A complete system crash because of various problems occurring from both software as well as hardware sides generates Blue Screen error. The in Windows issue is usually a very severe fatality in the system and almost irrecoverable as many cases are so evident. INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS in Windows 10 is such a critical problem and it’s a BSOD error. Once occurred, the issue will throw continuous abnormal messages and system reboots leaving no scope of doing anything. Error messages contain specific bug check codes and the error name from where you can only get an idea about the problem. For the mentioned one, the bug code is 0x0000016C confirming the flags supplied to one of the rundown protection APIs were invalid.
In most cases, the blue screen error like INVALID RUNDOWN PROTECTION FLAGS doesn’t confirm the causes and that makes the troubleshooting really difficult. From a generalized thought, these sorts of issues are mainly caused by driver issues such as outdated or after getting a defective update. Some other causes like corrupted system files, outdated BIOS and Windows OS, defective windows image files, and memory issues will generate the BSOD error. From the hardware side, bad areas in the external or magnetic hard disk, using some USB peripherals and bad RAM stick might be detrimental and cause the same blue screen issue. Nevertheless, the error being so critical and irrecoverable mostly, some usual tricks worked to resolve it. We will discuss the effective workarounds in the following segments, follow the quick links from the Method list and try them until the issue gets resolved.
Methods list
1] Turn Off Automatic Restart of Windows
2] Install all available patches to update Windows 10
3] Diagnose the memory problems and fix accordingly
4] Disable Fast Boot mode
5] Perform System Restore and roll back previous point of Windows
6] Update all the drivers in Windows
7] Uninstall a defective device driver or Roll back it to default
8] Run the Windows Blue Screen troubleshooter
9] Clean junk files from disk drive and make space in it
10] Make the BIOS up to date
11] Run the Windows security to clean all malware threats
12] Uninstall non-essential applications
13] Execute sfc/ scannow command and fix corrupted system components
14] Uninstall defective Windows update patch
15] Repair bad sectors in the hard disk
16] Boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking
17] Fix the corrupted Windows image files
18] Repair Hardware problems and dis-engage some peripherals
INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS
Here is how to fix INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 –
1] Turn Off Automatic Restart of Windows
A complete system crash rendered by blue screen error forces the system to lose some very important resources. Windows after sensing the trouble opts to shut down the system without leaving any chance to perform further tasks. Therefore, the entire system loses workability and becomes unstable as of carrying out frequent unwanted restarting. Automatic Restarting is a built-in feature in Windows and it’s a safety measure to protect internal components from damage. System keeps it enabled by default but you can override the settings to disable and restrict the device from restarting automatically.
Disabling the Automatic Restating won’t resolve the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 at all. This will help you create a well stable environment to deploy the workarounds and resolve the BSOD error. To accomplish the task, follow the below steps –
Changes will be effective immediately and the computer will no more restart automatically from now on. Hence, the system will gain workability as well as will be ready to deploy below workarounds.
2] Install all available patches to update Windows 10
Windows Operating System needs regular updating and for that, regular patches are released by Microsoft. These update files are the complete package of recent modification, security improvements, the inclusion of new tool as well as bug fixes. if you install these patches, the system will be strengthened to block most of the critical bugs and will stay out of trouble. As the blue screen error doesn’t show the appropriate cause, troubleshooting becomes really tough so as the resolutions. Many people have found a simple trick like installing all the patches resolves the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10.
In the latest version of Windows 10, the updating process is usually autonomous and the system will start downloading as well as installing patches immediately after being available for your device. Often that may not happen since Microsoft delays to process the task or unavailability of internet connection. Hence, you need to keep an eye always in the Windows Update Settings and install them manually. If you don’t know how to proceed, follow the below guidelines –
See – Windows 10 Cumulative Updates.
3] Diagnose the memory problems and fix accordingly
Windows often experience memory problems due to low space in the disk, critical issues in the memory as well as from bad RAM. These problems are pretty much likely to generate the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10. When a BSOD error renders an abnormal message of the display, you may not know exactly where the issue has come up. Therefore diagnosis is necessary before proceeding to any major task like replacing the entire memory unit or buying a new RAM stick. After performing the previous workarounds if you have failed to fix the stop error code, we suggest you run a diagnosis for memory problems on the computer.
Windows Memory Diagnostic tool is a default utility in the operating system that carries out diagnosis for detecting the problems in the memory and notifies you upon completing the process. If you see any problem in the report, can take necessary actions accordingly and fix the blue screen error. Here are the guidelines to run Windows Memory diagnostic –
4] Disable Fast Boot mode to resolve Fix INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS stop error
Windows 10 has an advanced feature to make the startup considerably quicker than usual and that is Fast Boot mode. Being well knows as Fast Startup, the process usually collects all the information from an ongoing session and use the saved data in the succeeding boot and make the startup faster. Undoubtedly this is one of the best features combining two separate power options i.e. shut and hibernate.
