Save yourself some time and do it automatically with a third-party program.
Never think about updating your drivers again thanks to this awesome software. Just download it, click a few things, and the rest of the process is automated. Say goodbye to BSoD errors related to driver issues.
⇒ Get DriverFix
5. Turn off BlueStacks/ another Android emulator
- Open Notepad.
- Enter the following lines:
C:Program Files (x86)BlueStacksHD-Quit.exenet stop BstHdUpdaterSvcnet stop BstHdLogRotatorSvcnet stop BstHdAndroidSvc - Click on File and then on Save as.
- Set Save as type to All Files. Enter script.bat as the file name and click on Save.
- Locate the script.bat file and double click it to run it.
Note: Some Windows 10 users reported that the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD errors occur mainly when they enabled BlueStacks and other Android emulators.
So, if you installed emulators on your computer, disable or completely uninstall them.
6. Clean your registry
- Go to Start, then type CMD.
- Open Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type in the following command:
sfc/scannow
- Wait for the scanning process to complete.
- Then, restart your computer.
- All corrupted files will be replaced on reboot.
You can also use Microsoft’s System File Checker to check for system file corruption. The utility verifies the integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems when possible.
Note: Corrupted or missing registry keys may also cause BSOD errors. Don’t forget to first backup your registry in case anything goes wrong.
The simplest way to repair your registry is to use a dedicated tool for Windows.
7. Check your disk for errors
- Star Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk C: /f
- Replace the C with the letter of your HDD.
- To command detects and repairs logical issues.
- To repair physical issues, type the following command:
chkdsk D: /r
- Let CMD run its course.
On Windows 10, you can run a disk check using Command Prompt. As a quick reminder, if you do not use the /f parameter, chkdsk displays a message that the file needs to be fixed, but it does not fix any errors.
On other Windows versions, go to hard drives and right-click the drive that you want to check.
- Select Properties, then Tool.
- Under the Error checking section, click Check.
8. Fix bad memory issues
- Go to Start and type Memory.
- Double-click on Windows Memory Diagnostic.
- Select the first option to restart your computer and check memory.
Note: Another common cause of ntoskrnl.exe BSOD errors is related to bad memory. Use Windows 10‘s built-in memory diagnostic tool to identify potential memory issues affecting your system.
9. Remove faulty sticks of RAM
Some Windows 10 users reported that the system_thread_exception_not_handled ntoskrnl.exe errors that they encountered were caused by a faulty stick of RAM.
So, if you recently changed the RAM configuration of your computer, check your RAM sticks to make sure that they’re properly inserted and are working as they should be.
We hope the solutions listed in this article helped you fix Windows 10 BSOD errors caused by ntoskrnl.exe. If you come across other solutions to fix this issue, let us know in the comments below.
Also, leave there any other suggestions or questions you may have and we’ll be sure to check them out.
