A system service exception can interrupt your work, cause data loss, and make your system unstable. This error usually points to driver problems or system corruption. If the system service exception keeps appearing, it means your Windows system needs immediate troubleshooting to avoid more serious damage or frequent blue screen crashes.
Traditional causes of system service exceptions
The operating system is informing you when your system gives a system service exception error that something has gone wrong in the kernel mode when running a service routine. It is generated by the following triggers:
Old-fashioned or obsolete device drivers.
Malfunctioning hardware (RAM, hard drive, SSD, graphics card)
Infected system files or failed windows updates.
Software incompatibilities (antivirus or third-party utilities in particular)
Improper system configuration like memory limits or virtual memory.
glitches or broken GPU software graphics-driver glitches
Real-world examples
A user moves his graphics card driver, re-boots the PC but is then presented with a blue screen and exception system service.
The error is caused by a laptop with a failing RAM that attempts to execute a high-resource intensive application or game.
The system service exception is displayed during the booting process after installation of a new Windows Update because of incompatibility among existing drivers.
Troubleshooting system service exception Error
Step-by-step solutions
The following methods should be applied in the order that they are listed – you may not be required to use all of them. Select the solution which best fits your case.
Boot into Safe Mode
- Boot the PC again with the Shift key to get Advanced Startup.
- Go to Troubleshoot→ Advanced options→ Startup settings- Restart.
- Select Safe Mode (or Safe Mode with Networking) and then make an attempt to repair the problem.
Update or Roll Back Drivers
- Open device manager (windows +X) device manager.
- Identify warning devices (yellow exclamation mark).
- Right click and choose update driver or roll back driver should the error begin after an update has been made.
- Particular attention should be given to graphics adapters, network controllers and storage controllers.
Check for Hardware Problems
- Test RAM by running windows memory diagnostic or mdsched.exe.
- You can use chkdsk /f /r C: in Command Prompt to scan your hard drive to identify bad sectors.
- In case you possess a second disk or another gpu, then remove it or switch it.
Uninstall New Updates or Programs
- In Settings, go to Update and Security, and then to Windows Update and View update history and then Uninstall updates.
- Uninstall any third-party software (and utilities in particular) that was added recently.
- Reboot and look to see whether system service exception comes up again.
Reset Virtual Memory and System settings
- Install This PC Right-click This PC Properties Advanced system settings Performance Settings Advanced Virtual memory Change.
- Uncheck Auto-manage, custom size (i.e. 1.5 x RAM), set to default.
- Apply and restart.
There Were other Troubleshooting Tips?
Turn off hardware acceleration in the programs (such as browsers, video editors) in case of the error.
Roll the system back by using System restore to a time when the error has not occurred.
Windows Logs Under Win + X, Event Viewer, Check Event Viewer system to track critical errors at the time of the crash and just before it.
In case the crash occurs only after taking some action (such as plugging a USB device), then run the test without the device to isolate the reason.
FAQs
What is the meaning of the term system service exception?
It implies that a system-level service (kernel mode) has experienced an exception that it was not capable of responding to- usually due to a driver or hardware failure.
Will re-installment of windows remove the system service exception?
Yes, it can be solved by a clean reformat in case the cause of the problem is software corruption. However, in case the problem has to do with hardware (poor RAM, broken SSD) the crash might be unresolved.
Is it possible to get an exception of system service caused by antivirus software?
Yes. There are antivirus or system-tweak programs that install kernel-mode drivers that can conflict thereby causing the error.
Does the error necessarily show a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?
Mostly yes. The system crashes and displays a Blue Screen that carries the message of system service exception. In others however, the PC could reboot before your eyes.
My computer has crashed once but now it appears okay then should I still be worried?
It depends. A single accident can be coincidental. However, when there are recurrent cases, then you should check on the drivers, health and stability of the hardware to prevent loss of data.