BSOD KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE: Causes and Complete Solutions

If your computer has displayed a blue screen with the message BSOD – KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILUREIt's normal to get quite a scare. That blue screen means that Windows has detected a serious error in the system kernel and, for safety reasons, has decided to shut it down completely to prevent further damage to data or the hardware itself.

Although it may seem like a disaster, this mistake can be corrected. diagnose and solve by following a series of ordered stepsThe problem is that there are many possible causes: from outdated or corrupted drivers, faulty Windows updates, malware, improperly configured overclocking, disk or RAM failures, to conflicts with third-party antivirus software or even anti-cheat tools in games. This guide will explain in detail what this error means, why it appears, and how to address it from every angle, leaving nothing important unresolved.

What is the BSOD KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE

When the dreaded blue screen of death appears or BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)Windows is indicating that a critical error has occurred from which it cannot safely recover. In the specific case of KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILUREThe system core (the kernel) has detected that something is violating its internal security checks: an incorrect memory access, a driver doing things it shouldn't, inconsistent data, or a component behaving unstably.

In modern versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11The blue screen message is quite a bit more more user-friendly and understandable than in the old Windowswhere only cryptic codes appeared. Now it says "your PC has encountered a problem and needs to restart" and suggests searching the internet for the error, for example: KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE o KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ERROREven so, what lies behind it is still a serious flaw that should not be ignored.

When this error occurs, the system freezes. A memory dump file (minidump) is created and the computer restarts. If all goes well, Windows boots up again; but sometimes the restart can get stuck in a loop, forcing you to force a shutdown and restart. Furthermore, anything that wasn't saved is lost, and in extreme cases, data or even the computer itself can be corrupted. Boot.

Most common causes of Kernel Security Check Failure

There is no single cause for this BSOD; it's actually a type of "umbrella" error that occurs when the kernel detects that something is violating its rules. Based on user experience, official Microsoft forums, and diagnostic tools, a number of recurring issues are identified. Common reasons that should be reviewed one by one:

• Outdated operating systemsGoing months without installing Windows patches can lead to incompatibilities, kernel security errors, and conflicts with recent drivers.
• Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible controllersThis is one of the main causes, especially after upgrading to Windows 10 or 11 from a previous version; an old driver becomes incompatible and causes the blue screen.
• Corrupted or inconsistent system filesPower outages, forced shutdowns, or post-infection cleanups can corrupt critical Windows files.
• Malware and other malicious softwareSome malicious code touches sensitive areas of the system, injects drivers, or manipulates the kernel, ultimately triggering the BSOD.
• Faulty or unstable hardwareThis error can be caused by: RAM that starts to fail, a hard drive with damaged sectors, a graphics card that gives errors, or a power supply that does not deliver stable voltages.
• Overclock or undervolt incorrectly adjustedIncreasing (or even excessively decreasing) CPU, GPU, or RAM voltages and frequencies can push the system to the limit of stability and cause kernel failures.
• Third-party antivirus and security suitesSome antivirus programs interfere at a low level with the system, attaching themselves to the kernel and drivers, which sometimes results in conflicts and blue screens.
• Anti-cheat tools and software that loads at startup: in gaming scenarios, Easy Anti-Cheat and similar systems, or driver and monitoring utilities, may conflict with Windows changes or other programs.

There are situations where the pattern is very clear. For example, after upgrading from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 or 11 Many users first encounter this BSOD because one of their drivers (chipset, older graphics cards, network cards, etc.) is no longer compatible. In other cases, the error starts appearing after installing a specific update, a new program, or changing hardware components.

Essential preliminary steps: backups, restore point, and safe mode

Before you start playing things like a madman, it's vital that you consider how you're going to protect your data and be able to go back If something goes wrong. This part is boring, but when things go wrong, it's what makes the difference between a scare and a serious disaster.

The best thing to do is to create a system restore point If you can still start Windows, even if it's somewhat unstable, from the Start menu, type "Create a restore point", select your system drive (usually C:), and click on CreateIf you need to undo changes in the future, you can use the option System Restore from that same window or from the advanced startup options.

