Did you face the Kernel Security Check Error? Well, of course, if you are reading this article! And now you want to know the ways to fix it, right?
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Isn’t it wonderful that we are able to find the fix to each and every technical error that we face? Similar to our other blogs, today we are going to discuss this infamous and terrifying error- the Kernel Security Check failure or the so-called Blue Screen of Death (BSoD).
The screen usually says: “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We are just collecting some error info, and then you can restart. (0% complete).” And surprisingly, this process never completes and stays at 0% no matter how long you wait.
So, what exactly is it? Why does this error occur?
And how to fix it? We will answer all your questions just in time. So, keep reading and do not miss any part!
What is Kernel Security Check Failure?
Kernel Security Check Error is a type of blue screen error stop code that can have various meanings and indications which all depend upon the various causes behind it.
Usually, it indicates that there is a corrupted file or virus in your hard drive or your drivers are outdated or corrupted themselves.
What causes Kernel Security Check Failure?
Other Blue Screen of Death errors are quite hard to investigate but this Kernel Security Check Failure clearly indicates the following two things: outdated or corrupt system file or a hardware issue. However, there are other causes too:
- Security programs
- Corrupted Window system files
- Virus
- Memory problem
The hardware problem is created if you have just updated from an older version of Windows to the latest one.
Also See: How to fix Service System Exception
How to fix Kernel Security Check Failure?
The most difficult part related to this failure is that in all likelihood, you will not know the reason behind this error caused particularly in your computer. But luckily, there are various troubleshooting fixes that will remove this error.
And below we mention some of these easy fixes that will help you fix Kernel Security Check Failure on your own:
Reboot the computer in Safe mode and create bootable drive
Step 1: Turn on your computer with the power button on your keyboard and before it completely turns on or loads, turn it off. Perform this action three times.
Step 2: Now your computer will start to fix the Kernel Security Check Failure and display on the screen- “Preparing Automatic Repair” with a loading sign. And if this goes well, you simply need not go further because your Blue Screen of Death will now be removed.
Step 3: But if the computer is unable to do so, then a new blue screen saying, “Your PC did not start correctly”, will be displayed.
You will get two options: either to restart or go to the Advanced Options. And you must go for the second option (Advanced options).
Step 4: In Advanced options, select Startup settings. Now from the options select Enable Safe Mode and click on Restart.
Note: in order to get out of Safe mode and run your computer on Normal mode, just restart your computer.
Now you must create a USB recovery drive to successfully reboot it in Safe mode. And to do so, follow the given steps:
Step 1: simply skip to step number 3 below if you have any other computer to create USB recovery drive otherwise press Windows+ R on your computer and type “msconfig” on the dialogue box that opens up, without the quotations.
Step 2: Now the System Configuration window will open up. Select the Boot tab and then, check the boxes against Safe Boot and Network both.
Click Apply and then, click on OK. And in the new Window that will appear, select Restart rather than Exit without Restart.
Remember: You will have to undo these changes if you want to restart the computer.
Step 3: in case after step 2 you still receive the blue screen, then you should boot the USB on any other computer. This “other computer” must have the same version of Windows, and language that your previous computer had.
Search for system information on Start menu and see the version of your Windows and learn whether it is 32 bit or 64 bit. And to learn the language, type Region and Language on the Start menu.
Step 4: Go to Microsoft website on your browser and click on Download Tool now and then select Run. Make sure that you are logged in as an admin to run this tool.
Step 5: In the Setup Window that opens, read and accept the Applicable notices and license terms.
Step 6: Now plug a clean 16 GB drive and choose “Create installation media for another PC” and select Next.
Step 7: Now select language, architecture, and edition of your previous computer i.e., the information that you learned in step number 3.
Step 8: Now choose USB flash drive as the media option and click Next. Afterward, select the fresh removable USB drive that you had attached to this computer earlier.
Step 9: Windows 10 will start uploading and it will let you know once the USB is ready. Click finish and now backup all your files.
So, connect another USB > go to the Control Panel by searching it in start menu > select Category view > under System and Security, select Backup and Restore Windows.
In the new Window opened, select Create a system image from the left side panel. Now choose On a Hard Disk to store the backup. Choose the desired USB drive, click Next and then select Start backup.
Now follow the given fixes.
Enable Legacy Advanced Boot menu
- Restart your computer and insert a bootable media created in the previous method.
- In the Windows Setup box displayed, click Next. Then, in the next screen select Repair your computer and go to Troubleshoot.
