Solve WHEA Uncorrectable Error in Windows 11/10

BSOD or Blue Screen of Death errors, such as WHEA uncorrectable error, are common on Windows systems. These are among the most frustrating issues in Windows that occur randomly, often not giving you a chance to fix these problems proactively before they happen.

However, when these errors occur, it is essential to fix them as a priority to ensure they do not hamper your productivity.

Hence, this article explains the most effective, tried, and tested solutions to the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR in Windows 11/10. Since understanding a problem is the first step of solving, let’s first have a quick look at this error and its causes.

What Is WHEA Uncorrectable Error in Windows 10/11

Simply put, WHEA, i.e., Windows Hardware Error Architecture, Uncorrectable error, is a Blue Screen of Death problem that occurs due to hardware malfunctions. It indicates that a hardware component is damaged or not functioning correctly, and the WHEA error usually appears with the Error Code 0x0000124.  

What Causes the WHEA Uncorrectable Error

The common causes of the WHEA error in Windows 11/10 include hardware problems, overheating, incompatible or outdated drivers, and power supply problems. Below is a detailed explanation of these factors.

• Hardware problems: Issues with hardware components, such as a failed or malfunctioning RAM, CPU, storage devices, or motherboard, may be responsible for the problem you are experiencing.
• Excessive temperature: Overheating or high CPU or GPU temperature may have led to component damage or instability, which in turn may have caused the Stop Code WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR.
• Software issues: Software problems, such as incompatible or outdated drivers, are often a primary culprit behind issues like the WHEA error, as when a software or driver is not compatible or up to date, it fails to work smoothly with hardware configurations.
• Power supply problems: The hardware components may not be getting adequate power, or the power supply may be unstable, making these components fail or malfunction, causing the WHEA Blue Screen of Death error.

Whatever the cause, the good news is that this annoying BSOD error is fixable. Let’s help you solve this problem. 

How to Fix the WHEA Uncorrectable Error

The solutions to the WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR in Windows 10/11 include checking the hardware components, performing a disk health check, checking the Windows Update history, updating Windows, updating the device drivers, running Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool, stopping overclocking, updating BIOS, and resetting Windows.

However, you need not apply all these solutions; you can start with the first one and stop when the issue disappears.

Also know: How to Fix “Antimalware Service Executable” Causing High CPU Usage on Windows 11/10

Fix 1: Check the hardware components

Checking the hardware components is among the easiest ways to fix the WHEA Uncorrectable Error. Below is how to do it.

• Turn off your computer and unplug it from the power source.
• Carefully, open the CPU cabinet and find the hardware components, such as the GPU, RAM, Memory Slot, etc.
• Check out each of these hardware components in the cabinet and wait a couple of minutes.
• Replace each of the hardware components in their positions to restart it. The problem will be resolved if the hardware component loosens on the CPU cabinet.
• Lastly, restart your computer to check if the problem has vanished. However, if the issue reoccurs, continue troubleshooting.

Fix 2: Perform disk health checking

Checking the disk health with the built-in CHKDSK command scans your system files and automatically repairs the identified problems within the hard drive. You can execute this command to repair the faulty system files, as damaged or corrupted system files can also cause the WHEA Uncorrectable error in Windows 11/10. Here is how to perform this action.

• First, press Windows+S to access Windows search.
• Type cmd in the search bar that appears.
• Right-click Command Prompt in the search results and click Run as administrator.
• In the Administrator Command Prompt, type/copy and paste chkdsk C: /f and press Enter.

After executing the chkdsk C: /f command, sit back until the Check Disk tool scans your system for corrupted or broken files. After finding the damaged files, the disk checking tool also tries to repair them. Once the process is complete, you can restart your computer.

Fix 3: Check Windows Update history

Checking the Windows Update history to fix incorrectly installed updates can also fix the WHEA Windows 10/11 error. Hence, below is how to do it.

• First, press Windows+I to open Settings.
• Second, choose Windows Update from the Settings panel.

• Next, find and click the Update History option.

• Lastly, identify and uninstall the incorrectly installed Windows updates to solve the problem.

Fix 4: Update Windows

Windows updates are an easy way to fix various system issues, including WHEA errors. Hence, here is how to update Windows.

• Click the Start button and type check for updates in the box that appears.
• Next, click Check for Updates in the search results.
• Click Check for Updates to allow Windows to find the latest available updates for your system.
• Next, click Download & Install to download and install the updates available for your system.
• Lastly, restart your computer to complete the Windows update process.

Fix 5: Update the device drivers

A driver is the piece of software that helps the hardware and the operating system of your computer communicate with each other. If the driver is outdated, corrupted, or missing, this communication breaks, causing problems like the Blue Screen WHEA Uncorrectable errors.

