Fix KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED On Windows 8, 10

Windows users, unfortunately, become familiar with the so-called blue screen of death that always signals that there is a Windows error. There are many different reasons why the blue screen of death would occur, including the following: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED on Windows 8, 10.

I know how frustrating this blue screen of death can be, particularly when you are trying to figure out what may be causing it and how you could about fixing it. So, if you have been struggling to find out how to fix this error, you have come to the right place. I have done all the necessary research so you won’t need to.

In this article, I will go through everything that you will ever need to know about error KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED on Windows 8, 10 including, of course, how to fix it once and for all. So, the idea is that you should find everything in this tutorial without needing to do any further research.

“We had the Windows app store in Windows 8, but one of the big changes in the design of Windows 10 is to make sure that the app store is front and center where our usage is, which is the desktop.” – Satya Nadella

Here at Error Codes Pro we address all kinds of errors, so before I start to tackle the error at hand, let me remind you that you will also find articles about the following areas:

• Windows errors (not just the blue screen of death errors but all kinds).
• Mac computer errors.
• Linux errors.
• Gaming errors.
• Appliance errors.
• And much more!

Let’s now look at what causes the KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED on Windows 8, 10 before I go over all the different possible fixes.

What Is The KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED Error On Windows 8, 10?

As tends to be the case with the blue screen of death errors, there are many different potential causes for this error. The reason for this error could be anything from any new software that you have recently installed or simply having a bad driver.

Because this error is so difficult to pin down, fixing it can be nothing short of a nightmare particularly if you are not sure what could have possibly gone wrong.

The first thing you will need to be sure before proceeding is that you are indeed dealing with this error.

Microsoft classifies KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED as a bug. You will recognize it because you will get the dreaded blue screen of death and a message like this:

 

As you can see from the error message or may have experienced yourself, this error will cause your computer to restart every single time it occurs. This can be extremely frustrating as you may be in the middle of something (no matter how important) when this error interrupts whatever you are doing and force you to wait until your Windows 8 or Windows 10 computer restarts.

So, now that I have gone through this error and you perhaps understand it a little bit better (at least, that is my hope), let’s look at all the possible solutions for this problem. Because the problem is so complex and there could be so many different reasons for it, you might need to try out different possible fixes until you stumble upon the one that will do the trick for you!

Of course, you can just attempt the possible fixes in a random order, you may be lucky and find the one that will work straight away, but I’d suggest that you just go ahead and attempt them in the order in which they are presented below. You might still be lucky and fix in on the first or the second solution.

Possible Fix Number 1

The first possible fix is designed to fix this error when the cause for it is either by missing drivers or using corrupt drivers. This is a very common issue, which is why this possible fix ranks at number one and it should be the first one that you attempt until you strongly suspect there is nothing wrong with your drivers.

The solution for this is really just installing any missing drivers or reinstalling the corrupt ones if they are any.

The problem is that, often, this error itself prevents users from accessing Windows 8 or Windows 10. If that is the case for you, do not worry, there is a work around the issue if you are just able to use safe mode.

 

Just in case you do not have to use safe mode, here are the steps you will need to follow to do so:

1. Grab your Windows computer.
2. Let your computer restart and after the blue screen of death.
3. Restart your computer a few times, until you see the following: Windows Recovery Environment.
4. Once you are able to see the Windows Recovery Environment, choose the troubleshoot option.
5. Then, select Advanced options from Troubleshoot.
6. Next, choose startup settings.
7. Click on the restart button.
8. Wait until your Windows computer restarts again. This time, once your computer has fully restarted, you should be able to see a list displaying on your screen.
9. Hit the F5 key.

If you follow these steps to the letter, you will enter the Safe Mode with networking. It’ll take some time but you should be able to get there and then install the missing or corrupt drivers.

There is a change you won’t be able to enter the Safe Mode with network this way. If that is the case for you, you’ll have to get a hold of the original installation DVD and USB drive to use them for this. Just follow these steps:

1. Grab your Windows computer.
2. Insert the Windows DVD or USB installation drive.
3. Boot your computer and hold down one of the following keys: Del or F2. This action will let you access BIOS.
4. You will need to access BIOS so you can set your Windows computer installation as a first boot device.
5. Once you have done that, save all the changes that you have made and exit BIOS.
6. Hit any key to kick start the Windows setup.
7. Next, wait until the Windows set up window displays on your screen.
8. Then, click on Next.
9. From all the available options, select repair your computer.
10. Then, select troubleshoot.
11. Choose Advanced options.
12. Next, choose command prompt.
13. Once the command prompt displays on the screen, type “C:” (no quotation marks), and click on Enter.
14. Next, enter the following command: “BCDEDIT / SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY” (no quotation marks), and click on Enter.
15. Next, the following message will display on your screen: “The operation completed successfully message”.
16. Type “exit” (no quotation marks).
17. Click on Enter.
18. Click on continue. This final action will cause your computer to restart.
19. Remove the Windows installation USB or DVD straightway.
20. Hold down the following keys as your computer continues to boot: either the F8 key or both the F8 key and the Shift key simultaneously.
21. Next, you will be presented with a list of options on your screen. Select the Safe Mode with networking and let your computer fully restart.

Whether you were able to get to the Safe mode following one or the other of the previous methods, once you get there you will need to install the drivers that are missing.

Just head over to the Device Manager from the Windows menu. Then, click on the update driver software option and select one of the following options (whichever works for you):

• Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Browse my computer for driver software.

That’s really all you will need to do!

 

Possible Fix Number 2

If the first possible fix does not work for you, it is possible that your antivirus software is causing the error. Try disabling your antivirus temporarily to rule this out. If your anti virus is causing this error, then you might want to consider uninstalling it and installing a different one, instead.

Possible Fix Number 3

If you have identified that a particular file is causing the error, you can just rename it. But before you do so, make sure that you research the file thoroughly online because you do not want to change a file that will just result in further instability and more errors.

Possible Fix Number 4 

This solution will work if this error is being caused by your CPU. One thing that you could try if you are an advanced and, therefore, confident user, would be to change the CPU voltage manually. You might need to get an expert to do this for you.

Possible Fix Number 5

There is a program called On/Off Gigabyte that sometimes causes this error so you might want to try uninstalling it and then check if this makes a real difference.

There are actually a few more fixes that can be done but you will need an expert to do them for you. In fact, I would only suggest the first two fixes if you are not an advanced user, as anything else is more complex and potentially dangerous.

If you have any feedback about this article or you would like to share your own tips for dealing with KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED on Windows 8, 10, please leave us a message in the comments section below!