The “System thread exception not handled” is a blue screen error that can be caused by incompatible or outdated drivers, corrupted system files, or hardware issues. This tutorial details methods to eliminate the error from your Windows system.
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1. Boot Windows in Safe Mode
Safe mode is a diagnostic mode that loads only essential drivers and system files, avoiding unnecessary third-party drivers and startup programs. This can help isolate and identify whether a faulty driver and software is the cause of the BSOD.
While in Safe Mode, you can still access critical system tools, like Device Manager and Event Viewer. These tools can be used to check for hardware issues, driver problems and view error logs that may provide more information about the BSOD. Depending on whether you can boot your PC into the sign-in screen, there are various options for accessing Safe Mode on your PC.
2. Identify Faulty Drivers
To fix the “System thread exception not handled” error, you must first attempt to identify the faulty drivers (if any).
Open the Run box by pressing Win + R. Type eventvwr in the box, and hit Enter. Navigate to Windows Logs -> System, search for the system_thread_exception_not_handled log, then click on it. You may get additional information, such as the name of the driver causing the error. For instance: “nvlddmkm.sys,” which is a graphics card driver.
Knowing the name of the faulty driver, see if it can be updated. If not, roll back the driver to the previous version to undo a corrupted update.
Tip: getting an “Unable to rename a folder” error in Windows? Learn how to bypass it.
3. Rename the Corrupt File
If a corrupted file (driver) is causing the blue screen error, renaming it may be all it takes to solve the issue. Windows will create a new copy of the file and replace the corrupted version with a functional one.
Press Win + E to open File Explorer, and paste the following path in the address bar: C:\Windows\System32\drivers. Alternatively, manually navigate to the location. Right-click the faulty driver, and select the rename icon from the context menu.
Press F2 and replace the .SYS extension with .OLD, then press Enter.
You’ll need to provide administration details to proceed. Select Continue and input your admin password if prompted, then restart your device.
If you’re unable to rename the driver file because you are using a local account on your device, enable a super-administrator account in Windows, then follow the steps mentioned above.
4. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
The Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool tests your computer’s memory for glitches, and checks that everything works properly. By running this tool, you can identify memory-related issues that may have triggered the “System thread exception not handled” error on your PC. Then, take the necessary steps to troubleshoot and fix the problems.
Press Win + R to open the Run box, type mdsched.exe , and hit Enter to launch the diagnostic tool. Select Restart now and check for problems (recommended) in the pop-up window.
Wait until the tool finishes scanning your computer’s memory, then restart your PC.
By default, the tool runs in Standard mode and should fix the blue screen error in most cases. If you want to run an advanced test to inspect your computer’s memory, press the F1 button as soon as your PC turns on. Then, select one of the options: Basic, Standard, or Extended. Read more about each mode in our post that shows how to use the Windows Diagnostic Tool to its full potential.
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5. Perform SFC and DISM scans
If you’re still facing the error, running an SFC scan followed by a DISM scan may help. SFC (System File Checker) analyzes and replaces corrupt system files, while DISM (Deployment Image Service and Management) is an advanced tool that can detect and fix corrupted files in the component store of the Windows system image.
6. Perform a System Restore
System Restore is a tool that lets you revert your system to a previous, stable state. It can undo system changes, such as software installations, updates, and driver installations that may be causing issues.
In this case, System Restore should return your system to a functional state before the error. However, to use this tool now, you will need to have previously created a restore point.
Tip: if the process has failed, learn how to troubleshoot System Restore on Windows.
7. Update Windows BIOS
If nothing has worked so far, try updating the BIOS on your device. It is a reliable way to ensure that your hardware communicates effectively with the operating system. Updating Windows BIOS not only helps prevent the “System thread exception not handled” error, but also streamlines overall system functioning.
8. Reinstall Windows
More often than not, solutions like rolling back to a previous restore point or updating BIOS should resolve the blue screen error. But if the “System thread exception not handled” error keeps popping up, resetting or reinstalling Windows may be the next step that you need to take. You can do so without losing your files.
FYI: if you would prefer automatic driver updates to be off, learn how to disable them.
Say Goodbye to Blue Screen Errors
BSOD errors are relatively common in Windows, particularly in older versions like Windows 7 or 8. However, with each new Windows release, Microsoft has made significant efforts to improve system stability and reduce the frequency of BSOD. Despite that, errors like “Video scheduler internal” or “Machine check exception” can still pop up. Read these detailed guides to learn what to do to eliminate each issue.
Image credit: Flickr. All screenshots by Khizer Kaleem.
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