How to troubleshoot SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error?

The Blue Screen of Death is a very familiar problem that Windows users encounter. As a matter of fact, if you are a Windows user that has not yet encountered any sight of the Blue Screen of Death problem, then you are a rare specimen. This error is unique only to the Windows operating system. The Blue Screen of Death has been around for as long as we can remember. This brings us to the question of why Microsoft has not fixed this problem. Well, to answer this question, you need to know the origin of the problem.

The Blue Screen of Death occurs when your system encounters an unknown error which it cannot fix. Most of the time, minor errors occur within your operating system, but they get repaired without you knowing. But if this error overpowers your operating system’s protective or repair mechanisms, you will most likely encounter the Blue Screen of Death error. Once you encounter the error, your system will restart immediately to prevent further damage. This can be very problematic because you will lose any unsaved data you are working on.

The Blue Screen of Death contains important information which can help you solve the problem. Also, you need to take note of what you were doing when you encountered the issue because it is also vital for the solution. Sometimes, it is difficult to identify the particular error from the Blue Screen of Death because your PC restarts immediately after the error. But your computer creates a log file for the error, which can be accessed from the Event Viewer. This log will give you all the information you need about this error, which will help with the solution, and you can also send the log to Microsoft to increase user experience.

To access the log file, use the following steps:

• Click on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
• Right-click on This PC and select Manage. This will open the Computer Management dialog box.
• Now navigate to System Tools > Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System. Here, you will be able to view the log file.

To prevent the Blue Screen of Death from restarting automatically, you can use the following steps:

• Click on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
• Now, right-click on This PC and select Properties.
• Click on Advanced system settings to open the System Properties window.
• Click Settings under the Start and Recovery option. Now, uncheck the Automatically restart box.
• Now, you will be able to read the information when the Blue Screen of Death occurs.

There are many reasons why you encounter the Blue Screen of Death. Here is a list of some of the most popular reasons:

• Device driver incompatibility with the operating system.
• Corrupted or damaged drivers.
• Viruses have corrupted your system files.
• Corrupted registry files.

In this article, we are going to be showing you how to fix the system_exit_owned_mutex BSOD on Windows 10. Make sure you go through all the solutions until you find the one that works for you.

Table of Contents

1. Repair Registry files which are connected with the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error
2. Perform a virus scan of your computer
3. Update your computer device drivers
4. Reinstall the Sound Blaster driver
5. Delete all the junk files from your system, using Disk Cleanup Manager
6. Restore your computer to an earlier date, using System Restore
7. Uninstall any SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error-related program
8. Use the System File Checker
9. Make sure your operating system is up to date
10. Check your hard drive and other hardware for errors
11. Check your Memory for errors
12. Troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death
13. Perform a clean boot of your system

Solution 1. Repair Registry files which are connected with the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error

The Windows registry is a powerful tool within the operating system. It contains the database for all configuration settings in the operating system. You can look at the Registry as the DNA for the Windows operating system. This implies that if you have problems with your Registry, lots of errors can occur in your system, including the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. We strongly advise you not to make changes to the Registry if you are unsure or you are not under proper guidance. It is unwise to poke around and edit the registry because changing the wrong values can cause more damage. That is why we recommend that you use third-party registry editors to do the job for you. Before making changes to the Registry, it is wise to make a backup of it, and here is how:

• Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Input regedit in the search area and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Right-click on Computer and select Export. You will be prompted to save the file as .reg.
• Now, you can make changes without having to worry about your Registry..

Solution 2. Perform a virus scan of your computer

There are many ways by which viruses can affect your system. The Blue Screen of Death is one of the results of a virus attack on your system. The virus will damage and corrupt important files needed for your system to function, which can lead to the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. To fix this problem, we recommend that you download and install Auslogics Anti-Malware to protect your system against any invading viruses. This tool will also clear any viruses which are in your PC. It also allows you to browse the internet in a much safer environment. The virus definition of this anti-virus is updated on a regular basis.

Solution 3. Update your computer device drivers

Another important reason why you may encounter the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error is because of corrupt, missing, or outdated drivers. Drivers are needed for your computer to work smoothly. If they are not present, the communication between the hardware and the operating system will be broken, thus leading to the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. That is why we will show you the best ways to get the latest versions of your device drivers:

Method 1. Download and install Auslogics Driver Updater

This is one of the best tools for updating your drivers. It is very reliable and fast. This tool will download and install all your drivers in just one click. After you install the program, it will scan your system for all outdated or missing drivers and install their latest versions. It eliminates the issues of downloading the wrong driver, and it also saves you a lot of time.

Method 2. Download the drivers from the manufacturer’s site

This method needs to be followed accurately. You need to know lots of detail about the device whose driver you want to update, such as the name and version. This is important because downloading the wrong driver may cause other problems with your PC. The drivers are usually located in the support section of the site.

Method 3. Download the driver, using Device Manager

Device Manager is a system tool that manages all the devices which are connected to your PC. This means that you will also be able to update your drivers from here. To do this:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Device Manager.
• Right-click on the driver you want to update and select Update driver.
• In the next window, select the option to download and install it from the internet.
• Windows will now install the latest driver for your device.

Solution 4. Reinstall the Sound Blaster driver

Sometimes, just updating the drivers from the Device Manager will not solve the problem; you need to uninstall some of them completely from your system. To do this, use the following steps:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Device Manager.
• Right-click on the Sound Blaster driver and select Uninstall.
• Once the driver is uninstalled, restart your system for the change to take place.
• When your system restarts, Windows will automatically install the correct driver.

