Blue screen of death, also known as “BSOD” errors, come unexpectedly and due to various reasons, including hardware misconfigurations, corrupt software, and more.
Unfortunately, these errors often frighten users and are considered the most disruptive, usually indicating a slightly more serious problem causing the PC to crash instantly.
In this guide, we’re covering the Netio.sys Blue Screen Windows error, so if you’ve recently encountered it and want to learn how to fix it, now’s the right time to learn more.
Let’s get into it.
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What Is The Netio.sys Error? – The Problem Explained
The Netio.sys blue screen Windows error can manifest with various error messages, as reported by other users who encountered it.
The error message shown can be any of the following:
- DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Mainly, this message appears when there are corrupted system files.
- Netio.sys SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION
Outdated or corrupt drivers can trigger this message.
- KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
Likely trouble between two apps that tried to overwrite the memory of one another.
- Netio.sys PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
Usually caused by memory issues.
- SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
Software misconfigurations or incompatible version(s) of system-altering files and services.
Like with other bluescreen errors, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what caused it, as it could be anything from unstable drivers, incompatible RAM sticks, corrupt system files, viruses, and more. Fixing BSOD errors requires quite a bit of trial and error. Sometimes, users get so frustrated with being unable to find the exact cause that they reinstall their operating system altogether.
However, there are some methods proven to help when it comes to resolving this BSOD error, and you can find them in the sections below, along with step-by-step guides on how to carry them out without requiring much tech knowledge.
We will, of course, turn to the formatting method only as the last resort, but we’re confident that the methods listed below will help you fix the netio.sys error without having to apply such drastic measures.
Fix 1: Analyze The “Dump” File Using WinDbg
As mentioned earlier, BSOD errors are difficult to diagnose, but one thing that can greatly help is using software for dump file analysis, such as WinDbg.
Note: The so-called “dump” files are a type of report your computer stores after a crash. They contain valuable information that could help you find the root of the problem.
You can download WinDbg from the Microsoft Store.
Once you download and install this tool, follow the steps below to analyze the “dump” file and gain more insight into what caused the BSOD error on your PC.
- Run the WinDbg program you just installed with administrative privileges. You can do this by right-clicking the program’s shortcut and choosing Run as Administrator.
- Click File and then Open dump file.
- Click Browse, then enter %windir%Minidump in the address bar to open the correct folder.
- Select the most recent dump file and load it.
- Go to the View menu then click Command. A terminal will show on your screen.
- In the terminal, type in !analyze -v and press Enter on your keyboard.
- You’ll now see details on your screen. Look for the module name and all details associated with it. Use this information to gain more insight into the BSOD error.
Here’s a helpful video tutorial explaining how to use WinDbg if the instructions above weren’t enough.
You can google the details if they’re unclear to you and try to find more information on the internet, or you can see if there are any familiar program names mentioned and then uninstall them to see if that fixes the error.
Either way, this should be your first line of defense with azure screen errors, as it gives you at least some direction so you don’t spend too much time troubleshooting on your own.
If this isn’t helpful enough, move on to the other fixes below.
Fix 2: Remove Third-Party Antivirus Programs From Your PC
One of the main reasons we recommend this approach is because overly-intrusive antivirus software can block specific parts of a program installed on your PC, making it unstable. That can lead to crashes, especially when a driver is mistakenly targeted.
After Windows 10 was released, users determined that the embedded Windows Security antivirus is sufficient protection, and we advise against installing any third-party AV programs to “strengthen” the security, as it can only lead to more complications than benefits.
Most third-party antivirus programs have an uninstaller that you can run from the folder where you’ve installed the program. If you don’t prefer that method, you can always open the Apps panel in Windows and uninstall the antivirus software from there.
To start, right-click the Windows symbol in the bottom-left corner, select Apps and Features, then locate the AV program on the list, choose it, and select Uninstall.
Fix 3: Uninstall NVIDIA-Related Services
Some users on the official Microsoft support forum pointed out that the problem stopped immediately after they uninstalled an NVIDIA-related network manager service from their PC that originally came from downloading and installing an NVIDIA package with multiple features.
So, for example, if you have a whole pack of NVIDIA programs installed on your PC, we recommend uninstalling everything except the visual driver, as your GPU requires it to work properly.
You can also uninstall the driver and then re-download it anew from the official NVIDIA website, but make sure it’s only the driver without any bloatware or packs.
Fix 4: Use The System File Checker To Repair System Files
This is a common and generic fix for many Windows issues. The reason it works for this BSOD error as well is because it scans and fixes system files, and as mentioned earlier, the netio.sys blue screen error can occur due to corrupt Windows files.
Here’s how to run the System File Checker in Command Prompt:
- Simultaneously press Windows + S on your keyboard to bring up the Search Box.
- Type in Command Prompt, right-click the first result and choose Run as Administrator to launch an elevated version required for this fix.
- Once the Command Prompt is open, type in sfc /scannow and press Enter on your keyboard to initiate the command, as shown in the image below.
Wait until the process is complete. You’ll get a confirmation message once it finishes scanning.
When the verification and repairs are carried out, restart your PC and check if the issue persists. For some users, this solved the netio.sys bsod error, and hopefully it’ll work for you too.
Fix 5: Update Your Network Drivers
Another reason you could be getting the netio.sys blue screen Windows error is due to malfunctioning network drivers.
Fortunately, this is simple to fix, as all you need to do is update the drivers. Windows makes this easy if you use the Device Manager panel.
Here’s how to update your network adapters to hopefully fix the netio.sys blue screen of death error on Windows:
- Press Windows + S simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Windows Search Function.
- Type in Device Manager, then click on the first result displayed on the list to open the panel.
- Inside the Device Manager panel, expand the Network Adapters category, then right-click on a network adapter and choose Update Driver. Repeat this for all network adapters if you have multiple installed.
- Wait for the process to complete for each adapter. It could take a few minutes or more to update all drivers. When done, reboot your PC.
Another way to do this is by updating Windows, as now Windows automatically downloads and installs all the latest drivers when you agree to install an OS update. Feel free to use this method instead if it’s easier for you.
Fix 6: Use A Windows Restore Point Or Format Your PC
Sometimes one error can trigger a myriad, and then it becomes very difficult to troubleshoot and fix the problems.
In such cases, we recommend using a Windows Restore point to revert to the previous state of your operating system when things were working smoothly. However, some users have disabled this feature, and if you’re one of them, the last resort would be to fully reinstall your Windows.
Luckily, a feature introduced in Windows 10 allows you to format your PC while keeping all personal files, so try to reset all Windows system files that could be corrupt or malfunctioning while keeping everything else.
Conclusion
That covers everything you should know about the netio.sys blue screen error on Windows.
Although it’s not an uncommon error, it’s still a frustrating one and it makes your PC crash, just like every other blue screen of death error.
Luckily, the methods in this guide helped many users overcome the issue, so hopefully, they’ll work for you too.
