Fixing Windows 10 BSOD Error 0x00000139

Since you are here, we must assume you saw a problem description or notification where Error 0x00000139 appeared as a key term on a blue screen. Given the manifestation of the blue screen of death (commonly abbreviated as BSOD), we can also infer that your computer crashed and restarted. In this guide, we intend to examine Error 0x00000139 and the issues that revolve around it.

What is the BSOD 0x00000139 error?

Error 0x00000139 – which is similar to Error 0x00000133 – is a special error code that defines specific events that lead to a blue screen of death. The events in this case probably have something to do with a hardware (physical) device or driver (software) that malfunctioned and caused Windows to shut down.

Typically, when a computer experiences a severe crash that results in a blue screen, the affected system displays some information (such as the error code) about the issue that occurred. The error code for a BSOD is more or less associated with the issues that trigger the crash, the factors, the conditions or the events causing the crash to play out, and so on.

The vast majority of BSODs – given their nature – are down to issues with physical hardware components or drivers for those devices. In any case, the error code is still supposed to help you narrow down things.

If your computer suffered the crash defined by Error 0x00000133 while you were surfing the web, for example, then the issues were probably triggered by a faulty network adapter or its drivers. If the BSOD manifests itself only when you are playing games or running graphics-intensive programs, then the driver for your graphics card is likely to have played some role in causing the problem. In any of those cases, you will have to resolve issues with the drivers to fix the problem.

On the other hand, if your computer goes down with the crash for which Error 0x00000133 comes up to inform you of a problem when you are booting Windows, then other factors or variables are likely to be in play. You have to do things a bit differently – since you cannot even log in to your computer to perform regular tasks.

Some users reported that the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ FAILURE crash manifested itself after they tried to wake their computer from sleep, while others stated that the issue came up after a RAM upgrade.

How to fix the Windows 10 BSOD error 0x00000133

Here, we intend to provide complete descriptions for the procedures used to resolve the blue screen of death defined by Error 0x00000133 on Windows 10 devices. We took all the cases or scenarios where the issue manifests itself into account and will be providing fixes for all categories of users.

Even if you cannot get your computer to boot normally and reach your desktop, you will still learn how to resolve Windows 10 Error 0x00000133 in this guide. Users who experience the BSOD crash only when they are performing certain tasks – especially those who can start up Windows normally (without issues) – will also find fixes for the issues in their case.

You have to start with the first procedure on the list and then work your way through the rest accordingly. You must skip fixes or operations that do not apply to you and move on to the next task on the list.

Trigger Startup Repair and boot Windows into safe mode (specific procedure for users whose computers refuse to boot normally):

If you cannot get to the regular Windows operating system environment due to the issues represented by the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ FAILURE error message, then you have to trigger Startup Repair and get your computer into safe mode. Startup Repair is a special recovery tool (or platform for accessing utilities) used to fix problems that prevent Windows from starting up normally.

Meanwhile, Safe mode is an advanced boot technique or process that allows you to start up Windows while your system loads a minimal set of drivers and programs. Your computer will run the minimum components (that it needs). Since unnecessary drivers and third-party programs are not allowed to run in the environment resulting from a safe boot, the issues that trigger the BSOD are unlikely to manifest themselves there.

In other words, your computer should not crash after you get it into safe mode. Well, in safe mode, you will be able to troubleshoot Error 0x00000133 and apply fixes to resolve the BSOD issue. You have to get to Startup Repair first, though.

Your computer is programmed to bring up Startup Repair automatically if something disrupts the Windows boot sequence three times (or more) consecutively. These are the instructions you must follow to launch Startup Repair on Windows 10:

• Press (and hold) the power button on your machine’s keyboard, wait for the device to lose power (and go off), and then give the power button a tap to turn your device back on.
• Repeat the step (above) at least two times.
• This time, after you press the power button on your machine’s keyboard, you must wait until you see the Preparing Automatic Repair message.
• You might be asked to select an account and use it to log into your computer. In that case, you will have to enter the password for the selected account.
• You must choose the admin account (an account that possesses administrative privileges) and sign in with it.

Automatic Repair will eventually come up and try to diagnose the issues affecting your computer.

1. Follow the on-screen instructions. Perform the appropriate tasks – if this step applies.
2. On the screen that follows, you have to choose Advanced options.
3. Click on Troubleshoot.
4. Click on Startup Settings.

