Skip to main content

How to fix a system service exception error in Windows

The blue screen of death in Windows.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

If you've encountered a blue screen of death with a SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error, there can be a few different reasons why, but it's usually a driver issue. That means that while this is an annoying issue that can cause your system to keep rebooting, you can usually sort it by running a system fix scan, and Windows 11 will take care of the problem for you.

Here's how to tackle that SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD so you can break that blue screen reboot loop.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

30 minutes

What You Need

  • Windows 10 or 11 PC

Running a DISM scan.
Digital Trends

Run a system scan

SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION blue screens are usually caused by a system driver error. These aren't like your chipset or graphics drivers where you can (and should) update them yourself, but fortunately, Windows has a built-in scan tool to help fix file system and Windows driver errors.

If the blue screen won't let you boot to Windows, try booting into Safe Mode.

Step 1: Search for "Powershell" in the Windows search bar. Right-click the corresponding result and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following, then press Enter.

Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

This will find and replace and missing or corrupted files within the Windows Component Store. This can take a few minutes to complete, but let it do its thing until it's ready.

Step 3: Additionally, you can try running the System File Checker to check over Windows system files. Run that through PowerShell too, with this command:

SFC /scannow

Step 4: After running these scans, try rebooting your PC. See if your BSOD issue is now solved. If not, try the method below.

Run driver verifier

If the file system check tools didn't work, you can try running Windows' built-in driver verification tool to see if it's a system driver issue.

Note: If the driver verified finds a corrupt driver, it can actually trigger a BSOD, so consider making a system restore point or back up your data manually to play it safe.

Step 1: Search for "Powershell" in the Windows search bar. Right-click the corresponding result and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type in "verifier.exe" and press Enter.

Step 3: In the window that appears, select Create standard settings from the top of the screen, then select Next.

Driver verification in Windows.
Digital Trends

Step 4: Select Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer then select Finish.

Driver verification in Windows.
Digital Trends

Step 5: Reboot your PC and wait for the driver verifier to complete during startup. If any blue screens occur, note down those errors, as they should tell you the driver you need to update, upgrade, or replace.

If you find yourself stuck trying to boot into Windows, boot into Safe Mode and start the Verifier tool again. Then on the first screen, select Delete existing settings, then select Finish.

Use system restore

If none of the above methods help solve this problem, try reverting to a system restore point. This can fix a number of issues, especially if you've recently installed new hardware.

Roll back your system to when it wasn't giving you blue screen errors, and you might be able to get your PC functioning again.

If you still can't get past this BSOD error, it might be time to reset Windows to factory defaults.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
Spilled water on your laptop? Here’s how to fix it

Spilled water on your new laptop? Time to act fast. Move your laptop away from the water, then turn it off immediately and unplug it. If you have a removable battery, remove it too.

OK, are you back with us? Here's a more in-depth guide on what to do if you spill water on your laptop, or worse yet, drop your laptop into water.

Read more
How to factory reset an HP laptop to start fresh or for resale
The HP 15 laptop on a table.

When it’s time to factory reset a computer, you’ve probably exhausted all your other reboot and repair options. After all, performing on a full-on factory reset isn’t exactly fun, but sometimes it’s the only thing that will get even the best laptop or desktop back in working order.

Read more
How to connect a wireless mouse to a laptop
The Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse on a desk next to a MacBook.

While the best laptops come with an efficient and responsive touchpad, they're rarely useful for gaming. What you need is a wireless mouse.

To connect a wireless mouse to your laptop, you'll need to pair it using Bluetooth, or connect it to the bespoke USB receiver it came with. You can even connect it to multiple devices using each method, making it straightforward to jump between them.

Read more