What Is Ntoskrnl.Exe and How to Fix the BSOD Caused by It

What Is Ntoskrnl.Exe

Ntoskrm.exe (short for Windows NT operating system kernel executable) is a core program in Windows 7. It is the old program in Windows NT, probably that’s the reason for this name – ntoskrnl.exe. In addition, MiniTool will show you more details about ntoskrnl.exe.

Ntoskrm.exe is also known as kernel image, which provides the kernel and executable layers of the Microsoft Windows NT kernel space. Besides, it is in charge of multiple system services like hardware abstraction, process and memory management.

Simply put, ntoskrm.exe is the file that enables Windows to run normally. If there’s something wrong with this file, your computer cannot work until you fix the error. When the file is corrupted or damaged, you will encounter the BSOD error.

Therefore, what causes ntoskrm.exe/BSOD error? Please move on to the next part to find the answer.

What Causes Ntoskrnl.Exe Error

It is very crucial to find the causes of ntoskrm.exe error. You can solve the error more quickly after find the causes. Another benefit is that you can prevent the error from happening again. Here are some clues for you.

• General speaking, the ntoskrm.exe file will be affected when the memory is damaged.
• The device drivers have become out of date.
• The drivers are clocked.
• Your computer is experiencing CPU (Central Processing Unit) issues.

You may be interested in this: Quick Fix Windows Modules Installer Worker High CPU Usage

Given to that fact, you need to try several fixes to solve the error. Now, let’s see how to solve the ntoskrm.exe error.

How to Fix Ntoskrnl.Exe Error

As said above, there are several possible causes of ntoskrm.exe error. Therefore, there are also several solutions to fix the error accordingly. Let’s explore them one by one.

Fix 1: Update Device Drivers

The outdated or damaged drivers can be the reason for the ntoskrm.exe error. Hence, check if all the devices have the correct drivers and update the outdated driver.

There are two ways for video card and monitor to get the correct driver: manually and automatically. I will explain them to you one by one.

• Update drivers manually: You can look for the latest and correct drivers and update device drivers manually by accessing hardware devices manufacturers’ websites. Make sure the driver is compatible with your Windows 10.
• Update drivers automatically: If you have no time or don’t want to wait patiently for updating drivers manually, you can utilize a third-party tool like Driver Easy to update drivers automatically.

Fix 2: Reset Overclocking Settings

When the ntoskrnl.exe Windows 7 BSOD error happens, you are able to try resetting overlocking settings. If there’s a trusted program that can help you change the overlock in BIOS, utilize it directly. On the contrary, if not, follow the steps below to reset overlocking settings to factory default state.

Step 1: Press the Power button for 10 seconds or until the system is shut down completely.

Step 2: Open the Power source. Press F1, F2, F10, ESC or Delete keys when the first logo screen shows up to enter the BIOS.

Step 3: Navigate to the Exit tab, and then move to Load Setup Defaults.

Step 4: You can see a notification after pressing the F10 key. Then press the Enter key to continue. Then your computer will reboot.

The information may be slightly different from what the above steps show, and you should change the settings according to the notifications on your screen. If you are not sure some steps, please go to the technical support page of the device manufacturer.

Fix 3: Perform a Memory Test

Memory can also result in Ntoskrnl.Exe BSOD error. To fix the error, you can run a memory test to check the memory of your computer and find the faulty driver.

Step 1: Click on the Start button, and then type windows memory diagnostic. Select Windows Memory Diagnostic from the search results.

Step 2: Click Restart now and check for problems (recommended) to go on.

Step 3: Then the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool will run automatically. The process will take you some time, please wait patiently. After that, you will see the results when you log on.

Then you can adopt corresponding methods to fix the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error according to the notification.