The KMode exception not handled error, or error code 0x0000001E usually occurs on Windows 10. It is accompanied by a Blue Screen Of Death (BSoD). BSoDs are considered to be a serious problem among PC users. It usually occurs due to a faulty hardware or driver and is a critical error that is not easily recovered from. In some cases, BSoDs can result in an infinite restart loop if not resolved.
BSoD errors differ in looks based on what version of Windows you are using. They usually cannot be caused by regular apps, the reason is most definitely a deeper internal issue. They occur when Windows experiences a “STOP Error”. When this happens it creates a mini dump to store any crucial information regarding the crash and saves this file onto your disk.
Note: Windows will automatically restart the computer if it encounters a BSoD.
To view information and then troubleshoot BSoD errors on Windows, use the Action Center in Control Panel, under Security and Maintenance to check for any recommended solutions.
Quick tips:
- If your computer continues to result in a BSoD every time you restart, try booting into Safe Mode. This way your PC only loads the essential drivers and you can now work on fixing the BSoD issue.
- Try System Restore. This is one of the quickest ways to sometimes resolve any issues. This takes your system into a previous working state. This usually tends to work if the issue is caused by a software issue.
- Perform a malware scan. A very important point to note is that a lot of issues we face with our PCs could be due to a virus infection. Use an antivirus software to scan for any malware that might be affecting your system.
What does the ‘KMode Exception not handled’ error mean?
Getting into the details of the ‘KMode Exception not handled’ error could be a little tiresome and dry. In simpler words, this error occurs when applications overwrite each other’s memory which could cause a BSoD and eventually lead to a full system crash. Fortunately, this error is an easily fixable one.
Before getting into the solutions to fix the error, let’s make sure we are correctly identifying the error.
This is the message that is displayed on the screen when encountering the 0x0000001E error: “A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer”
Technical Information: “STOP: 0x0000001E (0x0000001E, 0x0000001E)”
What causes the ‘KMode Exception not handled’ error?
This error can be caused by any of the following issues:
- Faulty device drivers. This could be due to a recent Windows upgrade or downgrade, or a misconfigured, outdated or corrupt device driver.
- Corrupt system software or services
- Incompatible software applications
- Malfunctioning RAM. A faulty RAM module that causes frequent read or write errors.
- Other hardware problem
5 solutions to fix the ‘KMode Exception not handled’ error
There are several ways to fix the 0x0000001E error. All may not work for everybody, so we have given below a set of options for you to try in order to fix your computer. Let’s start with the easiest method.
Disable Windows 10 Fast Startup
Fast Startup is a feature in Windows 10 that allows fast recovery from Windows hibernation and shutdown. However this does not eliminate any preexisting driver problems and will load them back on.
Steps to disable Fast Startup:
- Open up the Control Panel from the Start menu.
- Go to System and Security and then click on Power Options.
- From the menu on the left, click on Choose what power buttons do.
- Under Shutdown settings uncheck the Turn on Fast Startup.
- Save changes and restart your PC.
This is a quick temporary fix, but if you are still facing the KMode exception not handled error, you will have to look into the more complex solutions given below.
Check your RAM
As mentioned above, this error could also be caused by a faulty RAM. This can be verified by using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
Steps to identify if there’s an issue with the RAM:
- Search for “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search bar.
- Right-click and run the Windows Memory Diagnostic as administrator.
- Click on Restart now and check for problems.
- During the PC reboot, wait for the scan to be complete.
If the scan results in any errors, this indicates a faulty RAM and there is a high probability that your RAM is what is causing the BSoD on your PC.
Another method to discover issues with your RAM is to use Easy Recovery Essentials.
Disable or update drivers
If the issue is with one of your device drivers, Windows will usually give you an indication of which specific driver is causing the issue. If so, it is usually mentioned in the error message in brackets.
Once the driver is identified, try the following steps:
- Search for Device Manager in the search bar.
- Find the driver that corresponds to the error, right-click on it and click on Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software, then follow the on-screen instructions.
If this method didn’t work, you should check the website of the driver manufacturer for new driver releases and download the latest one. Then use this downloaded driver to manually update the drivers by choosing Browse my computer for driver software instead of automatic search. This option is more time consuming but could solve your error.
Uninstall corrupt or incompatible software
If the error is not caused by a malfunctioning driver, it could be due to the incompatibly of a newly installed software. Try restarting your computer after uninstalling any recently installed software.
Check for hardware compatibility
If you have recently upgraded your Windows OS and you are facing the 0x0000001E error, it could be due to an incompatibility between the new version of the OS and one of your hardware devices. To fix to this issue, please refer to the official Windows documentation to check if your PC is compatible with the newly installed version of the Windows OS.
Conclusion
The BSoD caused by the KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x0000001E) error can be exhausting, but we have shown several ways to handle the issue. Note that you do not have to be techie to solve the 0x0000001E error. However, if the problem still persists after all attempts at the solutions above, please contact your manufacturer and replace your RAM. It is advised to consult a technician before you do so.
