How To Fix a System Service Exception Error

Lee Stanton March 7, 2022

Turning on your computer and finding the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) usually means something is seriously wrong with Windows. When presented with the BSOD, your PC has stopped running to prevent it from further catastrophic damage. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to know how to proceed when confronted with a system service exception error, but this article is here to help.

How To Fix a System Service Exception Error

This guide will teach you how to troubleshoot a system service exception error to get your computer up and running again.

System Service Exception in Windows 10

A system service error, also known as a stop error, occurs when something has gone wrong with the PC’s hardware or software. To prevent further damage to your device, the computer stops all operations, which is why it is also called a stop error.

Once a system service exception error occurs, you must reset the system. Restarting the PC after the BSOD triggers an automatic troubleshooting process as Windows attempts to repair itself. If the recovery process doesn’t work, you can fix the problem manually.

The methods outlined below will help you navigate techniques that can restore your device to good working condition. Let’s get started.

Update Windows 10

Outdated Windows 10 system files could cause unexpected errors. When you encounter the BSOD, check to see if you have the latest version of Windows 10.

Press Win + I to open “Settings.”
Scroll to “Update & Security” and look for “Windows Update.”
If there are any pending updates, click “Restart Now.”

Windows will update and reboot, fixing the system service exception problem.

Update Drivers

System drivers keep Windows running smoothly. They are updated automatically, but something may go wrong with the update process every once in a while. Ensure that your system drivers are updated by following the steps below:

Go to “Settings” by tapping Win+ I.
Find “Update & Security” and then select “Windows Update.”
Press “View Update History” to see recent system driver updates.
In the search bar located in the start menu, type in “Device Manager.”
Scroll down the list and look for “Display Adapters.”
Click the dropdown arrow and choose a driver.
Right-click on the driver and hit “Update Driver.”
Automate the process by selecting “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

Updating your system drivers should sort out the BDOS.

Run CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a system tool that verifies file systems in Windows and fixes specific errors as it runs. Running CHKDSK could help resolve the stop error. Here’s how to do that:

Go to the start menu and type in “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
Right-click on the result and pick “Run as administrator.”
Input chkdsk/r and then hit “Enter.”

Your system will be scanned for errors. The program should fix issues in the file system, restoring your device to good working condition.

Run SFC

SFC (System File Check) is a tool that looks for corrupt or missing Windows system files. Unlike CHKDSK, which scans the entire drive for errors, SFC specifically checks the system files. The method outlined here will walk you through running SFC.

Navigate to the search bar located in the start menu and enter “Command Prompt.”
Right-click and select “Run as administrator” on the pop-up menu.
Key in the command below
DISM/online/cleanup-image/restorehealth
Hit “Enter” and wait for the process to finish. It should take about 20 minutes.
Type in the command below
sfc/scannow
Press “Enter” on your keyboard.
Restart your PC to check if the problem is resolved.

Uninstall Recently Installed Programs

The stop error could be caused by programs that have recently been added to your computer. Uninstalling these software programs or apps could rectify the system service exception error. Remove them one at a time, starting with the last one installed.

Reset Windows 10

If you’ve tried to troubleshoot a stop error but nothing is working, it may be time to reset Windows 10. This will replace the system files with new ones while keeping your documents intact. Resetting Windows should clear issues with your system files. This is what you need to do to reset Windows 10:

Press Windows start at the bottom left corner and go to “Settings.”
Locate “Update and Security,” then tap “Recovery.”
Scroll to “Reset This PC,” then click “Get Started.”
When prompted, choose “Keep Files” or “Remove Everything.”
Your system will restart.

Rebooting Windows should clear any lingering issues in the system and get rid of the BSOD.

System Service Exception in Windows 11

The system service exception error stops all your computer functions to prevent further damage. This is why it’s also known as the stop error. You can do a few things to get your computer up and running again after being presented with the BSOD.

Update Windows 11

System files could become corrupted as a result of outdated Windows 11. To restore proper functionality, update to the latest version of Windows 11 by following the steps outlined below:

Go to Settings by pressing “Win + I.”
Navigate to “Update & Security” and click on “Windows Update.”
If there are any pending updates, click “Restart Now.”

A Windows update should resolve the stop error.

Update Drivers

System drivers update automatically, but sometimes a glitch occurs that prevents this from happening. The method below will show you how to update the system drivers manually:

Tap Win + 1 to open “Settings.”
Click “Update & Security” then “Windows Update.”
Select “View Update History” to see recent system driver updates.
Type in “Device Manager” in the search bar on the start menu.
Scroll down the list and look for “Display Adapters.”
Click the dropdown arrow and choose a driver.
Right-click on the driver and hit “Update Driver.”
Automate the process by selecting “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

The updated system drivers should fix the BSOD problem.

Run CHKDSK

Running CHKDSK will verify the system files on your computer while fixing specific errors that they may contain. These are the steps needed to run CHKDSK:

Type in “Command Prompt” from the start menu in the search bar.
Right-click to enter the Command Prompt window and select “Run as administrator.”
Type in chkdsk/r and click “Enter.”

The CHKDSK program should fix issues in the file system, restoring your device to good working condition.

Run SFC

System File Check (SFC) is a tool that looks for corrupt or missing Windows system files. While CHKDSK scans the entire drive for errors, SFC focuses on the system files. The method outlined here will walk you through running SFC:

Go to the search bar in the start menu and input “Command Prompt.”
Right-click and select “Run as administrator” on the pop-up menu.
Type in the command below
DISM/online/cleanup-image/restorehealth
Press “Enter” and wait for the process to finish. It should take about 20 minutes.
Key in the command shown below
sfc/scannow
Tap “Enter” on your keyboard.
Restart your PC to check if the problem is resolved.

Uninstall Recently Installed Programs

Recently installed apps or programs can cause errors in your operating system. Deleting these software programs could rectify the system service exception error. Uninstall the apps one at a time, starting with the last added to the PC.

Reset Windows 11

If all your troubleshooting efforts fail, you may need to reset Windows 11. A reset will replace the system files while preserving your documents. Here’s how to reset your operating system:

Tap Win + I to go to “Settings.”
Under “System” click “Recovery.”
Select “Reset This PC,” then tap “Reset PC.”
When prompted, choose “Keep Files” or “Remove Everything.”
Your system will restart.

A Windows reset should resolve the system service exception problem.

System Service Exception ntfs.sys

The most common causes of ntfs.sys stop errors are antivirus software, corrupted system drivers, or a RAM stick that has been improperly set up.

The system service exception error can be fixed by uninstalling the antivirus program. You should also check to ensure that the memory stick has been inserted correctly. If none of those fixes work, you can update the system drives.

System Service Exception win32kfull.sys

Driver software issues often cause a system service exception win32kfull.sys error. Updating the system driver should resolve the problem.

You can update the drivers by visiting our device manufacturer’s website and checking for the necessary updates.

System Service Exception win32kbase.sys

System file corruption could result in a win32kbase.sys stop error. To rectify the problem, run a system file check. The process takes about 20 minutes and should take care of the BSOD.

System Service Exception dxgkrnl.sys

The system service exception dxgkrnl.sys error is caused by an incompatibility between Windows and the graphics driver. To fix the issue, reinstall the graphics driver.

Get Back to Business

The Blue Screen of Death can create a certain level of anxiety as it renders your computer unusable. However, a stop error doesn’t mean that your PC is unfixable. This guide outlined methods you can use to restore your device’s functionality.

Have you encountered a system service exception error before? How did you resolve the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.