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KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED is Windows stop code 0x0000001E. It means a kernel-mode component generated an exception that Windows could not handle; the message does not identify one universal failed part. The practical fix is to capture any named .sys driver, undo the most recent hardware or software change in Safe Mode, update or roll back the suspect driver, test memory and other hardware, repair Windows files with DISM and SFC, and use System Restore or installation media if Windows will not start. Microsoft lists faulty drivers or services, incompatible hardware, BIOS incompatibility, memory conflicts and IRQ conflicts among possible causes.
What does KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x0000001E) mean?
Windows uses this bug check when a kernel-mode program raises an exception that its error handler does not catch. Kernel-mode code includes core Windows components and drivers that interact directly with hardware, so the same stop code can result from a graphics, storage, network, audio or other driver, defective hardware, firmware incompatibility, damaged system files or a conflict between devices.
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The blue screen may show a module or driver name, often ending in .sys. That name is a lead, not absolute proof: memory corruption can make a different module appear responsible. Microsoft’s Windows 10 guidance also notes that an unexpected restart may be caused by a hardware device, its driver or software. An undated Microsoft estimate attributes about 70% of cases to third-party driver code, 10% to hardware, 5% to Microsoft code and 15% to crashes too corrupted to analyze; treat those figures as a historical estimate, not a current prevalence study.
What should I record before changing anything?
Evidence collected before repairs helps you choose the least destructive fix.
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- Write down the exact stop-code text and any named driver or module.
- Record whether the crash happens during startup, while gaming, when waking from sleep, or during a particular device operation.
- List changes made just before the first blue screen: a Windows update, device driver, utility, antivirus, USB device, RAM, storage drive, BIOS setting or other hardware.
- Note whether Windows reaches the desktop, only the recovery screen, or neither. This determines which repair route is available.
If the screen disappears too quickly, photograph it with a phone. A repeatable change is more useful than a general report that Windows “just crashed.”
How do I fix the error when Windows still reaches the desktop?
1. Disconnect recently added hardware
Shut down completely, unplug hardware added shortly before the crashes, and start Windows once. Remove nonessential USB hubs, adapters, external drives, expansion cards and newly installed internal components. Microsoft recommends removing new hardware and checking its compatibility. If the crash stops, reconnect devices one at a time to identify the trigger, then obtain the exact Windows 10 driver or firmware from the device manufacturer.
2. Check Device Manager for the suspect device
Right-click Start and choose Device Manager. Expand the category associated with the named driver, such as Display adapters, Network adapters, Storage controllers, Sound, video and game controllers, or Universal Serial Bus controllers. A yellow warning icon indicates a reported device problem, but its absence does not prove the driver is healthy.
Right-click the device and choose Properties. On the Driver tab, record the provider, date and version. If the crashes began immediately after an update, select Roll Back Driver when available. Otherwise choose Update Driver, then use a driver supplied by Windows Update or the hardware manufacturer. If the driver or service is clearly the new cause, choose Uninstall device and restart; select the option to remove the driver package only when you have a replacement available and understand that the device may temporarily use a basic driver.
3. Review the System event log
Press Windows+R, enter eventvwr.msc, and press Enter. Open Windows Logs > System, then inspect errors and critical events around the crash time. Repeated events naming the same device, service or storage controller provide corroboration. Event Viewer rarely identifies the complete cause by itself, so use it to confirm a pattern rather than treating one isolated event as proof.
4. Install compatible Windows, BIOS and firmware updates
Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install pending updates, restarting as requested. Then visit the support page for the exact PC, motherboard or component model and check for BIOS and firmware updates that explicitly support your configuration and Windows 10 edition. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before flashing firmware: interrupting a BIOS update can leave a system unable to start. Do not install a BIOS package for a similar but different model.
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Windows needs working room for paging, updates, temporary files and crash handling. Microsoft gives approximately 10% to 15% free space as a practical guideline, although the exact requirement varies by configuration. In Settings > System > Storage, check the system drive and remove or move files you no longer need. This is a capacity check, not proof that deleting ordinary files will cure the stop code.
How do I start Windows 10 in Safe Mode after the blue screen?
Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, making it the safest place to undo a driver or service change that prevents normal startup.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- At Choose an option, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After the restart, press
4orF4for Safe Mode, or5orF5for Safe Mode with Networking.
If Windows cannot stay open long enough to reach Settings, allow failed starts to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), or boot from Windows installation media and select the recovery tools. In Safe Mode, remove or roll back the recently changed driver or service, then restart normally to test the result. Networking is not required for Device Manager work and exposes more drivers and services, so use ordinary Safe Mode unless you specifically need an online download.
What if the blue screen names a .sys driver?
Use the filename as a starting point, identify the associated hardware or software, and then update, roll back, disable or remove it after confirming the timing.
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- Search the filename in the driver details shown in Device Manager or in the manufacturer’s support documentation. Avoid downloading a replacement
.sysfile from an unrelated “DLL download” site. - In Safe Mode, compare the driver’s provider, date and version with the manufacturer’s current Windows 10 release.
- If the first crash followed an update, use Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
- If the driver is optional or belongs to software installed immediately before the crash, disable the device or uninstall that software and restart.