If you do not see Startup settings, you have to click on the See more recovery options link. On the screen that follows, you will then have to click on Startup Settings.

5. Click on the Restart button.

Your computer is now supposed to reboot itself and take you into the recovery environment.

Go through the options on your screen. You have to press the 5 or F5 button on your machine’s keyboard to boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

Alternatively, you can press the 5 or F5 button on your device’s keyboard to select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Note: if you cannot get your computer to boot into safe mode from the recovery environment or if you cannot even trigger Automatic repair, then you have to create a bootable Windows 10 flash drive, insert the drive into your computer and then force your machine to boot from the drive. You will be able to access recovery, diagnosis, and repair utilities in the resulting environment.

Enable the legacy advanced boot menu (specific fix users who experienced boot problems due to Error 0x00000133):

If you cannot log in to your computer due to the issues defined by the error or BSOD in view, then you have to enable the legacy advanced boot menu. Here, we are assuming you have gotten your computer into safe mode (or booted Windows from a flash drive to access recovery tools), which means you will be able to use Command Prompt. If you selected Safe Mode with Command Prompt earlier, then things will be easier for you.

Follow these instructions:

• First, you have to launch the Command Prompt application – if this program window is not on your screen currently.

Skip the next three steps if you already opened Command Prompt.

• Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your machine’s display (or give the Windows logo button on your device’s keyboard a tap).
• Input CMD into the text field (that appears the moment you begin to type) to perform a search task using that keyword as the query.
• Once Command Prompt (App) appears as the main entry on the results list, you have to do a right-click on it to see the options available and then choose Run as administrator.
• Assuming you are now on the Command Prompt window, you have to run this code there (type in the command first and then hit the Enter button):

C:

• At this point, you must run this command to enable the legacy advanced boot menu:

BCDEDIT /SET {DEFAULT} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY

• Finally, you must run this code to close or dismiss the Command Prompt window:

EXIT

You will be directed back to the Choose an option screen.

• Click on Continue. Now, you have to restart your computer normally.
• Check and confirm that your computer no longer blue screens like before.

Run quick preliminary checks and perform complementary tasks:

Before you get bogged down working on long operations, you might want to run quick checks on your computer to troubleshoot the issue and perform complementary tasks (where applicable) to fix the problem. Go through these troubleshooting tips (which have been shortened for ease and accessibility):

• If you recently connected a peripheral or new hardware component to your machine, then you must remove it (or replace it) to see if things improve.
• If you recently installed a new driver or application, then you have to disable or uninstall it completely.

In general, you will do well to reverse whatever change you made in recent times to your computer in terms of new software (be it applications or drivers) or new settings or configurations (for applications, setups, or even Windows itself).

• Check the System log in Event Viewer to see additional error messages and problem descriptions that might help you narrow down the cause of the problem or assist you in figuring out the device or driver that is responsible for the BSOD.
• If you know your way around the Device Manager app, then you have to launch this application to see if there are device drivers marked with an exclamation symbol.

Well, Windows typically places the exclamation mark beside a troubled driver, so you will know which device to check for problems.

Disable the Automatic restart function:

Here, we want you to configure your computer to allow the error screen to stay up for longer than usual after the crash occurs. Currently, your system is programmed to show the blue screen only briefly before restarting or even restart itself immediately (without showing an error screen). By forcing your computer to keep the error screen up, you will be able to examine the error for as long as necessary and learn some things about it.

Once you gather enough details on a specific blue screen error, you will find it easier to resolve the problems, especially the issues that lead to or trigger the crash. Follow these instructions to disable the Automatic restart function:

• Give the Windows logo button on your device’s keyboard a tap to see the Windows Start menu screen (or click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your computer’s display).
• Input Advanced settings into the text box (that appears the moment you begin to type) to perform a search task using those keywords as the query.
• Once View advanced system settings (Control Panel) gets brought up as the main entry on the results list, you have to click on it to launch the needed program.

The System Properties window will be brought up now.

• Click on the Advanced tab (close to the top of the window) to go there – if you are not there currently.
• Click on the Settings button under the Startup and Recovery section to continue.

Windows will bring up the Startup and Recovery window now.

• Click on the box for Automatic restart (under the System failure section) to get this parameter deselected.
• Click on the OK button to save the new configuration for Startup and Recovery.
• Close all the windows and then restart your computer.
• Do your best to trigger the blue screen of death or recreate the event where your computer goes with a crash.