In addition to the restoration point, it's a good idea to make a full backup of your important filesYou can use specialized backup software that creates a system image (Acronis, Uranium Backup, etc.) or, at the very least, save critical documents, photos, and projects to an external hard drive, NAS, or cloud storage. That way, if a hard drive starts to fail or you need to forma tearYou won't lose everything.

If the BSOD appears so early that it prevents you from starting the engine normally, you will have to resort to Safe ModeThis mode loads only essential drivers and services, leaving out many third-party drivers, antivirus software, and other software that could be causing the problem.

• You can enter by typing msconfig in the Run dialog box (Win + R), and on the Boot tab, check “Safe boot” (with or without network).
• Another option is to restart the PC while holding down the key Shift and, in the advanced startup options, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings and activate Safe Mode.
• On older equipment, the classic method may still work. F8 repeatedly at startup to display the advanced startup menu.

If when entering Safe Mode the error stops appearingThis is a key indication that the problem is most likely in a driver, add-on software, or third-party service, not in the basic hardware or the Windows kernel itself.

Use the Event Viewer and minidumps to guide you

A highly underrated tool for understanding what happened just before the blue screen is the Windows Event ViewerMany users don't even know it exists, but it records both harmless alerts and errors and critical events.

To open it, simply type “Event Viewer” in the Windows search bar (you will need administrator privileges) or go to Home > Administrative Tools > Event ViewerOnce inside, in the left panel, expand Windows Logs > SystemIn the central panel, you'll see a list of events. Filter by Errors y Critics Around the time of the BSOD, you can get clues: failing drivers, services crashing, disk problems, etc.

In addition, Windows generates minidump files every time a BSOD occurs. To interpret them in a user-friendly way, you can use utilities like BlueScreenView (from NirSoft). This tool shows the files involved in the crash: if you see files like in red ntoskrnl.exe (Windows kernel) along with dxgkrnl.sys or other drivers (for example, the GPU), it reinforces the idea that the fault may be in the memory or in the graphics drivers.

Check for Windows updates and overall stability

A system that hasn't been updated in a long time is a magnet for compatibility issues. One of the first things you should check is to go to Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update and click on Search for updatesIf there are any pending patches, install them and restart.

In many cases, a BSOD of this type appears because You recently installed a large update. (Or you've upgraded to a newer version of Windows 10/11) and an older driver has stopped working properly. Sometimes the opposite happens: you haven't updated in months, errors and security vulnerabilities accumulate, and the problem appears. Ideally, you shouldn't let too much time pass between updates, but you also shouldn't install drivers from just anywhere without careful consideration.

Another typical source of instability is the overclock tools and monitoring (MSI Afterburner, motherboard utilities, aggressive profiles in BIOSetc.). Pushing the CPU, GPU, or RAM beyond recommended values ​​can give you a few extra FPS, but if the system is pushed too far to its limits, it's very likely that drops will appear. Kernel Security Check Failure or similar errors. As a test, revert any overclocking or undervolting, disable extreme profiles, and return to the BIOS/UEFI factory settings.

While we're at it, it's worth doing a full malware scan Windows Defender or specialized tools like Malwarebytes. Microsoft's own antivirus has improved significantly: it integrates with the system, protects against ransomware, and is usually more than sufficient for most users. Even so, a second scan with a reputable anti-malware solution can uncover threats that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Check external devices and connected hardware

Another front that is often overlooked is the peripherals and external devicesA faulty keyboard, a mouse that shorts out, a defective USB drive, or a damaged USB port on the motherboard can cause errors that are difficult to trace, including Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

A simple way to rule this out is to disconnect all non-essential devicesPrinters, external hard drives, USB hubs, controllers, etc. Leave only the keyboard, mouse, and, if necessary, the network connection. See if the error persists. Then, connect the peripherals one by one to different USB ports until you identify which one triggers the problem.

If the equipment is assembled from parts and has been moved recently, it's also a good idea to check that The RAM modules, graphics card, and other components are securely installed.Sometimes a slight movement can cause a partial connection, leading to intermittent errors. If you decide to open your PC to reseat hardware, do so with the computer turned off and unplugged, and avoid blowing compressed air on fans while they are connected to prevent generating static electricity.

Software solutions: Repair Windows files and drivers

Once the preliminary work is done, it's time to get into the more technical part: Repair system files, check the disk, and put the drivers in order.This is the area where SFC, DISM, CHKDSK, the Device administrator and company become your best allies.

