What to Do When You Get a WHEA Uncorrectable Error

The dreaded WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR has plagued many users on Windows 11, 10 and 8.1. But despite its notoriety,  many people don’t know what it means or how they can fix it. 

Don’t let the name deceive or dishearten you: this error is fixable and you can get your computer back to normal. It will require some patience and sacrifice, but you have solutions. Here’s what to do when you get a WHEA uncorrectable error.

Causes of a WHEA Uncorrectable Error

WHEA stands for “Windows Hardware Error Architecture,” indicating that your computer’s hardware is preventing it from operating properly. However, your computer’s software might also be the problem.

A WHEA Uncorrectable Error often appears as a blue screen. It also has a rather intimidating description and a big frown face to drive home the fact that something is seriously wrong. It also might appear as a less concerning white screen with The cause of this error can come from one or all of the following sources:

• Unstable overclock settings
• Failing hard drive
• SSD damage
• Unresponsive RAM
• Improperly seated CPU
• Missing Windows updates

Diagnosing the source of your error can be a challenge, no matter how tech savvy you are. Let’s go through seven viable solutions to your WHEA error.

7 Solutions to a WHEA Error

Fixing a computer’s hardware often requires you to replace a small component of the motherboard – which costs time and money. First you should update your computer’s software to make sure you don’t have to replace anything.

1. Update Windows

A WHEA error may have occurred because your computer is missing an important patch from a recent Windows update. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Updates and install any available updates from Windows. If all goes well, your computer will restart and continue working like normal.

2. Update Your Drivers

Your PC’s device drivers might also need updating. You can update each one individually, but we suggest you let a driver update tool do the heavy lifting. This tool will identify outdated or damaged drivers and help you install the necessary updates. Plus, some driver update tools inspect and restore your drivers automatically, saving you from future WHEA errors.

3. Use System Restore

On the flip side, sometimes a recent change to your computer can cause an uncorrectable error. You can undo recent updates with the System Restore function and get your computer to its previous error-free state. Assuming you already got the updates from the first two methods, those changes will also get reversed.

4. Run CHKDSK

Now we’re getting into the hardrive inspections. Windows has a utility called CHKDSK – short for “Checkdisk” – that detects and fixes corrupted disks. Your computer performs automatic inspections, but if an error occurs, you should perform a manual inspection right away. Scanning will take five minutes or more, depending on the error’s severity.

5. Disable Overclocking

Your computer might have stopped stop working if the overclock settings became too fast. The RAM and CPU couldn’t keep up and an error occurred. To reset or disable the overclock settings, you also need to reset the BIOS settings. There are three viable methods to achieve this task and get your computer back to normal speeds. 

6. Look Under the Hood

This strategy goes back to the basics with a simple under-the-hood hardware inspection. Screw the protective coverings off of your PC and look for any loose, damaged or unconnected parts. Perform a light dusting too. Sometimes the solution to an uncorrectable error is a quick and simple cleaning.

7. Reset Windows

As a last resort, you can reset your Windows software and give your computer a clean slate. All files, downloads and customizations will disappear, so don’t take this action lightly. If your computer still doesn’t work afterward, then you can be sure the hardware has suffered physical damage. In that case, see step six.

Prepare for All Possibilities

A WHEA uncorrectable error is fixable, but you should still prepare for all possibilities. If all of these methods fail, you might have to move on to another PC. Computers are amazing pieces of technology, but they’re not perfect!