How to resolve an unexpected store exception error? While Windows 10 is a remarkably steady operating system associated with earlier releases, it isn’t bug-free by any means. From time to time, any computer system can break or fail, and Windows is no different. For most Windows users, this is usually combined with a blue screen of death (BSOD).
BSOD problems often come with hard-to-decipher names, and the unexpected store exception error is one instance of that. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single or apparent cause for this kind of BSOD. That said, if you’re trying to resolve an unexpected store exception issue in Windows 10, here are some common fixes you could try.
What Causes An Unexpected Store Exception Issue In Windows 10?
Trying to resolve what a BSOD error is caused by isn’t the most effortless process. Still, unexpected store exception issues are most often caused by hardware failures, such as faulty hard drives or graphics cards or other essential hardware components in your PC, such as your system memory.
Users on support forums, Reddit, and subsequently have mentioned hard drive failures to be one of the biggest causes of this error. However, hardware failures aren’t certainly always the cause of this error, as different users have speculated major system or driver updates as being the cause in many cases.
Whether it’s a hardware failure or a software conflict, there are some easy fixes you can try before you consider about replacing your system. We’ve compiled those fixes here for you to try.
Check Your System Hardware
An unexpected store exception, BSOD, may not have an apparent cause, but as we’ve stated, hardware faults are one of the greatest causes online. This is why it’s essential to check your system hardware first if you see errors like this one occur.
You should check your hard drive for issues to see if this is the cause. If it is, get your files backed up immediately because if your system drive fails, you’ll be left trying to extract files from a dead drive, which isn’t an easy process and will probably fail.
Don’t forget to test your other system parts, too. Graphics cards and system memory can also cause this BSOD issue to pop up, test for lousy memory utilizing tools like memtest, or use software like FurMark to test your graphics card.
Scan For Corrupted System Files
If you’ve checked your hardware and you’re assured that there are no faults or issues, an unexpected store exception error could point to another likely option: corrupted system files.
You can quickly test this utilizing Window’s built-in system file checker (SFC) command from an elevated PowerShell terminal or command line. The directions below refer to using PowerShell for this, but they will also run for cmd.
- Open a PowerShell window by right-hitting the start menu and clicking PowerShell (Admin). Once PowerShell is open, type SFC /scannow and hit enter to begin the scan.
- It’ll take a bit of time for Windows to scan your system. The SFC tool should automatically fix any issues it detects, but you may require to hit Y to accept any prompts before the process ends.
Run the Check Disk Utility
Another helpful tool to try, particularly if the SFC command finds no problems, is to run the chkdsk utility. Like the system file checker tool, chkdsk enables you to scan your system drive to look for errors.
If you suspect minor issues with your hard drive are causing BSODs like these, then chkdsk would be an excellent tool to run, as it can often help to fix your file system, bypass bad sectors, and more. Like SFC, you can run chkdsk from a PowerShell or command line window with admin preferences.
- To do this, right-hit the Start menu and click PowerShell (Admin) to launch it. In the PowerShell window, type chkdsk /r to list a scan, then hit the Y key to confirm.
The chkdsk tool runs as a boot scan, meaning you’ll require to reboot your PC and let it scan your drive before Windows boots to ensure no conflicts. If any problems are detected, chkdsk should fix them, then boot into Windows automatically as soon as the process is full.
Check for Windows and Driver Updates
System conflicts creating BSODs can also be the result of outdated drivers or software. If you view unexpected store code exception issues on your system, you might want to check for Windows updates, as well as search for any available driver updates for your hardware.
Windows software and driver updates often come with significant fixes and improvements for your PC that can stop BSOD errors like these from occurring. You can test for both Windows and driver updates from the Windows Settings menu.
- To access this menu, right-hit the Start menu icon and click the Settings option. Click Update & Security > Download (or Download and Install) to begin downloading and installing any updates listed as available.
You may also require to check manufacturer websites for more recent updates, particularly if you’re using NVIDIA graphics cards (or related brands), where driver updates are more common.
Reset or Reinstall Windows 10
If you’ve attempted everything else, a last-ditch effort to reset or reinstall Windows can sometimes wipe away underlying issues with your system configuration that you haven’t been able to diagnose previously.
Unlike older Windows versions, it’s now possible to quickly reset Windows to its default settings without needing to resort to a complete disk wipe and reinstallation (although this option does remain available).
- If you need to reset Windows, open Windows Settings by right-clicking the start menu and clicking Settings. In the Settings menu, hit Update & Security > Recovery > Get started.
- You can choose to keep your files (hit Keep my files to do this) or wipe your hard drive and start afresh (click Remove everything instead).
Once you’ve made your selection, Windows will begin the reset process. You may be required to accept or confirm further stages, but you should find that many of the more common problems should be resolved once the process has been completed.
Fixing Common BSOD Errors in Windows 10
When an unexpected store exception error pops up on your system, don’t panic. Using the actions above, you should be able to (in most cases) get Windows back to working order. Similar actions can fix other BSODs, such as a Windows stop code memory management BSOD error caused by memory issues.
If you’re trying to problem-solve a BSOD error, you may need to find and analyze BSOD dump files first. Sometimes, however, there are no easy fixes, and only resetting Windows 10 can fix the problem (other than replacing your hardware). A fresh installation can take some time, but if you’re out of options, it may be the best approach to fix your PC.