Kernel Security Check Failure

[Benji2115]

My desktop  is not even 2 years old, 8 megabytes of RAM.  Starting on the date of Windows Update on July 14, 2026, I have been getting random black and then blue screen error 0x139 with the message "Your computer has encountered a problem and needs to shut down".    Prior to July 14 it was working just fine.   It is a hard-wired internet connection.  It does not matter how many programs are running, etc.    It occurs daily, sometimes multiple times per day.  All drivers have been updated through the HP support assistant and machine has been thoroughly checked for malware, viruses etc. by an IT professional who cannot find the source of the problem.  Computer works fine in between blue screens, but this makes it extremely unreliable.   I have read recently that Dell computers have experienced issues with the July 14 Windows Update due to proprietary software on their machines.  Is it possible that this could be happening with my HP desktop.  I think I am going to have to get another computer if this cannot be fixed.  I would be very hesitant to buy another HP computer again as the blue screens have rendered it useless and the money spent on it is a dead loss.

[Bill_To]

Greetings,

This Microsoft Support Link provides Kernel Security Check Failure troubleshooting tips.

The above Microsoft document seems to point to a hardware driver problem or system disk corruption. System disk corruption could be caused by malware.

Did you install any third party hardware in this PC? Have you run a malware scan or a Check Disk lately?

Check Disk

Open an admin command prompt. Enter or copy the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Then enter or copy:

sfc /scannow

The command prompt output should now indicate the system disk is good to go.

I'm sure the IT Pro would have: referred to the above Microsoft Support document link, uninstalled the 7-14-26 Windows update or tried a system restore point prior to the July, 2026 Windows update, and used HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics to perform extensive hardware checks.

Try a non-destructive W11 in-place upgrade using Windows Update if this was not done. But, to be safe, back up system disk data prior to doing the W11 upgrade.

Go to: Settings>System>Recovery>Fix problems using Windows Update.

Last resort would be to install W11 clean after backing up data.

HP Cloud Recovery option or do a W11 install using W11 Installation Media.

Regards

[Benji2115]

Thank you Bill for your reply.  I will pass this on to my IT professional.   I have confidence in him;  he is trusted in my community with years of experience.  He has not uninstalled the July 14 Windows Update so far, but these are the things he has already done: 

-Scan for Malware, clean.

-SFC clean repair system files.

-Check HD status - healthy.

-Windows Update, 5 items updated.

-Hard drive running a bit hot, no heat sink.  Install heat sink.

-Bitlocker registers one error, but boots - disable Bitlocker (confirmed not needed)

-Check bios, check with HP, bios is newest available (2026 -3- 19).

-Run HP system update, many items cleared from list - system is current.

-Stress test system, SSD temps look good, CPU/RAM are stable.

Despite this, the Kernel Security Check Error continues to occur with random shutdowns.   Everything can be running just fine, and then you get a black screen followed by a blue screen with Kernel Security Check Error, and you are faced with the Windows Sign In screen again and your work has been lost.    I do not do gaming at all, only use Microsoft Office and two other business programs, but it does not seem to matter which  programs are running; it happened once when I was right in the  middle of paying bills online and the only program  running was Internet Explorer.

Fortunately I still have my 7-year-old Acer desktop which also has Norton 360, took all the Windows Updates just fine, and has no issues, and it has saved me, but I'm sure this will not last forever, which was the reason I purchased the new HP desktop.   So very frustrating!   

Thanks again for your suggestions.

[Bill_To]

Greetings @Benji2115 

My pleasure.

I hope you get the bluescreen error sorted out.

I've done quite a few non-destructive W11 in-place upgrades on various OEM and custom built PCs.

No data loss and all installed programs survive the upgrade.

This upgrade should fix system file corruption and other W11 anomalies if they exists.

The hardware should be okay if stress tests passed.

You seem have a perplexing head scratcher PC problem.

Regards