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How to fix vgk.sys SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD on Windows 10 PC? (Not eligible for W11)

batteryacid 0 Reputation points
2026-01-25T11:55:28.1866667+00:00

Hey. Lately I tried booting up Valorant after some time away, only to be met with a BSOD. The error was vgk.sys and the stop code I received was SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION. I'm not all that good with PC's, so I cant tell you exactly what I've tried, but I follow a couple YT tutorials online. Ive tried sfc /scannow, and It came back clear. I tried memory scan, that also came back clear. I tried manually deleting valorant and vanguard numerous times, only for the same problem to happen after redownloading. I turned off CPU Virtualization in my BIOS, and changed from TPU 2.0 to 1.2, but when that didn't work, I changed it back to 2.0. I tried to boot in safe mode with networking, but for some reason, internet doesn't work. It says something along the lines of "No network connections found." My drivers are updated, I have the system requirements needed to run Valorant and enough space on my hard-disk. I haven't run into this issue with any other of my games requiring some form of anti-cheat, or anything on my PC.

I'm unsure what to do, and seeing as I've spent a bit of money on the game, I'd like to get back into it. Thanks in advance!

<Moved from Sysinternals>

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Gaming

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  1. batteryacid 0 Reputation points
    2026-01-25T21:19:24.7433333+00:00

    Hey, thanks for responding! I have the minidump file right here: https://1drv.ms/u/c/5173B4C3D1923C84/IQDT5f11AOc0QrF7xj7q0NVCAQVJBtRJAlXoppYKtgBjmUQ?e=kZFRtO
    I haven't tried reinstalling Valorant, THEN restarting my PC before re-downloading, but Ill try that. And I heard updating BIOS might come with risks, but I don't know how true that is. I remember seeing that as a solution, but with my computer skills I strayed away from it pretty quickly. Though if that's something you suggest, ill check that out too.
    I also did try running the driver verifier the AI overview suggested, and received a BSOD there too. I don't quite remember the stop code though.

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  2. DaveM121 882.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-25T14:16:03.35+00:00

    1

    VGK.sys BSOD's are always caused by the vanguard anti-cheat, did you check the support page fro your PC on the manufacturers website for any BIOS update that may be available and not yet installed, also, have you tried uninstalling Valorant, restart your PC, then download and re-install the latest version of the game.

    2

    Please check to see if your PC is producing any minidump files, I will check those to see if they provide any insight into a potential cause of the system crashes.

    Please do not upload a very large Memory.dmp file.

    Open Windows File Explorer.

    Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump

    Copy any minidump files onto your Desktop, then zip those up.

    Upload the zip file to the Cloud (OneDrive... etc.), then choose to share those and get a share link.

    Then post the link here to the zip file, so I can take a look for you.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-01-25T11:55:41.96+00:00

    To troubleshoot the vgk.sys SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION BSOD on your Windows 10 PC, you can follow these steps:

    1. Update Vanguard: Since vgk.sys is related to Riot's Vanguard anti-cheat system, ensure that you have the latest version of Vanguard installed. Sometimes, reinstalling Vanguard can help resolve issues.
    2. Check for Driver Issues: Even though you mentioned your drivers are updated, it’s worth checking specifically for graphics drivers. Update your graphics card drivers from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
    3. Run Driver Verifier: This tool can help identify problematic drivers. To use it:
      • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
      • Type verifier and press Enter.
      • Follow the prompts to create standard settings and select the drivers to verify.
      • Restart your computer and see if the BSOD occurs again.
    4. Check for Conflicting Software: Sometimes, other software can conflict with Vanguard. Ensure that no other anti-cheat or security software is running, as they may interfere with Vanguard.
    5. Perform a Clean Boot: This can help identify if background services are causing the issue. To perform a clean boot:
      • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
      • In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab, check the box for "Hide all Microsoft services," and then click "Disable all."
      • Go to the Startup tab and click "Open Task Manager."
      • Disable all startup items and restart your computer.
    6. Reinstall Valorant: Since you've already tried deleting and reinstalling Valorant and Vanguard, ensure that you completely remove all associated files before reinstalling. You can use tools like CCleaner to help clean up leftover files.
    7. Check System Files Again: Although you ran sfc /scannow, you might want to run the DISM tool as well. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run:
      • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    8. Monitor for Hardware Issues: If the problem persists, consider running hardware diagnostics, especially for RAM and hard drive, to rule out any hardware failures.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult the Riot Games support for more specific assistance regarding Vanguard and Valorant.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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