How to Fix the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
The SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION blue screen of death (BSOD) is an annoying issue that can cause your system to keep rebooting. It is usually caused by a driver issue, which means that the problem lies with a software that helps your hardware communicate with your operating system. While this can be frustrating, it can usually be sorted out by running a system fix scan, and Windows will take care of the problem for you.
Here’s how to tackle that SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD so you can break that blue screen reboot loop:
Run a system scan
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION blue screens are usually caused by a system driver error. These aren’t like your chipset or graphics drivers where you can just update them through the manufacturer’s website. Fortunately, Windows has a built-in scan tool to help fix file system and Windows driver errors.
If the blue screen won’t let you boot to Windows, try this:
1. Search for “Powershell” in the Windows search bar.
2. Right-click the corresponding result and select “Run as administrator”.
3. Type the following, then press Enter:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This will find and replace any missing or corrupted files within the Windows Component Store. This can take a few minutes to complete, but let it do its thing until it’s ready.
Additionally, you can try running the System File Checker to check over Windows system files. Run that through PowerShell too, with this command:
sfc /scannow
After running these scans, try rebooting your PC. See if the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error is now solved. If not, try the method below.
Run driver verifier
If the file system check tools didn’t work, you can try running Windows’ built-in driver verification tool to see if it’s a system driver issue.
Note: If the driver verifier finds a corrupt driver, it can actually trigger a BSOD, so consider creating a system restore point or backing up your data manually to play it safe.
1. Search for “Powershell” in the Windows search bar.
2. Right-click the corresponding result and select “Run as administrator”.
3. Type in “verifier.exe” and press Enter.
4. In the window that appears, select “Create standard settings” from the top of the screen, then select “Next”.
5. Select “Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer”, then select “Next”.
6. Reboot your PC and wait for the driver verifier to complete during startup. If any blue screens occur, note down those errors, as they should tell you the driver you need to update, upgrade, or replace.
7. If you find yourself stuck trying to boot into Windows, restart your PC and start the Verifier tool again. Then on the first screen, select “Delete existing settings”, then select “Finish”.
Use system restore
If none of the above methods help solve this problem, try system restore. This can fix a number of issues, especially if you’ve recently installed new hardware. Roll back your system to when it wasn’t giving you blue screen errors, and you might be able to get your PC functioning again.
If you still can’t get past this BSOD error, it might be time to consider a clean Windows installation.