Fast Startup is enabled from the time you buy a Windows computer to make the system up and running quickly. There is a hiccup here as well as it may collect the data from Blue Screen error and save it for the next startup. Therefore instead of resolving the error, the same will be carried over to the following sessions again nevertheless you try to fix it. Though Fast Boot mode is a pre-enabled feature, you can override the settings anytime and disable it using the below guidelines –
5] Perform System Restore and roll back previous point of Windows
Windows has provided an outstanding technique to bypass a critical issue just by rolling back the full system to the previous state. The process is called System Restore pushes the system to a former point where you were not having the same trouble as now. In most cases, INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 starts showing up after installing a new program, making an abnormal change to the system like forcibly canceling an ongoing task. Windows Registry encounters unexpected entries and tweaked in an abnormal way leading the system to the BSOD error.
If you are having the issue after carrying out such installing or similar tasks, we recommend performing System Restore. The system will only load back the previous state without hampering any internal settings. Hence it’s way safer than some other workarounds and the guidelines are as follows –
6] Update all the drivers in Windows to solve INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS
While troubleshooting the Blue screen errors, experts pointed out driver issues to be generating the issue mostly. Despite these components maintains communication between the computer bus and external devices, outdated ones can cause severe damage to the system. These key components help the Windows to detect and recognize the hardware peripherals like mouse, keyboard, speaker, or printer. Each of such function needs one driver and often a couple for executing the tasks.
Upgrading Windows is the best time to update all the drivers at the same time but most of us cut this off to save some time. Furthermore, vendors like Microsoft keeps on releasing the latest drivers in their authorized website regularly. When the drivers are not updated for long time, you may come across the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 eventually. For updating them, Windows Device Manager offers the best deal by identifying the outdated ones with yellow indication. Follow the below guidelines and update all the drivers using Device Manager –
7] Uninstall a defective device driver or Roll back it to default
Updating the drivers usually resolve the blue screen error mostly unless something unexpected come across the way. Sometimes, the software vendors release defective updates having potentially harmful bugs in them. When you install those updates, which will cause additional damage let alone resolving the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10. Some of us may also download the updated drivers from an authorized server and that will also generate BSOD error in the long run.
In order to avoid these unwanted problems, Device Manager offers two very prominent options namely uninstall device and roll back driver. Using them will remove the defective update to a driver and you can recover the computer from Blue screen error. Follow the below guidelines to perform these two tasks –
In case Rolling back doesn’t resolve the error, you have to uninstall the defective device and then reinstall once the system is up and running smoothly. Follow the below guidelines to uninstall a defective update –
8] Run the Windows Blue Screen troubleshooter
In most cases, you won’t be able to find the exact cause that is generating the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS BSOD error in Windows 10. The troubleshooting gets really tougher and with delaying to fix the error, the system starts getting irrecoverable problems. This problem was happening for a long time and people could not find a suitable tool to deal with it.
The Tech giants came up with a brilliant idea to troubleshoot Blue Screen error with a default tool that can detect the issue easily and shows right guidelines to resolve it. Despite the tool is placed in Control Panel, you can yet use the same directly from online platform. The guidelines are as follows –
https://support.microsoft.com/bn-bd/help/14238/windows-10-troubleshoot-blue-screen-errors
9] Clean junk files from disk drive and make space in it
Each computer comes with fixed disk storage which you can increase by modifying obviously but that is seldom necessary. The storage starts getting low with the passage of time and usage loads. When the space gets low, many of the issues ranging from slower operational speed, continuous lag, hanging of the desktop area to a critical fatality like INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue screen error may come up. Some files in the storage usually don’t have any use, still, they manage to cover the storage being temporary files. Likewise, web cache files trashed recycle bin items cover up huge space in the drive. But the biggest one is the Windows Update log and previous Windows update files covering gigabytes of space. They are only useful if you opt to perform a System Restore and revert back Windows to the previous point.
To clean up these, Disk Cleaning tool is the best utility ever as you can choose the criteria from where to delete and erase them altogether in bulk amount. To run the tool, follow the below guidelines –
10] Make the BIOS up to date to fix INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS
BIOS is an integral part of the Operating System and its basically a ROM chip located on the Motherboards. Windows comes with BIOS from the time you buy a computer and the firmware helps users setting up a system from the very basic stage. It acts as an energizer of the system and also controls data flow from Operating System and the attached accessories such as video adapter, keyboard, mouse, printers, hard disk, etc.
Outdated BIOS makes the system technically unstable, non-functional as it fails to pass the control to the microprocessor. In the same way, this may lead the system to generate INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10.You can update the BIOS easily using the below guidelines –
11] Run the Windows security to clean all malware threats
The worst enemy of a computer in this high-tech world is the viruses threatening existence in every moment. These are powerfully coded programs that can sneak through the defense of a system easily and run riot. With internet facility becoming so easy, they can now disperse at a considerably faster means and stay in disguise under various links in websites, emails. Hence you are just a click away from getting affected by the spyware, internet worms, Trojans, etc. though they are used basically to hack the personal information, making fraudulent transactions, they will also cause corruption in the system files. They can also erase some potentially valuable dynamic link library (.dll) files and generate INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS BSOD error eventually.
