We have discussed a lot of BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) errors on our website. Unexpected kernel mode trap is another one of the most popular errors you can see anytime on your computer. This error will appear mostly whenever you update your Windows to a newer version. This error could appear because of a faulty driver or other incompatibility issues.
In other words, you will see a blue screen of death and you may not be able to start your computer normally. This error can easily be fixed just by using a couple of methods.
Any method can work for you and we are going to cover lots of them here in this article.
So, without any further discussions let see how to fix UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE_TRAP error on your Windows PC?
As you know a Windows PC can come up with various types of issues a lot of times. You can see your PC coming up with random errors because of some hidden things. You might get information about the problems but most of the time, you will see strange error messages and some error codes as well.
This error also has numerous things on the list of problems. The main cause is incompatible drivers and other third-party software.
Along with that, a new Windows update could be another big reason for this issue. You can easily determine the reason for this error with the help of the error message.
You will see some kind of name after your error name like RAM, BSOD, etc. So, with the help of these messages, you can easily find the cause of this issue. We will discuss that later in this article.
The error can frustrate any Windows user because it will come up with nothing to do with their hands. You can only do a simple restart and it is possible that your system will give you the same error again.
However, there are several things to do if you are getting this problem over and over again.
We will know about the specific types of errors and then see their root causes. You will know about these errors with their names and then see the ways to fix them.
Now, without any further discussions, let’s dive into it.
Table of Contents
What is Kernel Trap in Windows OS?
Kernel Trap sounds like something pretty serious with your PC. But, it is actually a phrase used to show that there is something wrong either with your software, drivers, or the OS.
It means that your system is not able to identify some commands you are getting from your hardware or any software installed on it. The problem is happening because your OS is not able to connect properly with your hardware.
This could be a mechanical or software problem. But, if you pay proper attention to this error, you will see that it is actually showing you the reason why your computer is stuck in this issue.
But, you are going to see Kernel Trap at first hand, so you might be thinking what is that thing and do not have to focus on that.
Instead, it is better to know about the error mess which is actually highlighting the actual problem. Let’s know about them below.
What does unexpected kernel mode trap mean?
As we have discussed earlier, this error will come in various forms as per the things which are causing this issue. But, the main types of error should definitely be discussed here.
Let’s know about some main types of issues here.
Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap win32kfull.sys, wdf01000.sys, usbxhci.sys, ntfs.sys, nvlddmkm.sys, netio.sys, ndu.sys:
If you are seeing this error on your computer screen, it is actually highlighting the driver or device causing this problem.
It is tough to identify the main driver or device just by these sys file names, but you can easily search them inside your Service menu.
We will come to that later in this article but for now, just focus on the purpose of these error messages.
a. Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap AVG, ESET Smart Security, Avast, McAfee
As the name suggests itself, this problem is directly related to the third-party antivirus programs you have installed on your computer.
Instead of these names, you can see various other things that might be lying behind this issue.
So, this error is clearly giving you a brief idea of the problem.
b. Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap overclock
Again, as the name of this error is highlighting, this is an issue caused if you have overclocked your system in any way.
Removing all your overclock settings can easily fix this issue within minutes.
c. Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap RAM
This is one of the most common error messages you will see whenever you have this issue on your computer. Memory problems cause various problems and it is possible that a faulty RAM is a problem.
d. Unexpected Kernal Mode Trap BSOD
This one is another common error you can see anytime with this fault. BSOD means there is something wrong either with your drivers or the system itself.
Fixing it will be easy and you will have to follow the procedures we are going to discuss below.
What is the Difference between the user mode and kernel mode?
There are two main processing modes selected by your processor depending on the type of process in hand. Your processor will make a decision using its own intelligence and work in the way it is designed.
The switching takes place under various circumstances and your processor can use these modes to finish the tasks in a much efficient manner.
Generally, the processor will work in user mode whenever an application is running on your PC. Whereas, it is going to use the Kernel mode while running the crucial operating system processes. Now, you can imagine why this error is showing you the Kernel mode error.