- If the same filename continues to appear after a clean, manufacturer-supplied update, investigate the hardware, firmware and memory rather than repeatedly reinstalling the driver.
Microsoft’s KMODE guidance is to disable an identified driver or check with its manufacturer for updates. A named module can be a victim of corrupted memory, so do not replace hardware solely because one filename appeared once.
How do I test RAM and other hardware?
Run Windows Memory Diagnostic
- Search Start for Windows Memory Diagnostic or Diagnose your computer’s memory problems.
- Choose Restart now and check for problems if you can close your work, or schedule the check for the next restart.
- After Windows starts, open Event Viewer and go to Windows Logs > System. Find the
MemoryDiagnostics-Resultsentry.
If errors are reported, power off and test memory modules individually where the computer design permits. Reseat or replace a faulty module and run the diagnostic again. Follow the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s instructions for supported memory combinations; mixing modules with different specifications can create instability even when each module works alone.
Check storage and manufacturer diagnostics
If memory testing is clean, run the hardware diagnostics supplied for your exact PC, motherboard or component. Check storage health, cables, power connections, graphics hardware and any device implicated by the event log. A clean memory test does not rule out intermittent RAM faults, overheating, a failing drive or an incompatible peripheral, so use the manufacturer’s tests when the crashes persist.
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How do I repair corrupted Windows files?
Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) first, then System File Checker (SFC). DISM repairs the component store that SFC uses as a source.
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- Open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- Run
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthand wait for it to finish. By default, DISM obtains repair files through Windows Update. - When DISM completes, run
sfc /scannow. Keep the window open until verification reaches 100%. - Restart Windows and check whether the stop code returns.
If Windows Update cannot supply DISM’s source files, use compatible Windows installation or other removable media and specify its repair source with DISM’s /Source option. The source must match the installed Windows version and edition closely enough for the repair to apply; use Microsoft’s installation-media instructions rather than guessing a path.
What can I do if Windows keeps restarting or will not boot?
Stop forcing repeated normal boots. Use WinRE tools in an order that preserves data and reverses recent changes first.
| What you can reach | Best next path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Disconnect recent hardware, inspect the named driver, update or roll it back, then run diagnostics. | These steps target the most likely recent cause without changing personal files. |
| Safe Mode only | Undo the driver, service or software change in Safe Mode, then restart normally. | Minimal drivers and services reduce the number of variables. |
| WinRE recovery screen | Try System Restore using a restore point from before the first crash; use Startup Repair if startup itself is damaged. | Recovery tools can reverse configuration changes when Windows cannot load fully. |
| Neither Windows nor automatic recovery | Boot from Windows installation media and choose Repair your computer to reach WinRE. | Installation media supplies an independent route to recovery tools. |
Use System Restore
In WinRE, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore, select a restore point dated before the crashes, and follow the prompts. System Restore changes system files, drivers and settings; it does not normally remove personal documents, but applications or drivers installed after the selected point may be removed.
Use Startup Repair
In WinRE, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. This targets boot configuration and startup files rather than diagnosing every possible hardware fault. If it reports that it cannot repair the PC, return to Safe Mode, System Restore or installation-media recovery rather than repeating the same failed boot.
Create or use installation media
A blank USB flash drive is useful recovery equipment when the built-in recovery environment is unavailable. Microsoft documents installation media as a way to reach Startup Repair and other WinRE tools, and removable media can also provide a DISM repair source. The drive is a recovery route, not a cure for defective hardware.
Which fix should I try first?
Choose the branch that matches your evidence and stop when the system is stable long enough to verify the change.
- A driver name or recent driver update appears: boot Safe Mode, roll back or uninstall the driver, then install the manufacturer’s compatible release.
- New hardware was installed: power off, remove it, and test one clean restart before changing Windows files.
- Crashes occur during memory-intensive work or with no driver lead: run Windows Memory Diagnostic and manufacturer hardware checks.
- System files were damaged by an interrupted update or shutdown: run DISM followed by SFC.
- Windows cannot start: use WinRE, System Restore, Startup Repair or installation media instead of repeated forced restarts.
If the code continues after driver, hardware, memory and file-repair checks, back up important data and contact the PC or component manufacturer. KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED identifies a class of kernel exception, not a guaranteed single part to replace.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a BIOS update by itself cause KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED?
Yes. Firmware changes can expose incompatibilities with existing drivers, memory settings or expansion hardware. If the crashes began immediately after a BIOS update, load the manufacturer’s recommended defaults and contact that manufacturer before attempting a rollback; never interrupt a firmware flash.
Will reinstalling Windows always remove stop code 0x0000001E?
No. A clean installation can remove damaged software and system files, but it will not repair defective RAM, a failing drive, incompatible firmware or a bad peripheral. Test hardware first and preserve your files before considering a reinstall.
Where are Windows crash dump files stored?
When dump collection is enabled, small memory dumps are commonly stored in C:WindowsMinidump, while a kernel or complete dump may be written as C:WindowsMEMORY.DMP. Access can be blocked by permissions, and a dump may be too corrupted to identify a reliable culprit.
Does Safe Mode with Networking use the same drivers as normal startup?
No. It adds networking components to the minimal Safe Mode set, so a network driver can still affect the session. Use ordinary Safe Mode for isolation unless you specifically need internet access to obtain a verified driver.
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