The ntoskrnl.exe BSOD is a Windows kernel-related blue screen error caused by driver issues, corrupted system files, RAM problems, or hardware failures. This guide covers its causes and fixes on Windows 11/10, plus how to recover data via MiniTool Partition Wizard before reinstalling Windows.

The ntoskrnl.exe BSOD is a Windows kernel-related blue screen error often caused by driver problems, system file corruption, memory issues, or hardware failures.

This guide covers the main causes and solutions for Windows 11/10. If the error prevents Windows from starting, recover your important data before reinstalling the system.

BSOD image with the ntoskrnl.exe failed message.

Common Causes of ntoskrnl.exe BSOD

The ntoskrnl.exe BSOD is usually not caused by the ntoskrnl.exe file itself. Instead, it often indicates problems with drivers, memory, system files, storage devices, or hardware components.

The following table highlights the most common causes of ntoskrnl.exe BSOD and their corresponding solutions.

CauseHow It Triggers ntoskrnl.exe BSODRecommended FixDifficulty
Corrupted or Conflicting DriversOutdated or incompatible drivers can trigger kernel crashesUpdate, roll back, or reinstall driversEasy
Bad RAM or Memory SettingsFaulty RAM or unstable XMP/EXPO settings can cause memory errorsRun Memory Diagnostic, test RAMMedium
Damaged System FilesCorrupted Windows files can affect system stabilityRun SFC and DISM to repair system filesEasy
Faulty Storage Devices (SSD/HDD)Disk errors or failing drives can corrupt system dataCheck disk health and repair or replace the driveMedium
Hardware Overclocking or OverheatingUnstable overclocking or high temperatures can cause crashesReset BIOS settings and monitor temperaturesMedium
Power Supply (PSU) IssuesUnstable power delivery can lead to unexpected system failuresTest the PSU and replace it if neededHard

Now that you know the common causes of Windows ntoskrnl.exe BSOD, let’s go through the most effective fixes one by one.

Fix 1. Update Drivers

The ntoskrnl.exe failed issue may be caused by outdated GPU driver, chipset driver, network card driver, or other drivers. Updating these drivers can solve the issue.

If your PC can boot into Windows, I recommend you use the official brand assistant that comes with your computer (such as Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, MyASUS, etc.) to update all hardware drivers for the entire machine with one click.

Tips:
The official driver update software can also update the firmware (BIOS/UEFI).

However, if you can’t enter Windows, you can update device driver using Device Manager in Safe Mode. Here is the guide.

Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode.

  1. Power on and immediately shut down your computer 3 times. Then, the fourth time you power on the PC, you will enter WinRE.
  2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
  3. Click Restart and then press F5 to Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
select to enable safe mode with networking

Step 2: Update device driver.

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager to open it.
  2. Expand each category (especially the Display adapters), and then right-click each device and select Update driver.
  3. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Update outdated graphics card driver in Device Manager

Fix 2. Repair Windows System Files

To repair Windows system files, you can run DISM and SFC Scannow commands (in Windows or Safe Mode). Here are the steps.

  1. From Windows Search bar, open Command Prompt with the administrator privilege.
  2. Type “dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” and press Enter.
  3. Once the command operates successfully, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
run SFC command in Command Prompt

If you encounter issues when running the two commands, get solutions in this SFC Scannow usage guide.

Fix 3. Disable Overclocking

Improper overclocking can cause various problems. If your computer is overclocked, you can disable it to solve the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD. Follow the guide below.

  1. Power on the PC and then press the BIOS key (F2, Del, Esc, F10, or F12) immediately to enter firmware.
  2. In the firmware, look for an option named Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults, or Restore Defaults.
  3. Select the option and press Enter.
  4. Confirm the action when prompted to load factory defaults.
  5. Press F10 to save changes and exit.
The selected Load Setup Defaults option in the firmware.

Fix 4. Reinstall Windows

If none of the above methods resolves the ntoskrnl.exe error, reinstalling Windows may help eliminate software-related issues.

Before performing a clean installation, you can also try System Restore or Reset this PC, which may fix the problem while keeping your personal files.