System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

If you suspect corrupted system files, the first thing to do is launch the System File Checker (sfc /scannow). Opens a window of Symbol of the system as administrator (search for “cmd”, right-click, “Run as administrator”) and type:

sfc /scannow repairs protected system files

This command scans protected Windows files and replace those that are damaged for correct versions. It may take a while; when finished, it will tell you if it found any errors and if it managed to fix them. On many computers, SFC usually detects some minor issues, but if it reports major errors, that's a clue to pay attention to.

Additionally, you can use DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool) to check and repair the Windows image with commands such as:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

The first tool analyzes the image for inconsistencies, and the second attempts to correct them, usually using Windows Update as the source. After running these tools, it's advisable to restart your computer and check if the BSOD persists.

Check the disk with CHKDSK and the graphical tools

Un discs bad sectors File system errors can cause anything from minor crashes to blue screens. To check it from the command line, open the console again as administrator and run:

chkdsk c: /f

Assuming C: is the drive where Windows is installed. The modifier /f Try to correct logical errors; you can also use /r to scan for physical bad sectors. If the drive is in use, the system will ask you to schedule the check for the next restart, which is perfectly normal.

If you prefer a graphical method, in File Explorer right-click on the system drive, and enter Properties > Tools and use the option of Error checkingWindows will scan and attempt to repair basic problems without you having to remember any parameters.

Reinstall and update problematic drivers

Drivers are key players in this BSOD. Many documented cases of Kernel Security Check Failure They are due to controllers of graphics, network, storage or chipset that are corrupt, outdated, or poorly installed, especially after major Windows updates.

From the Device administrator (search in the start menu), you can locate suspicious devices (with a warning icon) or simply force a clean reinstall of the most critical ones:

• In categories such as “Display Adapters”, “IDE/ATA/ATAPI Controllers”, “Network Adapters”, right-click on the device and select Uninstall device.
• Restart your computer so that Windows can detect the hardware again and install generic drivers or those it has cached.
• Then, use the option Update Driver to automatically search for new software, although it won't always find the latest version.

For the more sensitive controllers (motherboard chipset, graphics card, network and sound), it's best to go to the manufacturer's official website (AMD, NVIDIA, IntelASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc.) and download the latest version compatible with your system.

In the case of errors clearly linked to the GPU (for example, the BSOD appears when playing video or playing games, you see strange lines, and tools like BlueScreenView point to dxgkrnl.sys or NVIDIA/AMD drivers), a more aggressive cleaning of the graphics driver may be necessary. For this, it is very useful to DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller), a free tool that completely removes any remaining video drivers before reinstalling.

The typical process would be to start in Safe ModeRun DDU, select the device type (GPU), and click "Clean and restart." Upon restarting, install the latest stable driver from GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin, or the manufacturer's official website. The number of cases is surprising. Kernel Security Check Failures that are resolved only with this maneuver.

Diagnose RAM and other hardware components

If the blue screen persists after checking software and drivers, it's time to take a closer look at the hardware. Two very common culprits in this type of BSOD are the RAM and the hard drive itselfHowever, the power supply or even the motherboard cannot be ruled out either.

Check the RAM memory with the Diagnostic Tool

Windows includes by default the Memory Diagnostic ToolThis is sufficient to detect obvious errors. You can access it by typing "Windows Memory Diagnostic" in the Start menu or by running mdsched.exe from Win + R.

When you open it, you will have two options: Restart now and check for any problems or schedule the check for the next startup. In both cases, the computer will restart and perform a memory test that It may take a while depending on the amount of RAMWhen finished, the results will be displayed (or you can view them in the Event Viewer).

If you detect errors, you will almost certainly have to replace the suspected RAM module(s)If you can't find any faults but are still getting BSODs, and you want to be more thorough, there are more advanced external tools that run from a bootable USB (like MemTest86), capable of stressing the memory for hours to reveal intermittent problems.

Other hardware tests: disks, power supply and assembly

Besides CHKDSK, many manufacturers offer their own. proprietary diagnostics for SSD and HDDThese tests allow you to check the SMART status, reallocated sectors, temperatures, and other health indicators. If these tests reveal serious errors, it might be time to clone the disk to a new one before it fails completely.

