Fix: System Service Exception BSOD error on Windows 10

by Milan Stanojevic

Milan has been enthusiastic about PCs ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as... read more

Updated on

  • The System Service Exception error can appear on all Windows versions and laptop brands from HP to Lenovo.
  • It's not uncommon to stumble upon it while playing games or after a clean install/installing new RAM.
  • Corrupted drivers and incompatible software make for the most common System Service Exception BSOD causes.
  • You might want to start your troubleshooting there - we'll be there to show you how to go about it.

How do I fix System Service Exception BSOD in Windows 10?

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Running on Windows implies a certain amount of familiarity with BSoD errors. System Service Exception is one of these pesky glitches that has been around for decades and it goes back to historical OS versions.

Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart the system service exception. This is one error message you can encounter on Windows 7 and Windows 8.

It is also deeply rooted in Windows 10 and it even manages to crawl into Microsoft's freshest operating system, Win 11.

Don't worry, we got your back no matter what version you're running, including the newest one. If you happen to bump into it, our nifty tips will help you solve the System_Service_Exception error on Windows 11 in no time.

According to Microsoft's dedicated SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION page, the error is triggered by a running process transitioning from non-privileged to privileged code.

But what does that actually mean for end-users? Does this help you clearly identify the action that generates the error so that you won't repeat it again sometime in the future?

As far as we're concerned, this explanation fails to satisfy two major queries: what caused the stop code System Service Exception and how to troubleshoot and eventually fix it. This is where we come in.

What causes the System Service Exception blue screen error on Windows 10?

Check out the most common System Service Exception BSOD causes:

  • GUI errors
  • Corrupted Windows system files
  • Outdated, damaged, or incompatible drivers
  • Virus or malware infections
  • Incompatible or problematic software or Windows updates

Let's take an even closer look and explore the most common scenarios that might trigger the System Service Exception blue screen along with some frequent manifestations.

Common scenarios Frequent stop codes and/or error description
System Service Exception after installing new RAM System_service_exception 00000000`c000001d
System Service Exception after fresh install System_service_exception 00000000`c0000005
System Service Exception after BIOS update System_service_exception 00000000`c0000006
System Service Exception after Windows update System Service Exception cl.dll
System Service Exception when playing games System Service Exception after overclock/GPU/Graphics card
System Service Exception on startup System Service Exception Windows 10 keeps restarting
Windows 10 system service exception on boot System Service Exception boot loop
VMware System Service Exception After creating a new virtual machine, workstation version incompatibility

How do I fix System Service Exception BSOD?

1. Check your peripherals and hardware

  1. Press Windows Key + X keyboard shortcut and choose Device Manager from the list.
  2. Now, in Device Manager, you need to find your webcam, right-click it, and choose Disable from the list.

Sometimes, certain hardware, such as a webcam, even the one that is built-in to your monitor, can cause annoying hardware.sys SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION errors.

We witnessed the System Service Exception stop code on several major laptop brands such as HP, Lenovo, ASUS, and Acer.

Moreover, we have to mention that the issue might be caused by another piece of hardware, so you might have to explore a bit before you find which device is causing this error.

2. Update your drivers

  1. Go to Search, type devicemngr, and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display Adapters.
  3. Right-click your graphics card, and go to Update driver.
  4. Let your computer automatically find new drivers for your GPU. Wait for the process to finish.
  5. Restart your computer.

If your graphics card driver is out of date, there's a chance you'll encounter this issue. So, the obvious solution, in this case, is to update your GPU drivers.

If you're not sure how to do that, here's how to update Windows drivers step by step. However, you can also perform this task automatically and eliminate the risk of downloading the wrong driver versions.

We recommend using a performant third-party tool for this job which is 100% safe and tested by us.

  1. First of all, you need to download and install DriverFix.
  2. Launch the software and wait for it to detect all your faulty drivers.
  3. The application will now show you all the drivers that have issues, and you just need to select the ones you'd like fixed.
  4. Simply wait for the app to download and install the newest drivers.
  5. Finally, restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Corrupted drivers can lead to serious failures including Fatal System errors that are even trickier to fix, so it's always a good idea to keep them in check.