If Windows cannot boot or a clean installation is required, recover your important data first to avoid permanent data loss. MiniTool Partition Wizard can help you recover files from an unbootable PC.

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Create MiniTool Partition Wizard bootable USB drive.

  1. Connect a USB drive to a working computer.
  2. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard on this PC.
  3. Launch this software click Bootable Media on the toolbar.
  4. Click WinPE-based media with MiniTool plug-in. 
  5. Select the USB Flash Drive as the destination.
  6. Click Yes to confirm the media creation operation.
  7. Once done, click Finish.

Step 2: Perform data recovery.

  1. Boot the BSOD PC from the MiniTool Partition Wizard bootable USB drive.
  2. Click Data Recovery from the top toolbar.
  3. Go to the Devices tab, choose the system disk, and click Scan.
  4. Wait for a few minutes and stop the scanning process.
  5. Under Path or Type, find the files that need to be recovered and tick them.
  6. Click Save and then choose a location except their original location for saving.
The MiniTool Partition Wizard interface of Data Recovery window, with the selected the Scan option.
How to Reinstall Windows 10/11 – A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Reinstall Windows 10/11 – A Step-by-Step Guide

This post illustrates how to reinstall Windows 11/10 via PC reset, a USB drive, and the Fix problems using Windows Update feature (only for Windows 11).

Read More

Fix 5. Check the RAM and Disk

If the Windows reinstallation also fails to solve the ntoskrnl.exe failed issue, you should consider RAM and disk hardware issues. You can use the following methods to check RAM and disk health.

Here is how to check RAM health.

  1. Open Windows Memory Diagnostic from Windows Search.
  2. Click Restart now and check for problems (recommended). 
  3. The computer will restart immediately and start the checking process.
  4. When it’s finished, open Event Viewer.
  5. Go to Windows Logs > System. 
  6. Find the latest MemoryDiagnostics-Results from the list to check if there is anything wrong with the RAM.
  7. If the Event ID is 1201 or 1101, the RAM is functioning correctly.
click Restart now and check for problems (recommended)

Here is how to check disk health.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

  1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard.
  2. Choose the system partition or disk.
  3. Select Surface Test from the left panel.
  4. On the pop-up window, click the Start now button.
  5. Once done, normal sectors will show in green while bad sectors are in red.
  6. If there are too many bad sectors, replace the hard drive.
The Surface Test interface with the Scan Now option.

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In Conclusion

After reading this post, you may already know what causes the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error and how to troubleshoot the error successfully with several easy methods. Also, this post introduces MiniTool Partition Wizard to help you recover your data to a safe location.

What’s more, if you encounter any issues or have any suggestions while using MiniTool Partition Wizard, you can contact us by sending an email to [email protected]. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD FAQ

1. How do I get rid of the blue screen error?
To resolve a blue screen of death (BSOD), restart your computer first. If the issue continues, disconnect external devices and reboot in Safe Mode with Networking to uninstall any problematic software or drivers.
If the problem persists, use Windows Startup Repair, run a System File Checker (SFC) scan, check for hardware issues with chkdsk, or consider System Restore or a PC reset as last resorts.
2. What does irql_not_less_or_equal mean?
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is a common blue screen stop code. It indicates that an attempt was made to access an invalid address while at a raised interrupt request level (IRQL).
3. How to repair corrupted exe files?
To repair an EXE file, determine if the issue is with the program or Windows.
For a specific program, use the Control Panel repair option or reinstall it.
For general EXE issues, run the System File Checker (SFC) tool with the command sfc /scannow in an administrator Command Prompt, or fix broken file associations in Windows Settings or the Registry Editor.
4. Why is my .exe file not opening?
The .exe file won't open issue is due to issues like malware, corrupted Windows system files, incorrect Windows Registry settings, or corrupted default app associations.
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About The Author

Cecilia
Cecilia

Position: Columnist

Cecilia has been an editor at MiniTool for two years. She primarily focuses on disk and partition-related content, with particular expertise in disk cloning, partition recovery, and PDF document conversion. She is dedicated to providing users with clear and accurate solutions to help them efficiently resolve common computer problems.

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