Laptop not opening after reset

[Kesayawar]

I reset my laptop and now it doesn't open and pops up with a blue screen which denotes a code "KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED"

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Kesayawar 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The "KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED" error is a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error that occurs when Windows encounters a serious problem, often due to hardware issues, corrupted drivers, or software conflicts. It's especially common after performing a reset because some drivers or settings might have been corrupted or improperly configured during the process.

Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the "KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED" error:

1. Boot into Safe Mode

Since your laptop isn't booting normally, you can try booting it into Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers, which can help you troubleshoot the issue.

Steps:

1. Turn off your laptop completely.
2. Turn it back on, and as soon as the Windows logo appears (or as soon as the laptop starts booting), press and hold the power button until the laptop shuts down again.
3. Repeat this process two more times (turning on, then holding the power button to force a shutdown) to trigger Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
4. Once you reach the WinRE screen, select Troubleshoot.
5. Then go to Advanced options > Startup Settings.
6. Click Restart and wait for the options menu to appear.
7. Once the menu appears, press F4 (or 4) to boot into Safe Mode.

In Safe Mode, you can disable or uninstall problematic drivers, or perform further troubleshooting.

2. Update or Rollback Drivers

The error might be caused by a driver conflict, which is common after a reset. To fix this:

1. In Safe Mode, press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Look for yellow exclamation marks next to any devices, especially graphics, network, and storage drivers.
3. Update or roll back any drivers that may have been installed or changed during the reset:
   • Right-click on a device, choose Properties, and then go to the Driver tab.
   • Click Update Driver to search for updated drivers, or choose Roll Back Driver if the problem started after a recent driver update.

3. Uninstall Problematic Software

If you recently installed or updated software or drivers before the reset, try uninstalling them in Safe Mode:

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Find any software you installed recently (especially drivers or third-party utilities) and uninstall them.
3. Restart your laptop and see if it boots without the error.

4. Check for Disk Errors (Check Disk Utility)

A disk error could cause this issue, especially after a reset. Use CHKDSK to check the disk for issues:

1. Open a Command Prompt (Admin) in Safe Mode:
   • Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) (or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
2. Type the following command to check the disk for errors:
   • Press Enter. You may be asked if you want to schedule the check the next time the system reboots. Type Y and press Enter.
3. Restart the laptop to allow CHKDSK to run and fix any disk issues.

5. Perform a System Restore

If you created a System Restore point before the reset, you can restore your system to an earlier, working state:

1. From the WinRE screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
2. Select a restore point from before the reset (if available).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.

6. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Memory issues can also cause the KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED error. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for problems with your RAM:

1. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
3. The system will reboot and check for memory errors. If there are any issues, they will be displayed.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support