- Now click on the Advanced option and then, select Command Prompt.
- In the newly opened window, type C: and hit enter. Now type- BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY. Once this is executed completely, type Exit and close the Window.
- Go back to the Choose an Option screen, click Continue and restart your PC.
After normally restarting your computer, if the Kernel Security Check Failure still appears, then follow other fixes.
Update and fix the drivers
As learned earlier, this Kernel Security Check Failure usually appears when your drivers are corrupted or missing. Updating or replacing them will probably eradicate this error completely.
Uninstall recent programs
After you have entered the Safe mode, you must try to uninstall any recent program or software installed in your computer. It is said that recent changes in your computer may cause incompatibility issues thus, causing Kernel Security Check Failure.
Go to Control Panel, select Uninstall programs under Programs. Click the program you recently installed from the list, then click Uninstall/change.
Once you are done uninstalling all the recently installed programs, restart your computer to see if the error still persists.
Stop Overlocking
Remove any Overlocking software that you have installed especially if you have not made nay cooling modifications. Overlocking can be an issue behind this error because there are relatively less processors that can handle overlocking.
Simply uninstall the program and factory reset the settings or modifications in BIOS, if you had made any.
Update your Windows
People sometimes do not give much attention or just skip the latest Windows updates that become available. And this causes such errors.
However, it is also possible that you installed some faulty Windows update that caused this problem and a more recent update might help to fix it.
Follow the same procedure that you would in Normal mode: go to Settings > select Update and Security > click on Check for updates > let the recent Window updates be installed.
Restart your computer and see if this helped.
Uninstall or update any third- party Antivirus
You should be easily able to locate the Update tab in your respective third-party Antivirus software. Install the updates, restart your computer and then scan it for any virus.
Remove the virus, if found any. Now restart the computer again and see if the Kernel Security Check Failure is removed or not.
And if not then you must attempt to uninstall this Antivirus program similar to the way we uninstall any other program.
Use the File Explorer to check the disk
Go to File Explorer, click on This PC, right click the C: Drive and click on Properties. Now select the Tools tab and under the Error Checking section, click on Check. You will be given an option to fix any error found after the process is complete.
Fix these errors and see if the Blue Screen of Death is removed or not.
Run a System Scan for Corrupt Files
Corrupt files cause the Kernel Security Check Failure and you can use Windows in-built system scanner to find and repair them.
Press Windows+ X keys together > select Windows PowerShell (Admin) > in the Window opened, type “sfc/scannow” > press Enter. After the scan is complete, type “Repair-WindowsImage -RestoreHealth”. Now press Enter and let the scan finish.
Once done, close the Window and restart the computer.
Factory Reset your computer
Before doing this, make sure you have backed up all your files on a drive.
Go to settings > Update and Security> click Recovery from the left side > under Reset this PC, click on Get Started > choose whether you want to keep files or remove everything.
Your computer will then be reset to factory standards and probably also get rid of the Kernel Security Check Failure blue screen.
Reinstall Windows from the USB Drive
If the error or blue screen still persists after all these measures, then at last you can try to reinstall the Windows version on your computer.
With the bootable USB drive created earlier in Fix 1, open the settings of your computer. Go to Update and Security and then choose Recovery from the left panel.
Then, select Restart Now under Advanced Startup. The “Choose an Option” Window will appear where you must click on Use a Device and then chose your device.
Next, follow all the prompts appearing on your screen. You can skip the product key part and remember to select that version (Home or Pro) of Windows which you originally had on the computer.
Accept all the Terms and Conditions and when asked about the type of installation you want, simply select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).”
And when asked about where to install the Windows, make sure only one option is available to choose from. Otherwise, you must delete the drive partitions that still exist.
After the installation is finished, your computer might restart a couple of times, which is very normal. The process may take some time but the issue will be resolved.
Also See: Windows Installation Encountered an unexpected error
Final Words:
The blue screen of death might scare but you must know that there are various solutions to fix it. If the reason behind the Kernel Security Check Failure on your computer is minor, the problem will be resolved instantly in a few steps.
However, if the reason or cause is major, the process might take some time. But you must remember to have a little patience.
Try to follow all the fixes when your computer is in Safe mode and do not forget to restart it after following the entire method.
We tried to include almost every possible solution to this error. But if the desired results are not seen, then you must consider talking to an expert.
And if any part of this article helped you in any sort, then do let us know in the comment section below. Also mention the fix that resolved this error of yours or if you know of any other better method.
