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Get the fix to the <strong>0x000000EF: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED</strong> boot error message affecting <strong>Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1</strong> and <strong>Windows 10</strong>.
<h2>About the "<strong>0x000000EF</strong>" error</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h4>Symptom 1: 0x000000EF error screen on startup</h4>
This error occurs on Windows startup when a key Windows system process fails to run properly. This can be caused by system file corruption, incorrect device drivers, or damaged file system. Here is a screenshot of this error on newer systems:

<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/0x000000EF.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4472 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/0x000000EF.jpg" alt="0x000000EF error screen" width="480" height="360" /></a>
<pre>Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. (0% complete)

If you'd like to know more, you can search online for the error: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED</pre>
<h3>Causes of this Error</h3>
This error has been known to occur as a result of one or more of the following:
<h4>Cause 1: Bad device drivers on misconfigured Windows service</h4>
The most common cause of this error is a Windows service that encounters a serious error on startup, or a misconfigured or buggy device driver that crashes on startup.
<h4>Cause 2: Corrupt system files</h4>
A damaged system driver could also be a cause of this error. This may happen because of virus attacks, power outages or disk write errors.
<h2>Fixing "0x000000EF" on Windows</h2>
[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Run a clean boot</h3>
<strong>Clean booting</strong> your Windows versions can help you troubleshoot if the 0x000000EF error is caused by third-party device or driver you've recently installed. When you clean boot Windows, your computer will boot only with the most necessary processes and services that Windows needs to run.

Follow these steps to clean boot a Windows XP, Vista or 7 system:
<ol>
 	<li>Start Windows and click Start</li>
 	<li>Type <code>msconfig</code> in the search box (for Windows Vista and 7 systems) or open Run &gt; type <code>msconfig</code> (for Windows XP systems)</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Go to <em>General</em><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-xp-msconfig.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2473 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-xp-msconfig.png" alt="msconfig in Windows XP" width="421" height="376" /></a></li>
 	<li>Check <strong>Selective Startup</strong></li>
 	<li>Uncheck <strong>Load startup items</strong></li>
 	<li>Go to <em>Services</em></li>
 	<li>Check <strong>Hide all Microsoft service</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Disable all</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li>
 	<li>Restart your Windows</li>
</ol>
Follow these steps to clean boot a Windows 8 or 8.1 system:
<ol>
 	<li>Follow the same steps from Windows XP/Vista/7 above</li>
 	<li>Go to <em>Startup</em>

[caption id="attachment_2493" align="alignnone" width="386"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2493" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/msconfig-windows-8.png" alt="msconfig in Windows 8, 8.1" width="386" height="133" /> msconfig in Windows 8, 8.1[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Disable all startup items</li>
 	<li>Restart your Windows 8/8.1</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #2: Update drivers</h3>
The error 0x000000EF might be triggered by a corrupt device driver or by a driver that hasn't been updated to be compatible with your Windows version.

If you recently installed a new hardware device and/or device driver, follow these steps to open <strong>Device Manager</strong> and install the drivers manually for all your new hardware:
<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li>
 	<li>Type <code>devmgmt.msc</code> in the search box and click on <strong>devmgmt</strong> or <strong>Device Manager</strong> from the search results list</li>
 	<li>Right-click on the drive driver</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Update</strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/04/device-manager-update-driver-software.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3363 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/04/device-manager-update-driver-software.jpg" alt="Device Manager: Update Driver Software" width="584" height="309" /></a></li>
</ol>
Following these steps will update the device driver <strong>manually</strong> assuming you have the latest compatible version from the device manufacturer.

If you'd like to update the drivers automatically, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li>
 	<li>Type <code>devices and printers</code> in the search box</li>
 	<li>Right-click on your computer's name from the list and then click <strong>Device Installation Settings</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Yes, do this automatically</strong> and then click <strong>Save Changes</strong></li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #3: Repair corrupted system files with the SFC command</h3>
On Windows Vista and Windows 7, it is possible to use the built-in Windows SFC(system file checker) tool to automatically scan a computer's system files and repair them if necessary.

Here are the steps to run SFC:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot from your Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your co</strong><strong>mputer</strong> after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.</li>
 	<li>Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually <code>C:\</code>, and click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>sfc /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows\</pre>
Replace D: with the letter of the driver where Windows is installed, and D:\Windows with the Windows folder location.</li>
</ol>
Here is an example of what the PC's console output should look like once the sfc.exe scan is complete and missing files are successfully restored:

[caption id="attachment_4233" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/sfc_result.png"><img class="wp-image-4233 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/sfc_result.png" alt="System files restored by the SFC utility" width="800" height="600" /></a> System files restored by the SFC utility[/caption]
<h3>Fix #4: Reinstall Windows</h3>
If <a href="#">Fix #1</a> and <a href="#">Fix #2</a> doesn't work to fix 0x000000EF error, you can try to reinstall your Windows.
<p class="warning">Reinstalling Windows might cause your personal files to be deleted. You can use <a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Easy Recovery Essentials' Browse/Backup Files</a> feature to backup your files before doing so, if you can't boot into Windows.</p>
To reinstall a Windows Vista or 7 system, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the install Windows Vista or 7 CD/DVD and restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Press any key to boot from the CD/DVD when prompted to do so</li>
 	<li>At <em>Install Windows</em>, select a language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Click Next</li>
 	<li>Click Install Now

[caption id="attachment_1505" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1505" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/Install-Now-Windows-7.jpg" alt="Windows 7 setup Install Now dialog, with repair your computer link" width="800" height="600" /> Install Now (Windows 7)[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Follow the instructions to complete the process</li>
</ol>
<h2>More Information</h2>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10"]