Hence, it is essential to keep all the device drivers up to date. Below is how to update drivers on Windows 11/10.

• First, right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager from the menu that appears on your screen.

• In the Device Manager, double-click each category one after the other to expand it and locate the devices with a yellow exclamation mark. These are problematic drivers.
• Right-click the problematic driver and choose Update driver from the context menu.

• In this step, click Search automatically for drivers to find the available driver updates automatically.
• Follow the instructions that appear on your screen to download and install the available driver updates.
• Next, repeat the above three steps for all the problematic drivers with a yellow exclamation mark.
• Lastly, restart your computer to complete the driver updates.

Fix 6: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool is a built-in Windows tool that tests memory (RAM) for issues that may cause system instability and BSOD errors, such as WHEA Uncorrectable. Below is how to use it.

• Press Windows + R to access the Run utility.
• In the Run box that appears, type mdsched.exe and press Enter.
• Next, click Restart now and check for problems.

• Wait for the system to reboot and test memory automatically.
• After the system restarts, you can follow the instructions that appear to solve the detected issues. If there are no problems with your RAM, your computer will reboot as normal.

Fix 7: Stop overclocking

Overclocking, while a way to enhance PC performance, stresses the hardware and system resources. It may be a direct cause of the WHEA error. Hence, below are the steps to disable overclocking on your computer.

• To begin, restart your computer. While your computer restarts, press and hold the BIOS key (it is typically F12, F2, Del, or Esc, depending on your device manufacturer) before the boot process is complete.
• After entering the BIOS setup, navigate to the Advanced Frequency Settings, OC Tweaker, or AI Tweaker.
• Next, change CPU Ratio/Multiplier to Default or Auto.
• Turn off DOCP, EXPO, or XMP memory profiles.
• Change DRAM Voltage, Base Clock (BCLK), and CPU Voltage to Auto.
• Lastly, save and close the BIOS.

Fix 8: Update BIOS

An outdated BIOS version or UEFI firmware can cause compatibility issues with your RAM, CPU, or recent Windows updates, resulting in the WHEA Uncorrectable error in Windows 11/10. Hence, here is how to update your BIOS/UEFI firmware.

• Begin by inserting a USB Drive into your computer.
• Next, right-click the USB drive and choose Format from the menu that appears.

• Depending on your device’s motherboard, put the latest BIOS version in the USB.
• In this step, restart your computer, and while the computer restarts, insert the USB drive.
• Lastly, click the Q-Flash option and then click Update BIOS From Drive.

Fix 9: Reset Windows

None of the above solutions fixed the Blue Screen WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR? Then, you can reset Windows as a last resort. Resetting Windows refreshes your system and fixes all possible issues. It replaces all the system files with new ones and changes the Windows settings to the default. Hence, here is how to reset Windows.

• First, click the Start button, type Settings in the search bar, right-click the first search result, and then click App Settings.

• Next, scroll down to the Reset button, click on it, and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the reset process.

While BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) errors are annoying, the above solutions help you fix one of the most frustrating WHEA Uncorrectable errors in Windows 10/11 BSOD errors. Hopefully, this information helps solve your problem.

To ensure the WHEA BSOD error does not recur, ensure up-to-date security updates, up-to-date drivers and Windows, avoid aggressive overclocking, keep the system dust-free and well ventilated, and make sure you perform regular backups to prevent any unexpected Blue Screen of Death errors from impacting your system.

If you have any related questions, concerns, or suggestions, you can drop them in the comments section.

Also know:  Security Tips to Prevent Malware Attacks

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How to fix the WHEA uncorrectable error if Windows won’t boot?

If Windows won’t boot, you can force shut down your computer, run Startup Repair using a bootable Windows installation USB, or uninstall recent drivers in Safe Mode to fix the WHEA Uncorrectable issue.

To force shut down the PC, hold the power button to turn off the system, then turn it on. Hold the power button again when the Windows logo appears. Repeat this process two to three times to access the Automatic Repair screen.

Then, insert a Windows installation USB and boot your computer from it, then choose “Repair your computer.” After this, follow the path Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Repair.

To uninstall the recent drivers, such as graphics or chipset drivers, in Safe Mode, follow the path Startup Settings>Restart>4 or F4 key to enter Safe Mode, and then uninstall the drivers.

Q2. Is WHEA a hardware or software issue?

WHEA Uncorrectable error in Windows 10/11 is a real hardware issue and not a random software glitch. It indicates that a critical physical component, such as RAM, CPU, GPU, or SSD, has failed or malfunctioned.

Q3. Is a WHEA uncorrectable error serious?

Yes, the WHEA error is dangerous. It signals a critical hardware issue that may lead to drive failure, data loss, or further damage to your system if not fixed correctly.