Athwbx.sys is a Qualcomm Atheros driver file that has been notorious for causing various Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. It often gets corrupted, preventing Windows 10 from accessing it properly. It is usually accompanied by any of these Stop Error Codes:
- STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL (athwbx.sys)
- STOP 0×00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (athwbx.sys)
- SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
- STOP 0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
If you encountered any of these error codes, do not panic. As we’ve mentioned, a corrupted Qualcomm Atheros driver file is one of the primary causes of the athwbx.sys BSOD error. So, in this post, we are going to share some effective workarounds to the problem. After reading this article, you should be able to know how to fix athwbx.sys blue screen errors.
Solution 1: Performing a System Restore
One of the easiest ways to get rid of the athwbx.sys BSOD error is by going back to a previous system restore point where everything in your PC is working perfectly. Do not worry about losing your personal files because this solution won’t affect them. However, if you recently installed drivers or programs, they may be removed from your computer. So, proceed with caution. Here are the steps:
- Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
- Type “System Restore” (no quotes), then select Create a Restore Point from the results.
- Now, click the System Restore button.
- Look at the dates of the restore points and recall when your system was working perfectly.
- Select your restore point, then click Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the System Restore process.
Solution 2: Updating your Drivers
There may be incompatibility issues between your operating system and the Qualcomm Atheros driver. So, we recommend updating your drivers. You can visit the manufacturer’s website and search for the latest versions of your drivers. However, you need to make sure that you are downloading and installing the version that is compatible with your processor type and operating system. Otherwise, your computer will suffer from system instability issues.
Manually updating your drivers can consume so much of your time. Moreover, it is a risky option. As such, we suggest using Auslogics Driver Updater. With this software program, you will be able to update all your drivers—not just the Qualcomm Atheros driver file. So, by the end of the process, you’ve learned how to fix the SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED error code. Moreover, you have improved the performance of your PC.
Solution 3: Performing an SFC Scan and Running Check Disk
The System File Checker can identify corrupted files and repair them accordingly. To run this utility, you need to follow the instructions below:
- Click the Search icon on your taskbar.
- Now, type “Command Prompt” (no quotations).
- Right-click Command Prompt from the results, then select Run as Administrator.
- Run the following command:
sfc /scannow
- Once the process is complete, restart your computer and check if the error is gone.
- You can also use the Check Disk utility to ensure that there are no corrupted files in your system’s hard drives. To do this, you need to run Command Prompt as an administrator. After that, type the command line below and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f C:
- Restart your computer after the process is complete.
Pro Tip: One of the reasons why system files and drivers get corrupted is because of malware. So, to prevent the athwbx.sys BSOD error from showing up again, we recommend protecting your PC, using a powerful security software program. There are many anti-virus tools out there, but Auslogics Anti-Malware is among your top choices.
No matter how discreetly the malware programs run in the background, Auslogics Anti-Malware will be able to detect them. Moreover, this tool is designed not to interfere with your main anti-virus. So, it functions as an effective security reinforcement for your computer.
Solution 4: Recreating the athwbx.sys File
If athwbx.sys prevents Windows 10 from upgrading to newer builds and causes a host of other issues, then perhaps it is time to recreate the file. Keep in mind that you’ll need to boot your computer in Safe Mode. Once you’ve done that, follow the instructions below:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to this location:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers
- Search for the athwbx.sys file, then change its name to “athwbx.old” (no quotes).
- Restart your computer as you normally would. Your system will create a new athwbx.sys file automatically.
What other BSOD errors would you like us to resolve?
Write them down in the comments below!