This is happening because there are certain problems with your system when it is trying to run any important process related to the OS or the device drivers.
You do not have to know this thing in order to fix this problem effectively but it is always good to know about extra things.
What causes kernel mode heap corruption?
Kernel Mode Heap Corruption is a different error. You can’t relate it with the kernel-mode trap error. This one is most caused by corrupt or outdated drivers.
Unlike this one, RAM and OS are not involved in this error most of the time. If your drivers are outdated, you can see this error. However, you can easily update the important drivers like graphics and network drivers to easily fix this issue.
This one will also come with a BSOD so you can think of both these errors as the same thing. But, they are actually not.
The heap corruption error is showing something else related to the drivers. We can’t discuss it anymore in this article but you should always know the difference in order to implement the best correction methods.
Is it a good idea to run all programs in kernel mode?
Generally, the kernel-mode used by your CPU will work with more privileges as compared to the user mode. The kernel-mode is going to have unrestricted access to all the hardware components on your PC.
However, if you want, you can give some extra privileges to some processes even while you are running in the user mode. This can enhance the performance of your computer and the foreground processes as well.
If we discuss it honestly, it is never recommended by the manufacturers. The modes are used by your system itself depending on the situations and the processes which are ongoing.
Also, it is very hard to give completed kernel-mode access to your software and other third-party services.
These functions are given to make your computer run smoothly in different circumstances.
So, let it decide when it should use those features. So, we can say that it is not a good idea to run all programs in kernel mode.
It is going to downgrade your performance on the internal levels.
Why do we need Kernel Mode?
Kernel mode is the most important feature or we can say a privilege given to your CPU to handle the deeper level processes on your system. This mode is used by the processes which are running on the lowest-levels. These processes may include all the OS tasks and important hardware functions.
Only trusted services and tasks will run using this mode. The core purpose of having this function on your system is that it can run important tasks with all the important and required privileges.
This will help your system to handle everything in a proper manner.
Because your system should be able to focus more on the core tasks, first of all, the kernel-mode can be understood as a necessary thing for your CPU and the overall system.
We need kernel mode to handle only the trusted tasks and processes. So, whenever your system is running in this mode, it is actually working on the things which are most important in any aspect.
Some Efficient Ways to fix Unexpected Kernel mode trap error
There are numerous things you can try and fix this issue properly. We will cover everything systematically and you should also follow this information in the same way.
Now, let’s get started.
1. Restart your PC
The first thing is to simply restart your computer. This should only be tried if your seeing this error for the first time. If you have already restarted your computer several times after seeing this error, it is better to jump to the next solution.
However, if you haven’t done that yet, make sure to restart it and see if the problem is fixed. If not, you can try the actual troubleshooting methods.
2. Run the BSOD Troubleshooter
If you are using the latest Windows 10 version, you will be able to use Windows special BSOD troubleshooting feature for sure. This function is going to help you fix various BSOD errors.
This is the reason why we are going to try this method first of all. It can effectively fix various issues related to the BSOD. Running this troubleshooter is pretty easy and it can easily give you lots of things to fix your problems. This function in your Windows PC can help you fix unexpected kernel trap errors within minutes.
If it is not able to fix the issue, you are surely going to get suggestions to fix the problem using some other things.
But, you will surely get some type of solution to your problem just by using this inbuilt feature in your Windows computer.
Let’s see how you can run it.
- Press Windows+I keys together to open Windows settings
- Click the Update and Security option
- Select the Troubleshoot option from the right menu
- Now, choose BSOD from the given option and then press Run the Troubleshooter
- Follow the instructions and give some time to let the task complete
Once the process is finished, you will get some solutions you can easily try to fix this issue. It is also possible that your system will solve this problem for you on its own.
But, if you are still not able to solve the problem even after doing this thing, just jump to the next solution.
