How to get rid of CMUSBDAC.sys Blue Screen of Death in Windows?

The SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (CMUSBDAC.sys) error is a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) that Windows users get when using a USB microphone such as the Blue Snowball Microphone. The issue may appear while you are playing games or downloading Windows updates or during startup when Windows gets stuck in a boot loop, making it impossible to use the computer.

What Causes the CMUSBDAC.sys Error?

The main reasons for this error include:

• Outdated drivers.
• Wrongly configured, missing or corrupted drivers.
• Hardware or software conflicts.
• Malware infections.

The CMUSBDAC.sys file is linked to the C-Media USB Audio Class Driver, and if it is damaged, it could also cause the blue screen of death.

You might be asking, “What if CMUSBDAC.sys (audio driver) is crashing my system?” This can be troublesome and annoying considering that the error that causes a system reboot may occur 5 to 6 times a day.

Currently, there is no official fix for the CMUSBDAC.sys BSOD. However, this post provides workarounds that show you how to fix the blue snowball microphone cmusbdac.sys error.

How to Fix Sstem_thread_exception_not_handled (cmusbdac.sys) BSOD

Reinstall the C-Media USB Device Audio Class Driver

Since the CMUSBDAC.SYS BSOD is related to the C-Media USB Device Audio Class Driver, reinstalling it should be the first option. To uninstall and then reinstall the driver, follow these steps:

1. Right-click “Start” and then select “Device Manager”. Alternatively, press the Windows Key+R and type devmgmt.msc and then click “OK”.
2. In the “Device Manager” window, find the “Sound, video and game controllers” section and expand it. Locate C-Media USB Device. If you can’t find it there, check in the “Audio inputs and outputs” section.
3. Right-click the device and choose “Uninstall device” or “Uninstall” in other Windows versions.
4. Restart your PC.
5. Launch the “Device Manager” again, and then select the “Action” tab.
6. Click “Scan for hardware changes”.
7. When the scanning process is complete, select “Install driver”. This enables the automatic installation of the C-Media USB Device Audio Class Driver. If the process is not successful, look for the driver on the manufacturer’s website.

After reinstalling the driver, restart your machine and check if the CMUSBDAC.sys BSOD has been fixed.

Update All Available Device Drivers

Like we mentioned earlier, outdated, corrupted, misconfigured, or missing device drivers are possible causes of the blue snowball microphone cmusbdac.sys error. Fixing driver issues is likely to solve this problem.

Here, you have two options to update your device drivers: you can do that either manually or automatically.

Updating drivers manually requires you to identify each device driver installed on your PC and then to search for the latest versions on the manufacturer’s website. This can be difficult and time-consuming, and you risk installing the wrong driver, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.

To save you all that trouble, use the Auslogics Driver Updater tool to automatically update all the drivers with ease. The tool scans your system to detect any device conflicts and provides a detailed report about outdated, missing or corrupted drivers.

The tool then allows you to update all the drivers quickly, with the click of a button. That’s not all: The Auslogics Driver Updater software not only ensures the latest and compatible device drivers are installed, but it also offers free maintenance tips and program updates to keep your PC in top form.

The most important feature is that the tool creates system backups to make it easy to reverse changes if you encounter any problems.

Scan Your PC for Malware Attacks

Virus infections could cause the CMUSBDAC.sys BSOD, and in such cases, you need to immediately perform a full system scan to clean your PC.

To perform a system scan:

1. Launch Windows Settings by pressing the Windows Key+I.
2. Open Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
3. Select “Run a new advanced scan” or “Scan options” if you’re running Windows version 1809.
4. You’ll see several scan options. Check the “Windows Defender Offline scan” option and then click “Scan now”.
5. Windows will restart, and the scan process will begin.

This might help to remove the malware and fix the CMUSBDAC.sys blue screen of death in Windows.

However, some malicious files are hard to detect and require more powerful software. We recommend installing the Auslogics Anti-Malware tool for a comprehensive scan of your system. The tool checks for suspicious applications, including your browser extensions, and quarantines them immediately. This allows you to assess whether to remove or keep the programs. This tool will not cause conflicts with Windows Defender, making it safe to use on any PC.

Perform a System Restore in Safe Mode

Windows System Restore allows you to undo recent changes and might be the solution to the CMUSBDAC.sys error. However, you need to have a system restore point created before the occurrence of the BSOD for this option to work.

With Safe Mode, you can access your system in the event that it is in a constant boot loop. To use this method:

1. Switch off your PC by holding down the power button.
2. Restart your PC again and immediately press the F8 Key to enter Safe Mode.
3. Input your username and password if prompted.
4. Now, click “Start” or press the Windows Key and type system restore.
5. Select “Create a restore point”.
6. Make sure you have selected the “System Protection” tab. Now, select “System Restore”, and then click “Next”.
7. Select a restore point and click “Next”. Follow the wizard to complete the process.
8. Restart your computer.

With your system taken back to a time when it was running smoothly, the CMUSBDAC.sys error should now be fixed.

Install Windows Updates

Microsoft releases regular updates to improve your system. Keeping your Windows updated could solve SYS file errors such as CMUSBDAC.sys BSOD. To check for and install Windows updates:

1. Press the Windows Key and type updates.
2. Select “Check for updates” from the results.
3. Click the “Check for updates” button. Windows will check if there are any updates available and will automatically install them. In previous Windows versions, click the “Install Updates” button.

Restart your computer and check if the BSOD is still a problem.

Reset Your PC

This should always be the last resort if all the above solutions fail to fix the Blue Snowball Microphone CMUSBDAC.sys error. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the “Settings” app and then select Update & Security > Recovery.
2. Click “Get started” under “Reset this PC”.
3. Depending on your preferences, select “Keep my files” or “Remove everything”, and then click “Next”.
4. Click “Reset” for the process to commence.

When the system resets, your PC will restart with Windows reinstalled. This should solve any issues regarding the BSOD.

If you can’t start Windows normally, you can reset your PC in Safe Mode:

1. Hold down the “Power” button to turn off your computer.
2. Switch on the PC again by pressing the “Power” button. Immediately Windows restarts (you might see the manufacturer’s logo on the screen), press and hold the “Power” button to turn it off again. Repeat this process three times and then allow Windows to restart fully. This opens the Safe Mode environment.
3. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
4. Choose whether you want to keep your files or remove everything and then follow the onscreen instructions.

That’s it. Your PC should now work as good as new.

We hope you find a solution on how to fix the blue snowball microphone cmusbdac.sys error. Remember to keep your device drivers updated and ensure that you have the latest Windows updates installed for your PC to run seamlessly.