Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death: “Thread Exception Not Handled” and “Memory Management” Errors Post-Upgrade
Upgrading your PC hardware can be an exciting experience, but it sometimes introduces unexpected issues. Recently, a user reported encountering Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors after installing a new graphics card and motherboard. The specific error messages included “Thread Exception Not Handled” and “Memory Management.” If you’re facing similar problems, this guide will help you understand potential causes and steps to resolve these issues effectively.
Understanding the Errors
“Thread Exception Not Handled” typically indicates that a system thread has encountered an unexpected problem, often related to driver conflicts or incompatible hardware.
“Memory Management” errors generally point to issues with RAM, driver conflicts, or faulty hardware components that impair Windows’ ability to allocate memory correctly.
Given that these errors appeared after hardware upgrades, the root causes often relate to hardware compatibility, driver issues, or BIOS settings.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
1. Verify Hardware Compatibility and Installation
- Ensure that the new graphics card and motherboard are compatible with your existing system components.
- Double-check that all hardware is properly seated, especially RAM modules and expansion cards.
- Confirm that the power supply unit (PSU) provides adequate wattage for your new hardware.
2. Update or Reinstall Drivers
- Boot into Safe Mode to prevent third-party drivers from causing conflicts.
- Visit the manufacturer’s websites:
- Download the latest graphics card drivers compatible with your model.
- Update your motherboard chipset drivers.
- Use the Device Manager to uninstall existing graphics drivers before reinstalling the latest versions.
- Consider using tools like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for a clean installation.
3. Check for BIOS Updates
- Visit the motherboard manufacturer’s website to check for the latest BIOS firmware.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to update your BIOS, which can resolve compatibility and stability issues.
4. Run Hardware Diagnostics
- Test your RAM modules using Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to identify potential memory faults.
- Check your storage drives for errors using tools like CHKDSK.
- Test the graphics card in another system if possible to confirm it’s functioning correctly.
5. Adjust BIOS Settings
- Reset BIOS settings to default to eliminate misconfigured options.
- If available, enable XMP profiles for RAM to ensure proper memory timing.
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