SYSTEM_SCAN_AT_RAISED_IRQL_CAUGHT_IMPROPER_DRIVER_UNLOAD
This error is caused due to the failure of a driver to unload successfully – and the usual culprits are files like mwac.sys, invprotectdrv64 sys, fpprocess.sys, etc. If you face this issue, first try to identify the file from the Blue Screen. Once you have the file name, identify the driver name with which it is associated. Having done that, we suggest the following:
If you installed a new device or drive, then uninstall the driver.If you recently updated this driver, use the Rollback feature to go back to the earlier versionIf you have not, then download this driver and update it and see.
We list below our recommended solutions below in no particular order. Let’s take a look at the options in detail:
1] Uninstall the problematic driver
Sometimes certain drivers just aren’t compatible with Windows 11/10, and this might cause the BSOD error. In this case, you’ll need to uninstall the problematic drivers. Graphics card drivers are usually the cause for this error. To uninstall the graphics driver, do the following:
Press Windows Key + X to open Power User Menu and then press M to select Device Manager from the list.Once Device Manager opens, locate your graphic card driver, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.If available, check Delete driver software for this device and click OK.Wait for Windows 10 to remove your driver and restart your PC.
Alternatively, you can use the Display Driver Uninstaller to remove the graphics card driver. After your PC restarts, check if the problem appears again. If there are no errors, you can continue using the default driver, or you can try to update the graphics driver to a newer version.
2] Download and install the latest drivers
In order for certain hardware to work with Windows 10, it’s necessary that you have an appropriate driver. If a driver for certain hardware is outdated or if it contains bugs, Windows 10 won’t be able to use that hardware and you’ll get this BSOD error. In this case, you can try to update the necessary drivers via Device Manager and see if the issue is resolved. Alternatively, albeit I do not recommend it, you can use third-party software to automatically update all your drivers. If you don’t know exactly which driver is causing this error, it’s always a good idea to update all installed drivers. Updating driver is relatively simple, and you just need to visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your hardware model. Be sure to update as many drivers as you can in order to fix this error.
3] Run CHKDSK
BSOD errors can sometimes occur due to corrupted files on your hard drive, and in order to find and fix those files, it’s recommended that you perform a chkdsk scan. To perform a chkdsk scan, do the following:
Launch Command Prompt in admin/elevated mode.When Command Prompt opens, type in the command below and hit Enter. Substitute the X place-holder with the letter that corresponds to your hard drive partition.
You’ll have to repeat this scan for all hard drive partitions in order to fix this error. It is worth noting that you won’t be able to scan C partition while in Windows 10, and you’ll get a message saying that your computer needs to restart in order to scan the C drive. Furthermore, if you cannot access Windows 10 at all due to this error, you can run Command Prompt by following these steps:
Interrupt the boot process (power on your PC and as soon as you see the Windows logo, press and hold the power button to turn off your PC) three times in a row to start Automatic Repair.Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.Run the chkdsk scan.
4] Run Driver Verifier Manager
Windows has, what is called, Driver Verifier Manager. It’s a very useful tool to identify problematic drivers. To open it type verifier in Start menu search box and hit enter. The Driver Verifier Manager tests each specified driver at startup. If it detects a problem, it identifies it and then stops it from running.
5] Undo Overclocking
Many users tend to overclock their hardware in order to get better performance, but overclocking your hardware comes with certain risks and it might cause the BSOD error. In this case, you can fix this error by setting your RAM settings to default. Bear in mind that almost any overclocked component can cause this error, so be sure to remove all overclock settings. If your PC isn’t overclocked, this error could be caused by faulty or recently installed hardware, so be sure to remove any new hardware since it might not be compatible with your PC. If that doesn’t work, check your RAM, motherboard, hard drive, and all other major components.
6] Uninstall third-party antivirus/firewall
Firewall and antivirus are important for your system safety, but sometimes these programs can interfere with Windows 10 and cause this BSOD error to appear. It is known that Barracuda NextGen Firewall F-Series was causing this error to appear, and after removing this program the issue was resolved. However, it’s noteworthy that almost any third-party antivirus or firewall program can cause this error. In this case, to fix this issue, you’ll have to remove all third-party antivirus programs from your PC using the dedicated removal tool to remove all files associated with your antivirus program. If removing the antivirus fixes this error, you can now install the same antivirus again, or you can switch to an alternative software or better still stick to Windows 10 native AV program – Windows Defender. Hope this helps!