3. Run the SFC Scan
You can imagine this scan just like the above method. SFC scan stands for System File Checker scan. This scan is going to scan your system files and then search for any potential issues with any of the available files.
If your system has corrupted files or folders, it will find them and try to delete or correct them. This scan is pretty effective but running it is very easy.
You just have to use the command prompt and run a single command which we are going to show you below. So, let’s get started with that.
The scan may take a longer time depending on the files available on your system. If you have a lot of files, make sure to have patience.
You will surely see good results.
- Press Windows+X keys together and choose the Command Prompt (Admin) option
- Enter this command inside cmd and hit Enter: sfc/scannow
- Give your system some time until this scan is finished
- If your system find any solution, it will be applied automatically
- Once it is done, make sure to restart your computer
If you are still seeing this error even after running this scan, just proceed to the next method.
4. Check your RAM for errors
If you have given a look at the possible error types and you are seeing the RAM causing this issue, you should try to check for problems inside it. Fortunately, Windows comes with another great feature to check if your RAM is working properly without any errors. This feature is called Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. Just like the above one, this feature can easily be accessed and your computer will check for all the possible problems on its own.
Running this scan is very easy just like the earlier one. You will surely be able to have positive results if there is something wrong with your RAM.
Without any further discussions, let’s see how you can run this scan without any hassles.
- Click Start or the Windows key and search for Memory Diagnostic Tool in the search box
- Right-click the Memory Diagnostic Tool and then click Run as Administrator
- Choose any restarting option as per your preference
- Your system will need a reboot to let this scan happen
Once the scan is done, you should be able to get rid of this problem. If not, you can go to the next solution.
5. Update important drivers
If this issue is caused by some kind of faulty drivers, you should try to check all the drivers are up to date. Just like the examples of common errors we have discussed above, if you are seeing an error like the first one, you are possibly getting this problem because of a faulty error.
Now, finding the actually problematic error could be a tough thing. So, you should try to update all the important drivers. It is easy to do this thing using the manual update method.
However, you can use a third-party driver updating software to make this thing easy for you.
Let’s see how you can update your desired driver manually.
- Press Windows+X keys together on your keyboard and hit the Device Manager option
- Enter the Device Manager menu and double click the device driver you want to upgrade
- Pick your driver and right-click its name
- Choose the Update Driver option
- Then, pick the automatic method if you haven’t downloaded the latest version of the driver on your PC already
Let your computer find the latest driver and install it properly. This may take some time. After it’s done, check if you are seeing this error again. If yes, just proceed to the next step.
6. Disable Memory Caching in BIOS
This is another great fix you should definitely try in order to fix this issue properly. In fact, memory caching can cause various issues for our Windows OS. So, it is definitely a good thing to try and see if it can work for you.
However, this method is going to be one of the hardest methods. Also, depending on the type and brand of your computer, the process may vary.
But, we are going to follow the whole process properly by taking care of everyone. Let’s see how you can perform this method and fix this problem in a good manner.
- Restart your computer
- While your computer is restarting, press F1 or F2 to enter BIOS. Search online to know how you can enter BIOS using a different system
- Go to Advanced menu
- Now, select Cache Memory and set it to Disabled
- Press F10 to Save and Exit the BIOS menu
- Make sure to press Yes to Confirm
Once this process is done, make sure to restart your computer. This will surely fix your problem.
What if the error is still there?
In that case, it is time to find an expert who can look deeply into the problem and fix it from the main point. The problem could be physical damage to any of your devices or some corruption with the system files.
So, it is good to find an authorized computer expert of your computer brand and let them handle this problem properly.
Obviously, you will have to pay for that if your computer is out of warranty. But, this is the only thing you should and must do at this step.
Final Verdict
We hope you are now aware of how to fix unexpected kernel mode trap error permanently. All these methods are pretty easy to follow.
However, if you are finding any problem, it is OK to leave that thing there. These troubleshooting steps are easy to follow. So, make sure to perform them systematically for the best results.
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