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How to Fix Kernel Security Check Failure – Stop Code

kernel security check failure
Written by Kelly Houstan

BSOD error messages are irritating and damaging to your computer. That stops you from conducting your typical PC activities. But you can still fix them without having to factory reset Windows. Just read this article to know all about How to Fix Kernel Security Check Failure – Stop Code. Let’s start!

What is the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE?

KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE is basically a Blue Screen of Death error message that halts all the activities on your computer and avoids it from running properly.

It mostly happens because a file compatibility verification failed. That means that the file should be repaired, updated, or replaced as well.

But, there could be various other causes why you guys receive the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE stop code. For example outdated drivers, malware infection, memory issues, faulty security software, corrupt system files, or hard disk errors as well.

Stop Code Fix for KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE

Because it’s actually a BSOD stop code, repairing KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE on Windows 10 and older Windows versions relies on if it was triggered via software or hardware issues. Software problems are easier to resolve actually. When it comes to troubleshooting hardware errors, although, you guys have to get your hands dirty.

Before you attempt to make significant modifications to your computer and operating system. You guys should create a system restore point. It permits you in order to revert Windows to a stable state, if important. Moreover, if your system enters a reboot loop because of the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE issue. Then you should boot Windows in safe mode.

Make sure your drivers are new and compatible

If your computer’s drivers aren’t working properly, then it could be why your screen becomes blue and shows stop code KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE actually. Otherwise, you guys might have missing drivers. That you can easily fix as well.

Here’s how you can reinstall drivers:

  • Right-tap on the Start button on Windows 10 and choose Device Manager
  • Now choose and right-click a device, then tap on Uninstall device
  • Then proceed with the device removal and restart your computer. The driver will be reinstalled automatically as well
  • Do this for all of your devices

Here’s how you can update drivers:

  • Head to Device Manager, right-click a device and choose Update driver
  • Tap on Search automatically for updated driver software as well
  • If you get The best drivers for your device are already installed message, then tap on Search for updated drivers on Windows Update

Unfortunately, Windows mostly fails to find newer updates online, even when looking into Windows Update.

In order to solve this problem, you can manually identify your driver version and also find a newer one on the manufacturer’s website, then download and install it. You can also use a tool such as DriverVerifier to detect your current drivers. It’s a time-consuming process, but, especially if you need to update more than one driver. Rather, we suggest opting for driver updaters. These software applications are capable of updating multiple drivers at the same time actually.

Unplug all external hardware devices

If any of your peripheral devices are faulty or not compatible along with your operating system and computer. Then it could cause many issues such as the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE error. For instance, it’s a good idea to compare your hardware along with the official Windows 10 specs to make sure that everything’s correct.

Or, there might be a problem along with your USB ports, not the gear itself. In order to test this theory, simply connect your USB-enabled devices to different ports. However, if that doesn’t solve the problem, then unplug everything actually. Confirm that you’re not receiving the BSOD message anymore and then start replugging your gear one piece at a time to identify the guilty party.

Get the newest Windows updates

Make sure to download and install the latest Windows updates on your PC. This way, you can take benefit of the newest features, improvements, and security patches as well.

  • First, just open the Start menu, type Check for updates, and press Enter
  • Now, wait until Windows looks for updates. If there’s anything pending, then tap on the Download
  • Restart the computer when the updates are installed. You might have to do this various times

Turn off your overclocking tools

Many gamers resort to overclocking utilities in order to get more power from their computer. In order to improve the system requirements for their favorite games actually.

With an overclocking tool means modifying your RAM, CPU, and GPU settings. Regrettably, this could also lead to BSOD error messages such as KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE. To fix this, you guys have to deactivate your overclocking software and reset your clock settings to default as well.

Run a malware scan

If your computer was infected along with dangerous malware agents. Then they could have hijacked your operating system and disabled your current processes as well. As a result, you guys might experience system stability problems and BSOD errors such as KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE.

Just fire up your antimalware application and run a scan in order to get rid of any infected files on your PC. If you don’t really have a third-party tool installed, then you can also use Windows Defender:

  • Tap on the Win key, and then type Windows Security, and open this app
  • Choose Virus & threat protection
  • Tap on Scan options

kernel security check failure

  • Then choose Quick scan and click Scan now
  • Once the scan is over, you can then run a new one via the Windows Defender Offline scan option

Check your computer for errors

Hard disk and operating system errors are another reason that why you could be seeing the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE stop code on your screen as well. To verify and fix them, you just need the command-line environment:

Start with CHKDSK (Check Disk):
  • You have to make sure to quit all applications
  • Press Win key + R, type cmd, then tap on Ctrl + Shift + Enter in order to open Command Prompt with elevation right
  • If you guys have Windows installed on the C: partition, then just type chkdsk c: /f. Otherwise, replace c: along with the correct drive letter
  • Type y and press Enter when the tool asks in order to schedule the scan at the next Windows boot
  • Now restart your computer and wait until CHKDSK finishes its job

If your hard disk has errors, then you can trust the Check Disk utility to solve them. But, if the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE error persists, then proceed to the next solution.