3. Remove third-party security tools

  1. Uninstall McAfee using the Settings app.
  2. Download this dedicated tool.
  3. Run the tool to completely remove McAfee from your computer.

If you're getting the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (ks.sys) Blue Screen of Death error, you should know that the cause of this issue might be your antivirus software.

Users have reported that this issue was resolved after getting rid of the McAfee antivirus, so apply the above steps in order to do the same.

Expert Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

Not a McAfee user? Then, try to temporarily uninstall your installed antivirus and see if the issue persists.

If you stop receiving this error after disabling your antivirus, you have most likely identified the culprit behind the Windows error System Service Exception. In that case, try updating your antivirus to the latest version.

As you probably know already, this error usually contains the name of the file that triggered it. Thus, the numeric part can have numerous associations.

If instead of KS.sys, you see something similar to System Service exception NTFS.sys, the villain is clearly the Windows 10 NTFS file system drive.

It is advised to employ specialized cleaning software like CCleaner and erase specific security software that may determine this BSoD error on your PC.

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Tip

Speaking about uninstalling, you might want to eliminate the Virtual CloneDrive.

The System Service Exception error frequently pops on VMware virtual machines and removing the aforementioned tool could help you solve the issue quicker than you think.

4. Uninstall gaming software and services

The System Service Exception often appears when playing games. Whether it manifests as a plain blue screen while gaming, or as a game loop in Valorant, Minecraft, Warzone, or other games, the stop code is prone to be triggered by GPU or CPU issues.

Since overclocking and overheating are common, users worldwide often turn to specialized software for optimizing gaming performance.

But not all of them are compatible with your specs and this can lead to SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION errors.

Problematic apps usually include XSplit software, MSI Live update, or Asus GameFirst service, so you might want to disable them or remove them altogether.

5. Use Command Prompt (SFC, chkdsk)

  1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Enter the following line and press Enter on your keyboard: sfc/scannow

  3. Wait for the process to finish.
  4. Restart your computer.

This is Windows' built-in tool for resolving various problems, including our BSOD System Service Exception. While running the SFC scan should be easy, you might struggle with executing the Command Prompt as an admin. Don't worry, we got you covered!

The next thing we're going to try is to check the hard drive.

  1. Go to the Command Prompt (as shown above).
  2. Enter the following line and press Enter on your keyboard: chkdsk /f C:
  3. Wait for the process to finish.
  4. Restart your computer.

We're now going to check if everything's okay with your hard drive configuration. If chkdsk is giving you headaches, you will be able to get it back on track in no time and see it a corrupted system drive is behind the System_Service_Exception error in Windows 10.

6. Run the troubleshooter

  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Head over to Update & Security, then Troubleshoot .
  3. Find Blue Screen and click Run the troubleshooter .
  4. Follow further on-screen instructions.
  5. Restart your computer.

Just like the sfc/scannow, this tool also deals with various system issues, including BSOD errors like SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION.

If the Settings app itself is acting out, you can always rely on our nifty tips to recover it.

7. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool

  1. Go to Search, type memory diagnostic, and open the Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  2. When the window pops up, choose Restart now and check for problems.
  3. Let your PC restart.

After inspecting your hard disk, it's time to take a closer look at your RAM memory. The System Service Exception often appears after new RAM is installed, so the steps described above should be perfect for this check-up as well.

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Tip

If the Microsoft stop code System Service Exception is still hunting you, updating your BIOS is the last resort.
However, you should proceed with utmost caution since a wrong click can render your motherboard unusable.
We will guide you step-by-step in flashing your BIOS safely, but we advise you to ask for professional help if you're not sure what you're doing.

How to fix the System Service Exception error in Windows 10? Here are 7 quick and easy fixes (with a few bonus alternatives on the side).

If you want to skip the troubleshooting part altogether and go straight for the resolution, you can always rely on a professional BSoD repair software to fix things for you.

We hope we did not miss anything but do feel free to share any other workarounds that you know of and we might have overlooked.