How to fix
Aswhdske.sys BSOD
on Windows

Hello. My PC crashed by an Aswhdske.sys Blue Screen of Death. What could cause this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

There are several reasons why Windows may encounter the "aswhdske.sys" Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error, which may cause users to experience disruptions. An out-of-date version of the Avast antivirus program could be one major contributing factor. Compatibility problems can occasionally occur when the Avast program is not updated to the most recent version. These problems can cause system crashes and a Blue Screen.

The issue may also appear as a result of obsolete or corrupted drivers on the system. Essential drivers that aren't working properly or aren't compatible with the system might cause instability and cause the blue screen of death. Moreover, overheating problems with the computer hardware can be a concern. Many system problems, including the incidence of errors like the aswhdske.sys BSOD, can be caused by overheating. To lessen such issues, it is crucial to make sure the system has adequate cooling and ventilation.

The sudden and unexpected system crashes caused by the BSOD can have a major negative effect on users. This may result in the loss of data, the cessation of ongoing processes, and even operating system harm. Additionally, users who depend on the dependability of their systems for personal or professional use may become frustrated and inconvenienced by numerous occurrences of this issue.

Addressing the root causes is necessary to resolve the aswhdske.sys BSOD. Avast antivirus software updates to the most recent version, making sure all drivers are current, and properly controlling system temperatures are possible ways to lessen the likelihood that this issue may occur. There are eight stages in this advice that should assist you in fixing it.

You can also run a maintenance tool like [d1] that can fix most system errors, BSODs, corrupted files, and registry issues. Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Solution 1. Fix Corrupted System Files

Use Command Prompt commands to repair system file corruption:

• Open Command Prompt as administrator
• Use the following command and press Enter:
  sfc /scannow

• Reboot your system
• If SFC returned an error, then use the following command lines, pressing Enter after each:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Solution 2. Reinstall the Avast Software

• Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
• Navigate to Apps and click on Installed apps.

• Locate Avast in the list, click the three dots icon, and select Uninstall.
• Confirm the uninstallation by clicking Uninstall.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
• To delete all Avast-related files, navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Avast.
• Select the Avast folder, click the Delete button, and restart your PC.
• Visit the official Avast website and click on Free download.
• Double-click the executable file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Solution 3. Update Drivers

Outdated drivers could be the cause of this issue. In this case, you can fix it automatically by using [rev id="DriverFix"], which will scan your PC for missing and out-of-date device drivers. Or you can update them manually:

• Open Settings.
• Click on Update & Security.
• Click on Windows Update.
• Click the Check for updates button.
• Click the View optional updates option.
• Click the Driver updates tab.
• Select the driver you want to update.
• Click the Download and install button.

If the View optional updates link is not available after checking for updates, then Windows Update does not have any new drivers or any updates for other products at that particular time.

Solution 4. Scan for Malware

A malware infection may be the cause of  Aswhdske.sys BSOD in Windows. It is important to run a comprehensive security scan to rule out this possibility and ensure that the computer is not infected. This can help to prevent further issues with the Windows operating system and ensure that it is functioning properly.

If you have access to a security scanner, or if your organization pays for one, you can use it to scan your entire system to check for a virus infection. Otherwise, you can use Windows Defender to scan your system:

• Click on the Windows Start menu or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
• Type Microsoft Defender in the search bar and click on Microsoft Defender Antivirus to open the application.
• Click on the Virus & threat protection option in the left-hand menu.
• Click on the Quick scan or Full scan option, depending on your preference.

• If you choose Quick scan, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will scan the most vulnerable and commonly infected areas of your computer.
• If you choose Full scan, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will scan your entire computer, including all files, folders, and programs.
• Click on the Scan now button to start the selected scan type and wait for the scan to complete.
• The time it takes will depend on the size of your hard drive and the number of files being scanned.
• Once the scan is complete, you will be informed of any detected threats, and you can choose to quarantine or remove them.
• If no threats are found, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will inform you that your device is secure.

Solution 5. Try Clean Boot

• Open the Search menu, type in system configuration, and press Enter.
• Under the Services tab, tick the Hide all Microsoft services box.
• Click on Disable all button.

• Head over to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
• Select a third-party program and click on Disable at the top.
• Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.
• Restart your PC to enter the clean boot state and see if the issue persists.
• If the issue disappeared in the clean boot state, then you can be certain that a third-party app is causing it.
• Go through all recently installed apps or programs and remove them one by one.

Solution 6. Uninstall the latest Windows Update

• Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
• Go to Windows Update and click on Update history.
• Select Uninstall updates from the options.

• Locate the latest update in the list and choose Uninstall.
• After the uninstallation, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Solution 7. Use System Restore

System Restore is a feature in Microsoft Windows that allows users to revert their computer's state to a previous point in time. This can be helpful if you have made changes to your system that are causing problems.

• Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
• Type SystemPropertiesProtection and press Enter.
• Go to the System Protection tab.

• You will see the System Restore… button. Click it to run System Restore.
• Follow the prompts until you can select a restore point.
• Select the one you want (ideally before the issue started occurring) and go ahead with the process.

Solution 8. Repair Install Windows

• Visit the official Microsoft website to download Windows 11 or Windows 10 Installation Media
• Run the Media Creation Tool and select Create Installation Media for another PC.
• Select your USB drive.
• Let the Process complete of writing the Installation files to the USB drive.

• Click Finish.
• On the PC you wish to upgrade, Press Windows + E to open the File Explorer.
• Open the Removable drive and click Setup.exe.
• Accept the license terms on the next screen.
• Confirm the Upgrade options – Files, apps and Settings are kept.
• Click Install, and the upgrade should start.