After the blue screen of death comes up again, you have to check the error code and other important details under Technical information. Windows will probably ask you to search for a specific error.

If abcd.sys appears in the details (where abcd can be any name with the .sys extension), then it means the blue screen of death you are dealing with has something to do with driver issues. You can easily google the driver’s name (abcd.sys) to get information about the driver. You must find out what type of driver it is – for example, it could be a driver for a network adapter or driver for a graphics card or similar component.

Fix the problem with drivers by rolling them back:

Earlier, we established the link between driver issues and blue screens of death, such as the one defined by Error 0x00000133. Here, we want to address the problems with the drivers. If you recently installed updates for a driver, then the new driver is probably responsible for the problem, which means you will have to remove it to make things right. Driver updates are supposed to improve your device’s capabilities, but they sometimes do more harm than good, especially when they cause computers to go down with blue screens.

You can easily get rid of the current driver and bring back the old driver software through the rollback function provided in Windows. Here, we are assuming you can log into your computer and get to your desktop (either through safe mode or the regular startup process).

Follow these instructions to roll back the required driver:

• Press and hold the Windows logo on your machine’s keyboard and then give the letter R key a tap.
• Once the small Run window appears, you have to fill the text field there with the following code:

devmgmt.msc

• Hit the Enter button on your machine’s keyboard to run the code.

The Device Manager application window will be brought up now.

• Go through the categories listed, locate the category housing the driver that you want to work on, and then click on the expansion icon for that category to see its contents.

For example, if the BSOD manifests itself when you are surfing the web, then you have to access your network adapter drivers – and this means you have to click on the expansion icon beside the Network adapters category.

If the BSOD manifests itself when you are playing games or running graphics-intensive applications, then you have to access the drivers for your graphics card – and this means you have to click on the expansion icon beside the Display Adapters category.

• Assuming the device driver that you want to work on is now visible, you have to double-click on it.

The Properties window for the chosen device driver will be brought up now.

• Click on the Driver tab (close to the top of the window) to go there. Click on the Roll Back Driver button.

If the Roll Back Driver button appears to be greyed out – which means you cannot use it – then you will be unable to perform the rollback task for the driver you selected. Your computer cannot access or find the old driver software. Perhaps, your system is yet to install a new driver. In other words, there is no old driver for your computer to reinstall.

• Click on the Roll Back button to confirm the operation – if this step applies.

Windows is now supposed to roll back the driver (as you requested).

• Close the Device Manager window and then restart your computer.

If you did the work in safe mode, then you have to restart your PC to force it to go into the regular Windows operating system environment.

• After Windows boots up and settles down, you have to check and test things to confirm that the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ FAILURE blue screen error has been resolved.
• Try to recreate the event or scenario where the crash occurred earlier. Play the same game you were on previously or reattempt the same task on the graphics-intensive application.

Fix the problem with the drivers by updating them:

If you could not get your computer to roll back the problematic driver – because the Roll Back Driver button was grayed out – or if your computer continued to go down with blue screens of death even after you brought back the old drivers successfully to replace the problematic drivers, then you have to install driver updates. The issues that trigger the BSOD are likely to become a nonfactor once your computer starts using a new driver.

Here too, you have to use some functions accessed from the Device Manager application and perform the necessary tasks from its window. First, you might want to check the driver version currently installed on your computer. Follow the instructions below:

• Open the Device Manager program. You can do a right-click on the Windows logo button in the bottom-left corner of your display to see the Power User menu programs and options and then select Device Manager.
• Assuming you are now on the Device Manager window, you have to go through the categories listed there.
• You must identify the category housing the device driver for which you seek information and then click on the expansion icon beside it to see the items that it contains.
• Assuming the device driver is now visible, you have to double-click on it.

The Properties window for the chosen driver will appear on your screen now.

• Click on the Driver tab (close to the top of the window) to go there.
• You must make a note of the information displayed. Ideally, you should write or copy the details down somewhere.

The value for the Driver Version field, in particular, is very important. Those digits represent your driver version.