Since most computers are connected to the internet 24/7, we have to create the strongest security system against these bugs. Windows Security is such a program build in rigid architecture and protects the system from any type of malware attack. You can run a full system scan using Windows Security to get rid of each threat. The guidelines are as follows –
12] Uninstall non-essential applications
Software programs help in executing tasks smoothly and in a faster mean than approaching manually. Nevertheless, Windows has some of these programs by default; system needs some more to carry out specific tasks. Not all applications are default and available in the Microsoft Store. Some thorn party applications with bugs cause additional damage to the system too.
Some of the programs often have slightly different names but the same functionality with similar internal components. These programs can cause a software collision and lead the system to a critical crash and INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS BSOD error eventually. If you have installed some of these programs, uninstall them using below instructions –
13] Execute sfc/ scannow command and fix corrupted system components
Windows System files have some fixed components and definite structure arranged together to make it executable. Often these files are at risk of corruption due to malware attack or Windows updating faults. Furthermore, sudden power surge, power outage can also erase some internal components and make these files unreadable. The system cannot execute these files and generate the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10.
The prerequisite to resolving blue screen error is to fix these key components as well as recover missing DLL files. For that, System File Checker will be the best utility being a built-in tool. You can execute it in Elevated Command Prompt with sfc /scannow command. To run, follow the below steps –
Sfc /scanow
14] Uninstall defective Windows update patch
Microsoft releases regular updates containing latest changes and improved security features along with fixes for existing bugs. Installing these files is very much necessary and obviously an updated OS can stay away from various bugs than the outdated one. Since the process is autonomous, some partially buggy update may also make a way in the system. some may be stuck in an unexpected poor internet loop and get cracked partially. You may also get the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 after installing such update files.
After coming across a blue screen error upon installing a new update file, you have to remove it soonest. Microsoft has also kept a way out to uninstall the installed updates in the Control Panel. Follow the below steps to complete the task –
15] Repair bad sectors in the hard disk
Bad areas in the hard disk cause huge damage in the system and are very much likely to generate INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10. Despite considering the hard disk as the soul of a system, most people don’t take good care of it. A magnetic fixed hard drive or the portable one may have two types of bad sectors in it namely hard and soft. Hard or physical hard disk bad sectors usually come with production faults and from external damage. The later one, Soft or logical bad areas are software related issues and caused by sudden power failure, forcibly pulling cable from CPU and production faults.
If you have the bad areas formed in the hard disk already, disk checking tool can detect and fix accordingly. The utility needs to be powered up upon execution of chkdsk command. To run this, follow the below guidelines –
chkdsk /f /r C:
16] Boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking
When the system is under a critical crash and cannot be started usually, Booting in the Safe Mode is the only way to make it up and running. This is usually a special startup method where Windows will load only essential programs and tools to run the OS. At the same time, it will also opt out unnecessary programs especially the third party ones for the sake of troubleshooting the fatality. As the third party programs will no longer be available, BSOD issue generated by them will be no longer available.
Booting in the Safe Mode can be another very useful technique to resolve the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10. Along with the usual one, you can also try Safe Mode with Networking to use internet adapters. For enabling the Safe Mode with Networking, follow the below steps –
If this process fixes blue screen error, you can again disable Safe Mode by just unchecking the box set for Safe Mode in the System
17] Fix the corrupted Windows image files
Before each major Windows Upgrade, Microsoft releases ISO files in order to make an identical copy of that release. These components contain image files in ISO-9660 format and used for writing the CD-R or DVD-R drives. These are very sensitive contents and can be corrupted anytime by some third-party applications. In the end, they may also take part in generating the INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10.
Microsoft holds a very powerful tool in order to fix these corrupted windows image files and resolve BSOD error. The utility named Deployment Image Servicing and Management or simply DISM can be executed in the Elevated Command Promot. Here are the guidelines to run this tool –
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
18] Repair Hardware problems and dis-engage some peripherals to Fix INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS
Hardware accessories like Keyboard, mouse, speaker, printer can also cause INVALID_RUNDOWN_PROTECTION_FLAGS Blue Screen Error Windows 10 sometimes. Initially, you may check the Hardware drivers. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, try disconnecting the problematic hardware accessories. Some users have found this very effective in resolving the blue screen error. For that, disconnect first the accessories and perform a restart to Windows 10. Coming back to the following session, check if the issue is resolved perfectly and if you see no sign of BSOD error, reconnect the accessories again.
If the above trick fails to recover the computer from blue screen error, you may need to run the Hardware Troubleshooter. The handy utility is very prudent to fix hardware related issues in Windows 10 form the time it was introduced. Follow the below guidelines to run the troubleshooter –
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
That’s all!!