Numerous Blue screens. Various error messages. The last was Kernal Security CheckFailure

[DBRANDON2110]

For the past  few weeks, my HP Laptop has experienced random Blue screens.  There are several different prompts.  The last was Kernal Security Check Failure.  Several device and windows checks were ok.  Any suggestions appreciated

[Raj_05]

Hi @DBRANDON2110,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your HP laptop is experiencing significant stability issues, as indicated by the frequent blue screens and the "Kernal Security Check Failure" error. This specific error usually points to driver issues, corrupted system files, or memory-related problems. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the problem.

Update or Roll Back Drivers

• Update Drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of blue screens. Open Device Manager and look for any devices with a yellow triangle indicating an issue. Update drivers, especially for critical components like the display adapter, network adapter, and chipset.
• Roll Back Drivers: If you've recently updated any drivers, try rolling back to a previous version in case the update introduced instability. You can do this by going to Device Manager, right-clicking on the device, selecting Properties, and choosing Roll Back Driver under the Driver tab.

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

• Memory issues could also be causing the blue screens. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool:
  1. Press Windows Key + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
  2. Choose to restart your computer and run the diagnostic. The system will check your RAM for errors.

Check System Files

• Corrupted system files can also trigger blue screen errors. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM commands to repair any corrupt files:
  1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the process complete.
  3. After that, run the following DISM command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

Check for Malware

• Sometimes malware can cause blue screen errors. Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or your preferred antivirus software to check for any malicious programs.

Uninstall Recent Software/Updates

• If the blue screens began after a recent software installation or Windows update, try uninstalling those programs or updates. Go to Settings > Update & Security > View update history > Uninstall updates to remove recent updates.

Check for Windows Updates

• Ensure that Windows is fully updated, as Microsoft often releases patches that fix stability issues. Go to Settings > Update & Security and check for updates.

Disable Fast Startup

• Fast Startup can sometimes cause kernel-related issues:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
  2. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable, then uncheck Turn on fast startup.

Test in Safe Mode

• If the blue screens persist, boot into Safe Mode. If your system is stable in Safe Mode, it may indicate that a third-party driver or software is causing the issue:
  1. Restart your computer, then press F8 or Shift + F8 during startup to access Advanced Startup Options.
  2. Select Safe Mode and use your system to see if it crashes.

[Raj_05]

Perform a Clean Boot

• A Clean Boot helps isolate software conflicts that may be causing the blue screens:
  1. Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
  2. Under the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable all.
  3. Under the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager and disable all startup items.
  4. Restart your computer and see if the problem persists.

Check Storage for Errors

• Use the built-in CHKDSK utility to check for and fix disk errors:
  1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
  2. Type chkdsk /f and press Enter. You may need to schedule the check for the next restart.

Run BlueScreenView (Optional)

• BlueScreenView is a free utility that can help you analyze your BSOD crash dump files and provide details about the error. You can download and run it to see if it highlights a specific problematic driver or file.

Perform a System Restore or Reset

• If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you might want to consider using System Restore to revert your system to a previous stable state. If that doesn't work, a Reset this PC option might be needed to return your system to factory settings (be sure to back up your data first).

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support