Solution 5. Delete all the junk files from your system, using Disk Cleanup Manager

Junk files accumulate and take up space in your hard drive. These junk files accumulate as a result of browsing the internet or other activities on your PC. Most often, junk files can be corrupted by viruses, which can lead to the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. To fix this, you need to delete all the junk files in your PC:

• Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Input cleanmgr in the search area and press Enter. This will open the Disk Cleanup dialog box.
• Click Clean up system files.
• Now, check all the boxes under the Files to delete option and click OK.
• Windows will now clean all the junk files from your system.
• You will be surprised at the amount of space freed on your disk drive.

Solution 6. Restore your computer to an earlier date, using System Restore

You can fix the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error by restoring your system to how it was at an earlier date. Restoring your PC to an earlier date will revert all the changes made to your system files and settings after that date. This process only affects system files and settings. You should not be scared that you will lose data. To perform a system restore, you should have existing restore points in your system. You PC is capable of creating restore points when important changes want to occur in your system. Here is how to perform a system restore:

• Click on the Start or Home button and input Recovery in the search box. Select Recovery from the list of results.
• In the Recovery dialog box, click Open System Restore to open the System Restore panel. Click Next to proceed.
• Now, you will see the list of points you can restore your system to. Select a point before you began experiencing the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error and click Next.
• Follow the instructions of the wizard to complete the process.

There is also another way to perform the system restore. This method comes in handy when your computer is incapable of booting into the desktop due to the Blue Screen of Death. If your computer fails to boot into the desktop several times, it will open the System Startup Repair. Go to the Choose an option screen.

Now, navigate to the following location: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore. Run the System Restore tool and check if your problem has been solved.

Solution 7. Uninstall any SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error-related program

If you encountered the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error after you installed a new program on your PC, it would be wise to uninstall it and check if the problem is resolved.

• Click on the Start or Home button and input Control Panel in the search box. Select Control Panel from the list of results.
• Click Uninstall a program from the available options.
• You will now see a list of installed programs in your system.
• Select the program recently installed and click Uninstall to delete the program from your system.
• You may also need to go to Program Files and delete the remnants of the program left.

Solution 8. Use the System File Checker

You will be able to fix issues with your system files, using the System File Checker. Use the following steps to run the System File Checker:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Command Prompt (Admin) to run it as an administrator.
• When the Command Prompt window opens, input sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• The System File Checker will begin scanning your system files for errors and try to fix them.
• Once it is done, restart your PC and check if the error has been resolved.

Solution 9. Make sure your operating system is up to date

Windows updates may also include updated versions of your drivers, or even contain the fix for the Blue Screen of Death. If many users are encountering the same problem, Microsoft will provide a fix, using Windows updates. Here is how to update your PC:

• Click on the Start or Home menu and click on the gear icon to open the Settings app.
• Click Updates and Security from the list of options available.
• Go to the Windows update tab and click Check for updates.
• Windows will now search the internet for updates for your system and install them.

Solution 10. Check your hard drive and other hardware for errors.

Issues with your hard drive and other hardware, especially HDMI devices, can cause the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. You should disable HDMI devices which are connected to you PC. Also, you need to check your hard drive for errors:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Command Prompt (Admin) to run it as an administrator.
• In the Command Prompt Box, input chkdsk /f and press Enter.
• This tool will start scanning your hard drive for corruption and will fix any errors found.
• Restart your PC when the scan is done and check if the error has been resolved.

Solution 11. Check your Memory for errors

You also need to check your PC for Memory (RAM) issues. They may be the reason for the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error. You can check if your RAM has issues, using the following steps:

• Click on the Start or Home button and input Memory in the search box. Select Windows Memory Diagnostics from the list of results to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic dialog box.
• Click Restart now and check for problems. The tool will begin checking for issues with your Memory. When it is done, it will try to fix them.
• You should consider changing the RAM if the computer finds any issues.

Solution 12. Troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death

Microsoft built in a troubleshooter in the Windows operating system to fix common issues encountered by users. Use the following steps to run the troubleshooter:

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Settings in the pop-up menu to open the Settings app.
• Click on Update and Security from the list of options available.
• Select the Troubleshoot tab, and click Blue Screen. Now, select Run the troubleshooter.
• Windows will try to fix any errors related to the Blue Screen of Death.

Solution 13. Perform a clean boot or your system

Performing a clean boot makes sure that your PC restarts only with the vital services required to function. This ensures that any app or service which causes the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error is disabled and can be identified. To perform a clean boot, use the following steps:

• Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Input msconfig in the search area and click OK to open the System Configuration window.
• Navigate to the General tab, and click Selective startup.
• Now, uncheck the Load startup items box.
• Navigate to the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box, then click Disable all.
• Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager to open the Startup tab in Task Manager. Disable all the tasks on the list.
• Go back to the System Configuration window, and click Apply and OK.
• Restart your computer and check if the SYSTEM_EXIT_OWNED_MUTEX error has been fixed.
• If you do not experience the error again, you need to go back to System Configuration and enable the services one by one until you find the culprit and delete it.

We hope that this article has shown you how to get rid of the system_exit_owned_mutex bug. Share it with others who require such information.

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