Now, you have to search online for information on the driver. You need to know if your computer is running the latest version of the driver or if a new driver build has been released. Continue with the instructions below:

• Open your web browser by clicking on the browser icon on your taskbar or the browser shortcut on your desktop.
• Once the browser window comes up, you have to fill the text field with a query formed from your device driver name and manufacturer and then hit the Enter button to run a search task on Google.
• After the Google Search results page comes up, you have to go through the entries there and then click on the appropriate link to a good webpage.

Alternatively, you can head to the device manufacturer’s website and check the driver versions there and their release dates.

• If the numbers do not match, then your computer is probably not running the latest driver.
• Download the newest driver. Save the package. Do not run it.

In any case, after you confirm that there is a new driver for the problematic device, then you have to remove the current driver and then install the latest driver available. These are the instructions you must follow to get rid of the current driver:

• Here too, you have to open the Device Manager application (as you did earlier). You can go through the steps (above) we provided on performing the task. All you have to do is scroll up a bit to see them again.
• You have to expand the relevant category, locate the device driver, and then double-click on it to see its Properties window.
• Go to the Driver tab. There, this time, you have to click on the Uninstall button.

Windows is supposed to bring up a dialog or window asking you if you want to proceed with the driver removal operation.

• Click on the Uninstall button again to affirm things.

Your system is now supposed to get rid of the selected driver.

Assuming you are done removing the current driver (which is problematic), you must move to install the new driver. Continue with the steps below:

• Open the Device Manager application, navigate through the appropriate category, locate the device driver, and then click on it to get it highlighted.
• Right-click on the highlighted driver to see the options available. Choose Update Driver Software.

Your computer is now supposed to bring up a window asking you how you want to go about the driver update operation.

• Click on the second option (Browse my computer for driver software).
• Now, you have to navigate through the appropriate directories to get to the folder where the driver you downloaded earlier got stored.

You will probably have to go to the Downloads folder used by your browser.

• Locate the downloaded driver package and then click on it to get it highlighted. Click on OK or click on the appropriate button to force Windows to select the driver.
• Click on the Next button. Follow the on-screen instructions and guidelines. Perform the relevant tasks to install the new driver.
• Once the driver installation processes reach completion, you have to close all the programs currently running on your PC and then restart your machine.
• Verify that the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_ FAILURE blue screen of death error has been resolved for good.

If the BSOD defined by Error 0x00000139 continues to bother you even after you updated the troubled driver or if you could not update the problematic driver (for any reason), then we recommend you download and run Auslogics Driver Updater. With this program, you can perform the driver update tasks differently, which means you might get better results. In the previous processes, there is a good chance you missed something or made mistakes.

The recommended application will run a scan to detect or identify the faulty, malfunctioning, outdated or old, broken, and corrupted drivers on your computer and also gather the relevant information on them. After the driver detection/identification phase, the app will move on to search online for replacements for the bad drivers. The latest manufacturer-recommended driver versions will be downloaded and installed to make things right.

Since the driver update processes are initiated and managed automatically – and with you not having to do anything – your computer will end up running the newest drivers for almost all its devices in no time. This way, nothing (or no driver) gets left out in your quest to resolve all driver problems.

Here too, after the driver installation operations reach completion, you have to close all the applications currently open on your computer and then restart your PC to round up the work. Wait for Windows to boot up and settle down. You must then test things to confirm that the blue screen of death error can no longer be triggered.

Other things you can try to resolve the Error 0x00000139 blue screen of death on a Windows 10 PC

If you are yet to find a way to stop your computer from going down with blue screen of death crashes, then you have to attempt the solutions on our final list of fixes and workarounds to the problem.

Run scans using SFC and DISM:

With the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) utilities, you can run both standard and top-level scans to check for corruption in system files and important Windows installation packages. You will also be able to fix the detected issues using those tools.

Use the Memory Diagnostic tool to test your temporary memory:

Since an ideal fix to the BSOD has eluded you till this point, it is time you started testing the hardware components in your machine (its physical parts) for damages or faults. The Memory Diagnostic tool is the utility built into Windows that users can employ to run checks on the temporary memory. Well, it is far from perfect, so you will have to confirm the results of its tests (whether positive or negative) through more extensive procedures, techniques, or programs.

• Use the CHKDSK tool to test your hard drive.
• Download and install all the Windows updates ever released for your computer or system configuration.
• Scan your computer for viruses and malware using antiviruses or antimalware applications.
• Use System Restore.
• Reset or repair Windows.
• Install a clean version of Windows 10 (if all else fails).