7 Effective Solutions to Resolve SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR BSoD 0x0000018B

The SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR BSoD (Blue Screen of Death), identified by the code 0x0000018B, is triggered by a critical issue in the secure kernel component of Windows.

Frequent reasons for this blue screen problem include damaged system files, obsolete or incompatible drivers, malware infections, conflicts between applications or services, and improperly executed Windows installations.

Before diving into troubleshooting, restart your PC, apply all outstanding Windows updates, and disconnect any non-essential hardware. For many users, this initial step should swiftly resolve the issue!

How to Resolve the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR Blue Screen in Windows?

1. Repair Corrupt System Files

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
3. Enter the following DISM commands one at a time, hitting Enter after each: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth, DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth, DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
4. After that, execute the SFC scan command: sfc /scannow.
5. Finally, reboot the computer and check if the issue persists.

Corrupted system files are a prevalent source of various BSoDs, including the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR. By utilizing the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker) scans, you can replace or repair any corrupted files.

2. Deactivate Hyper-V

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Turn Windows features on or off, and select the corresponding option.
2. Uncheck the Hyper-V option if it’s currently checked, then click OK to apply the changes.
3. Restart your computer to verify if the Secure Kernel Error blue screen is resolved.

3. Update Drivers

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, then select Device Manager.
2. Expand the different categories, right-click on each device, and select Update driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for drivers and allow Windows to locate and install the best available version.
4. Continue updating all drivers as needed, and verify the installation by restarting your PC.

If you haven’t updated your drivers recently, doing so may resolve the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR quickly. In fact, in about 40% of cases, outdated drivers have been linked to BSoD occurrences!

If Windows can’t find a suitable update, visit the manufacturer’s website to download and manually install the latest drivers.

4. Conduct a Malware Scan

1. Press Windows + S to launch Search, then type Windows Security and select the appropriate result.
2. Navigate to Virus & threat protection.
3. Click on Scan options.
4. Choose the Full scan option and click Scan now.
5. Once the scan completes, restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved.

5. Execute a Clean Boot

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
2. In the Services tab, check the box labeled Hide all Microsoft services, then click on Disable all.
3. Go to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
4. Identify any applications marked as Enabled, click on them, and then choose Disable.
5. Return to System Configuration, click Apply, and then OK to save changes.
6. Press Restart in the confirmation window that appears.
7. After your system starts in a clean boot state, check if the blue screen issue has been rectified.

If the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR does not reoccur, it indicates one of the disabled applications or services was the root cause. You can then re-enable each component one by one through System Configuration, restarting your PC each time, until you identify the culprit.

6. Reinstall Virtual Machine Software

1. Press Windows + R to access the Run dialog, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Select the virtual machine software associated with the BSoD, then click Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen guidance to uninstall, then restart your computer.
4. Reinstall the application from a verified source afterwards.

VirtualBox has been known to trigger the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR due to compatibility conflicts. If reinstalling fails to resolve the issue, consider switching to another reputable Virtual Machine solution for Windows.

7. Execute an In-Place Upgrade

1. Visit Microsoft’s official site, select your desired OS edition and language, then download the Windows 11 ISO.
2. Open the ISO file by double-clicking it, and select Open when prompted.
3. Launch the setup.exe file.
4. When prompted by the UAC, click Yes.
5. Click Next to continue with the setup.
6. Review the Microsoft license terms and click Accept.
7. Ensure the option to Keep personal files and apps is selected, then click Install.
8. Wait for the installation process to finish; it may take between 45 and 90 minutes.

If an in-place upgrade fails to resolve the SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR in Windows 11, you may have to consider a full reinstall of Windows. This could result in data loss, so it’s wise to back up any critical information onto external storage before proceeding.

Feel free to leave a comment with any questions or to share which solutions worked for you!

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