BSOD errors impede the normal working of a Windows PC. One such BSOD error is ‘unexpected store exception’ which indicates an underlying issue with system hardware like hard disk, RAM, or graphics card. But driver bugs and corruption can also cause this obnoxious BSOD error on a Windows PC. This post will discuss fourteen methods to resolve this issue and make your system functional again.
Table of Contents
1. Restart System
Before trying out any advanced fixes, restart your Windows PC. It will clear the cache, free up memory, and close and restart all the core system services. After that continue using your PC for some time and check if the ‘Unexpected Store Exception’ error reappears.
2. Disable Fast Startup
The Fast Startup feature can be the reason behind BSOD errors. While it is a handy feature that ensures faster boot times, you must disable it to rule out such a possibility. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys at once.
2. The User Account Control window will open. Click on the Yes button.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:
powercfg /h off
4. Close the Command Prompt window.
3. Use Device Manager to Identify a Troublesome Device
If a device malfunctions, Windows can encounter BSOD errors. You can use Device Manager to identify any malfunctioning device. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type device manager, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down the device list and look for a yellow warning sign against a device. If that is the case, right-click on the device and select the Uninstall device option.
3. Click on the Uninstall button.
4. Restart your PC. Windows will load the available drivers for all connected hardware devices including the one you uninstalled.
4. Use Startup Repair
You can use Startup Repair to resolve the ‘Unexpected Store Exception’ error in Windows 11. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key and click on the Power icon. Hold the Shift key and click on the Restart option to open Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Click on the Troubleshoot option.
3. Now click on Advanced options.
4. Click on the Startup Repair option.
Wait for the tool to find and fix issues with your PC.
5. Run the Memory Diagnostic Utility
Windows has an inbuilt utility to check issues with the RAM. So, you can use it to find faults with the installed RAM sticks. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key, type memory diagnostic, and press Enter.
2. Click on Restart now and check for problems option.
Your PC will restart and boot to the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool page. It will check for memory faults, if any, and then automatically boot to the desktop.
6. Run a Check Disk Scan
The majority of users facing this error code shared that it was due to disk errors or a faulty hard disk installed in their system. The easiest way to identify and fix issues with hard disks is by using the Check disk utility in Windows. Follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
2. The User Account Control window will open. Click on the Yes button.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
4. Close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.
Windows will conduct an extensive check disk scan and attempt to fix issues with the hard disk.
7. Disable Antivirus for Sometime
An anti-virus program can also be the reason behind the issue. So, disable it temporarily to rule out this possibility. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type virus & threat protection, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to the Virus & threat protection settings section. Click on the Manage settings option.
3. Click on the toggle below the Real-time protection option to disable it.
4. The User Account Control window will launch. Click on the Yes button.
5. Close the Windows Security app.
8. Disable Sleep Mode
If disabling Fast Startup has no effect, you must disable the Sleep mode using the Command Prompt. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type the following command and press Enter:
control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions /page pageGlobalSettings
2. Click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable option.
3. Uncheck the Sleep option. Click on the Save changes button.
4. Close the Power options window.
9. Disable File History
File History is a fairly new feature introduced in Windows 8 to offer an additional local backup option. But many users fixed the issue by disabling it. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type the following command and press Enter:
control /name Microsoft.FileHistory
2. Click on the Turn off button to disable File History.
10. Reinstall GPU Drivers
Latest GPU updates can introduce bugs that end up causing a BSOD error. If your GPU was working fine before the update, you must remove and reinstall the previous version of the GPU driver. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type installed apps, and press Enter.
2. Locate the GPU driver in the list. Click on the meatballs button and then click on the Uninstall option.
3. Click on the Uninstall button.
4. Wait for the GPU driver to uninstall from your PC.
5. Visit the GPU manufacturer’s website and download the previous version of the driver. Install it on your PC and check if the BSOD error still occurs.
11. Disable Components Overclocking
Overclocking can result in a boost in overall performance but at the risk of overheating and potentially damaging your components. So, if you use an overclocking utility to boost your GPU (MSI Afterburner) or have overclocked the CPU or RAM using the BIOS, you must revert to the default settings.
12. Use SFC and DISM
SFC and DISM scans can fix inherent issues with Windows Component Store and replace corrupt files with a backup copy. Here’s how to run both of these scans:
1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
2. The User Account Control window will open. Click on the Yes button.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth4. Now, execute the following command:
sfc /scannow5. Wait for the scans to complete and then restart your PC.
13. Remove a Recent Update
If the BSOD error arose after installing a Windows update, you must remove it from your system using the Settings app. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key, type uninstall updates, and press Enter.
2. Find the latest update that you installed using the list. Click on the Uninstall button.
3. Click on the Uninstall button once again.
4. Restart your PC.
14. Reset Your PC
If all the above fixes resulted in despair, you must take a harsh step and factory reset your PC. You can check our guide on what happens when you reset your PC and preserve your personal files while doing so.
Fix the Bothersome BSOD Error
‘Unexpected Store Exception’ indicates an issue with the hardware but can also be due to corrupt driver or system files. Start with basic troubleshooting methods to find faulty hardware and fix issues using Windows in-built tools. If the problem persists after a reset, you might have to change the faulty hardware.
