Summary: The vgk.sys driver is associated with games using the Vanguard security software. Vanguard is installed on a kernel level and can cause technical issues on your PC, such as the vgk.sys blue screen error.
“Whenever I open my Valorant, during match or even in lobby, my game crashes and BSoD occurs saying, “SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED,” and vgk.sys failed. I have watched so many videos but couldn’t fix it. Please help me fix this problem.”
While playing Valorant or League of Legends, users often complain about facing a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error that points to a vgk.sys driver. It may appear when launching the game and even during gameplay. The vgk.sys is a driver component of Vanguard – an anti-cheat software used by Riot Games, the developer behind both of these games.
The error is accompanied by the stop code: SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, suggesting that the error handler did not catch an exception generated by a system thread. Typically, a conflict between Vanguard and other drivers or software on your system may trigger this issue. This blog will outline solutions for effectively fixing this issue.
Potential Causes Behind vgk.sys BSoD Error
There can be various reasons why the vgk.sys error is occurring on your computer. Here, we will list the most common ones:
Driver Issues: Corrupt or outdated drivers can affect your gaming performance and may even prevent the game from running smoothly. Additionally, downloading the latest driver with bugs or incorrect configuration can also cause issues.
Vanguard failure: If the Vanguard security software isn’t enabled correctly, it can impact the gameplay and cause unexpected errors.
Corrupted files: In-game bugs can corrupt your game files, preventing you from launching Valorant normally.
Fixing the vgk.sys Blue Screen of Death Error
Before troubleshooting your system’s vgk.sys error, ensure your game client and Vanguard software are already updated. Make sure you have the latest updates installed for your processor, and choose the following settings: For MSI, go into your BIOS and choose Intel Default Settings; for ASUS, enter BIOS and choose Intel Baseline Profile; and for Gigabyte, go to BIOS and select Intel BaseLine.
Solution 1: Disable Fast Startup on Windows
The Fast Startup feature on Windows helps your PC boot faster but may stop certain software or drivers, such as Vanguard, from initializing properly. If Vanguard fails to initialize, disabling Fast startup might be a good idea as it gives the system enough time to load all services, thereby resolving the issue. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Windows + R to launch Run.
- Type in powercfg.cpl and press Enter.
- In the Power Options window, click on Choose what the power button does.
- Next, click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck the Turn on fast startup option under Shutdown settings.
- Lastly, click Save Changes and restart your PC.
Solution 2: Repair Game Files in Riot Client
Missing or corrupted game files might also cause the vgk.sys blue screen error on your computer. Follow the steps below to repair the damaged files:
- Open the Riot client, click the profile icon and select Settings.
- Select the game whose files you want to fix and click Repair.
- Wait for the process to complete and Restart your game.
Solution 3: Disable Virtualization-based Security
Although virtualization-based security protects your operating system from malware and other attacks, it can slow down your system’s performance. Some players reported that disabling this feature on their system helped resolve the vgk.sys blue screen error. Here’s the rundown:
- Press Win + S to launch Windows search.
- Type in CMD and select Run as administrator.
- Now execute the following command: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
- Once the process is completed, restart your computer.
Solution 4: Reinstall Vanguard
Corrupt Vanguard files can cause vgk.sys error while launching or playing Valorant and League of Legends. In such cases, reinstalling Vanguard is a good idea. It can help you get rid of damaged files and install them afresh. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Win + S to launch Windows search.
- Open Control Panel and go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Locate Riot Vanguard and click the Uninstall option.
- Once the uninstallation is completed, go to the official website of Riot Games to download the Riot client and reinstall Valorant.
Solution 5: Update Drivers and Windows
An outdated Windows OS or drivers, particularly the graphic driver, can affect the performance of Vanguard-based games. To fix this, consider updating your Windows OS and drivers. To update Windows, go to Settings > Windows Update, check for updates, and install them on your system.
For graphic drivers, visit the official NVIDIA or AMD website to download and install the appropriate driver for your PC.
Solution 6: Reset Windows
If the above methods fail to resolve vgk.sys error on your computer, we recommend resetting your Windows as the last resort. But remember to back up your data before carrying out this procedure. Follow the steps below to reset your PC:
- Navigate to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery
- Under Reset this PC, click Reset PC and follow the instructions to complete the process.
How to Recover Lost Data after Experiencing vgk.sys Blue Screen Error?
The vgk.sys blue screen error may not directly cause data loss. However, if the crash occurs while an application is actively writing data on your hard disk, it could lead to data corruption in that specific file, making it inaccessible.
In such cases, we recommend using a professional data recovery software to retrieve your inaccessible files. Stellar Data Recovery is a tool that helps you recover lost data from Windows systems that crash due to BSoD errors, corrupted system files, drive file-system damage, and more.