Continue with SFC (System File Checker):
  • First, run CMD with admin rights
  • Type sfc /scannow and tap on Enter. When the scan is complete, SFC will then try to fix any corrupt system files it finds
  • Now reboot your PC

System File Checker is great for fixing corrupt files that actually belong to Windows and that may trigger Blue Screen of Death errors. However, if it doesn’t work either, then it’s time to bring out the big guns.

Finish along with DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management):
  • First, open Command Prompt as admin
  • Then type DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and press Enter
  • If there are any reported issues, then just write DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth to fix them
  • Reboot your PC, relaunch CMD as admin, and write sfc /scannow and press Enter

dism

  • Now restart your computer again

Deployment Image Servicing and Management checks for corrupt system files in the component store of the Windows image as well. If the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE stop code on Windows 10 is caused via an event happening there, then DISM should take care of it as well.

Check and Fix Hard Drive Errors

The KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE stop code might be caused via a damaged or corrupted hard disk. You can also use Windows built-in CHKDSK utility or a third-party hard drive repair tool in order to repair hard drive errors. Here I will show you the both.

Fix Hard Drive Errors with CHDSK Utility

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt in Windows 10.

  • Input cmd in the Windows 10 Cortana search box.
  • Right-tap on the best match and then select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Check and fix hard drive errors in Command Prompt.

  • Input CHKDSK *: /f (* basically represents the drive letter of the partition to be scanned) and hit Enter.
  • After that, type exit and hit Enter in order to close Command Prompt.

Here are two commonly used parameters in order to check and fix hard drive issues.

  • /f – scan the drive and also fix any hard drive errors automatically.
  • /r – Locate bad sectors on the drive and try in order to recover readable information from them.

CHKDSK utility in Windows 10 is really useful. However, users who are not familiar along with commands are prone to mistaken operation.

Uninstall recent or unknown programs

Some applications may also harm your computer and cause BSOD errors. Especially if they make changes to your system registry as well as add new DLL files or mix with existing libraries as well.

Here’s how you can uninstall recent software:
  • Right-tap on the Start button on Windows 10 and choose Apps and Features
  • Set Sort by in order to Install date
  • Then pick the first program in the list, tap on Uninstall, and proceed with the removal instructions

uninstall

  • Then reboot your PC

But, if the faulty program has already made changes to the system registry and DLL files. Then using the Windows default uninstaller won’t really help. Rather, you can also use via a third-party uninstaller that. Besides removing a program from your PC, gets rid of any leftover files and registry entries as well.

Use System Recovery

Restoring your operating system to a previous checkpoint is a fast and easy way in order to eliminate the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE error. If it was caused via a software issue you can’t identify.

All you need to do is select a checkpoint created before you started seeing the stop code.

  • Make sure you guys are logged in as the administrator
  • Tap on Win key + R, type control panel, and click Enter
  • Then tap on Recovery
  • Choose Open System Restore
  • Select a checkpoint, click Next, and just follow the on-screen instructions
  • Now reboot your computer

Check your RAM

If your computer is experiencing issues along with the RAM, this could result in several BSOD error messages. Also,  including stop code KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE. You can also check if your memory card is running correctly via running a Windows tool, even without installing anything else:

  • Make sure to close any running programs as well
  • Tap on the Win key, search for Windows Memory Diagnostic, and open this app
  • Then tap Restart now and check for problems

Well, during the system reboot, Windows Memory Diagnostic scans your computer for memory errors. But, if you prefer a more advanced approach, you can also check out MemTest.

Run a clean boot

Well, Running a clean boot means loading Windows only along with the required drivers and services while excluding everything else. It’s a really good way to isolate the potentially guilty parties and safely troubleshoot the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE error as well.

  • Tap on the Start menu, type System Configuration, and then open this app
  • Head to the Services tab, deselect Hide all Microsoft services and tap on Disable all
  • Choose the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager

kernel security check failure

  • Now end all active tasks and restart your PC

Use Event Viewer

Immediately after you guys receive the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK FAILURE error. Then you should reboot your computer and fire up the Windows Event Viewer as well. If you guys are lucky, you might get more information about the cause of the BSOD error also.

Here’s how you can use Event Viewer:
  • Tap on Start, type event viewer, and click Enter
  • Now open the Windows Logs area on the left side and choose System

 

kernel security check failure

  • Tap on the first error on the list and then check out its description

Conclusion

Well, That all from my side. If you want to know more about this “kernel security check failure” article or have any queries. Then feel free to ask me anything in the comments section below.

Have a Good Day!

Also See: How to Run Discord as Admin – Make Someone an Admin

About the author

Kelly Houstan

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