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Get the fix to the <strong>KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR</strong> error message affecting <strong>Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10</strong>.
<h2>About the "<strong>KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR</strong>"</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h4>Symptom 1: KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR error screen</h4>
The error is usually triggered when the kernel detects a corruption of data and, in most cases, it can be triggered by a USB-related problem or by a corrupt driver or device.

On Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 systems, the error screen looks like this:

<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ERROR.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-3526 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ERROR.jpg" alt="Screenshot of KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ERROR error" width="980" height="490" /></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 later for this error: KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ERROR</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: System files or drivers are corrupt</h4>
The most common cause for this error are corrupt or missing system files or hardware drivers. This may happen because of disk read/write errors, or virus attacks. If that's the case, then it is advisable to scan the system files for errors and restore them if necessary.
<h2>Fixing "KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR" on Windows</h2>
<h3>Fix #1: Check error log with Event Viewer</h3>
Using the <strong>Event Viewer</strong> tool you can troubleshoot and try to pinpoint the cause for why the error appears.

To access Event Viewer, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li>
 	<li>Type <code>Administrative Tools</code> in the search box</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Administrative tools</strong> from the results list</li>
 	<li>Choose Computer Management</li>
 	<li>Expand the Event Viewer tree from the right side</li>
 	<li>Expand the Windows logs tree</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>System</strong></li>
 	<li>Check for any error messages that may help you identify the device or the driver that's triggering this error.If you can identify a device or driver from the error list, disable that device or driver and restart your computer to test if the error appears again.</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4497" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Event-log.png"><img class="wp-image-4497 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Event-log-1024x592.png" alt="Event log screen" width="980" height="567" /></a> Event log screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #2: Run Driver Verifier</h3>
The <strong>Driver Verifier</strong> utility can test all your installed drivers and could help you identify corrupt files and drivers. If the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR error is caused by a corrupt driver, the Driver Verifier tool can identify the problematic driver.

To access Driver Verifier, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Start Windows</li>
 	<li>Click start</li>
 	<li>Type <code>cmd</code> in the search box to open <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li>
 	<li>Right-click on the Command Prompt item from the search results list</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Run as Administrator</strong></li>
 	<li>Type <code>verifier</code> in Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Select the <strong>Create standard settings</strong> check box and then click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Select the <strong>Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer</strong> option</li>
 	<li>Click Finish</li>
</ol>
To test against specific drivers, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Start Windows</li>
 	<li>Click start</li>
 	<li>Type <code>verifier</code> in the search box</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Create custom settings</strong></li>
 	<li>Click Next</li>
 	<li>Select everything from the <em>Select individual settings from the full list</em> section. If you're running Windows 8/8.1, leave the <em>DDI compliance checking and randomized low resource simulation</em> unchecked.</li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Select driver names from a list</strong></li>
 	<li>Click Next</li>
 	<li>From the new list select all drivers that are not listed with Microsoft as a provider</li>
 	<li>Click Finish</li>
</ol>
The Driver Verifier tool will now run in the background and save any error logs if the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR appears again. If the error appears, open the logs to troubleshoot the driver.

[caption id="attachment_4498" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img class="wp-image-4498 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Driver-verifier-1024x592.png" alt="Driver verifier screen" width="980" height="567" /> Driver verifier screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #3: Run sfc</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]

For more information on sfc, read the <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">sfc guide</a>.
<h3>Fix #4: Clean boot</h3>
A <strong>clean boot</strong> of your Windows will allow you to trobleshoot if the KERNEL SECURITY CHECK ERROR appears because of a third-party device or driver you've recently installed.

To clean boot a Windows XP, Vista or 7 system, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Start Windows</li>
 	<li>Click Start and type <code>msconfig</code> in the search box or open Run &gt; type <code>msconfig</code></li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Go to the <em>General</em> tab</li>
 	<li>Check <strong>Selective Startup</strong> radio button</li>
 	<li>Uncheck the <strong>Load startup items</strong> check box</li>
 	<li>Go to the <em>Services</em> tab</li>
 	<li>Check <strong>Hide all Microsoft service</strong> check box</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Disable all</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>OK</strong></li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
To clean boot a Windows 8 or 8.1 system, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Follow the same steps from Windows XP/Vista/7 above</li>
 	<li>Go to the Startup tab</li>
 	<li>Disable all startup items</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4499" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Msconfig-utility-screen.png"><img class="wp-image-4499 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/Msconfig-utility-screen-1024x592.png" alt="Msconfig utility screen" width="980" height="567" /></a> Msconfig utility screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #5: Install all pending updates</h3>
Make sure your <strong>Automatic Updates</strong> option is turned on and you have the latest updates install for your system.

Follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Windows Vista, 7 users can type <code>update</code> in the search box to open Windows Updates.Windows 8 users can open the Charm Bar by pressing [winkey] key and the <kbd>C</kbd> keys and then go Settings &gt; Change PC Settings</li>
 	<li>Click Update and Recovery</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Choose how updates get installed</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Install updates automatically</strong> at the <em>Important updates</em> section</li>
 	<li>Check <strong>Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates</strong> check box under <em>Recommended updates</em></li>
 	<li>Click OK</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4500" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/updates2.png"><img class="wp-image-4500 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/07/updates2-1024x768.png" alt="Windows Update setting screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> Windows Update setting screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">sfc</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10"]