Power supplies can also cause problems when they deliver out-of-range voltagesA power supply that's underpowered or outdated, with voltage spikes, can cause all sorts of random problems, including Kernel Security Check Failure. There are dedicated PSU testers, and it can also be partially monitored from the BIOS/UEFI, although often the only definitive solution is to temporarily replace it with a quality one.

In custom-built systems, if all else fails, one extreme but effective measure may be disassemble and reassemble the PCClean the connectors, reseat the RAM and GPU, check that no cables are making loose connections, and that the heatsinks are securely attached. Always be careful with static electricity and ensure the equipment is not plugged into a power source.

Programs, antivirus and system restore

An important part of the diagnosis involves reviewing What did you install or change right before the BSODs started?Often the problem lies in the last program you added, not in something "mysterious".

Uninstall recent software and free up system

From Start > Add or Remove Programs You can view the list of installed applications and sort them by date. This allows you to quickly locate what you added in the days leading up to the first Kernel Security Check Failure.

Uninstall suspicious programs (especially aggressive optimization tools, unreliable driver software, utilities that modify the system at a low level, third-party security packages, etc.) and Restart after each block of uninstalls to check if the problem disappears. Also take this opportunity to use the Disk Cleanup (clean system files, temporary files, update remnants) and leave the system a little "cleaner".

Third-party antivirus and kernel conflicts

Third-party antivirus and security suites are a classic source of conflictAlthough many work without problems, others become deeply attached to the kernel and drivers, and after a Windows update or an update of the antivirus itself, blue screens begin to appear.

To check if your antivirus is the culprit, you can temporarily disable it from its own interface or prevent it from loading at startup using the Task Manager (Home tab). In some cases, it's even advisable to uninstall it completely and let it Windows Defender will handle the protection while you are performing tests.

Don't forget that while third-party antivirus software is disabled, you should exercise extreme caution. downloads and dubious websites. Fortunately, Windows Defender activates automatically if it doesn't detect another active security solution, minimizing the time you're exposed.

Restore system to a previous point

If you know that a week or a month ago the device was working perfectly and you have the function activated System restoreYou can try a "time travel" to that previous state. This option is especially useful when you suspect a specific update, driver, or software, but you're not sure which one.

You can launch the tool from Windows itself (search for “System Restore”) or, if it doesn't start, from the Advanced boot options From the installation/recovery media. After opening the wizard, check the box to show more restore points, choose a date when you remember everything was working fine, and let Windows revert changes to drivers, settings, and the system (this does not affect your personal documents).

If the blue screens disappear after restoring the system, it confirms that Something installed or updated after that date was the causeIf it's not resolved, at least you'll know that the problem has deeper roots, possibly at the hardware level.

Last resort: reinstall or repair Windows

You've checked for updates, run SFC/DISM/CHKDSK, updated drivers, checked RAM and disk, uninstalled problematic programs, disabled third-party antivirus, and tried system restore, but you still get the BSOD Kernel Security Check Failure keeps appearingIt may be time to consider a reinstallation.

Before taking this step, make sure you have a full backup from your files and, if possible, a system image. From there, you have several options:

• make a repair installation or custom installation from the official Windows 10/11 source, trying to preserve files and some settings.
• Make a "Reset this PC" From Settings > System > Recovery, choose whether you want to keep or delete your files.
• Format the system partition and install Windows completely from scratch, then install drivers and programs one by one.

Reinstalling won't fix faulty RAM or an SSD with dead sectors, but it will allow you to almost completely rule them out. software problems, deep system corruption, or installations that have been dragging on for yearsIf the Kernel Security Check Failure reappears even on a freshly installed Windows system, suspicion definitely points to the hardware.

The error BSOD – KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE It may seem like a labyrinth at first because it mixes possible system, driver, and hardware failures, but if you follow a logical order—protect your data, boot into safe mode, check for updates, drivers, and malware, check the disk and memory, analyze events and minidumps, clean conflicting software, try system restore, and, as a last resort, reinstall Windows—it is perfectly manageable; with patience and a methodical approach, in most cases you can restore the stability of your computer and minimize the probability of this unfriendly blue screen appearing again.