Opened two games at once, led to Kernel Security Check Failure blue screen

Understanding and Resolving the Kernel Security Check Failure Blue Screen When Launching Valorant

Introduction

Encountering a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) can be a frightening experience for Windows users, especially when it interrupts your gaming or productivity sessions. Recently, some players have reported facing a “Kernel Security Check Failure” error specifically when launching Valorant, a popular competitive shooter. In this article, we will explore the root causes of this issue, particularly focusing on recent updates to Riot Vanguard, Valorant’s anti-cheat system, and provide effective troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

Background

The problem appears to be linked to an update in Riot Vanguard, the integrated anti-cheat platform used by Valorant. Users have noticed that after Vanguard’s recent update, launching the game triggers a blue screen with the “Kernel Security Check Failure” message. This issue seems to be exclusive to Valorant, as other programs function normally without causing system errors.

Scenario Overview

A typical scenario involves users having multiple applications open, such as a game like Expedition 33, a browser, or media players. When launching Valorant, especially after performing several actions simultaneously (e.g., unpausing videos, unplugging controllers), the system crashes before the game fully opens. Notably, the issue may not occur in the morning but can manifest later due to software updates or system changes.

Key Information

• Operating System: Windows 10
• Affected Application: Valorant (triggering Vanguard-related updates)
• Hardware Specifications:
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070
• RAM: 32 GB
• Recent actions: system updates, driver updates, and multi-tasking during game launch

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Understanding the Root Cause

2. The recent Vanguard update inadvertently caused compatibility or stability issues leading to kernel errors. Since Vanguard operates at a kernel level, conflicts here can cause system-wide crashes like BSODs.

3. Temporary Workaround: Enable Memory Integrity

4. Users have reported that turning on Memory Integrity (also known as Core Isolation Memory Integrity) can mitigate the issue. This feature enforces additional protections that may prevent Vanguard from conflicting with system memory management.
5. How to enable Memory Integrity:
   • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Device Security
   • Click on “Core Isolation Details.”
   • Toggle “Memory Integrity” to ON.