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Windows 11 Host crashes when VM boots - KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

Alex Wilson posted Jun 03, 2026 06:41 AM

My VMs have been working fine and suddenly this week, when I start up a VM, as it finishes and goes to the Windows log in page it causes the host to crash.

Windows screen says 'Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart', underneath it also says stop code 'KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (0x1E)'

It also trashes the VM (luckily I have a backup).

I'm running Windows 11 Pro 25H2

Was running VMWare Workstation Pro 25H2u1 -

Have also tried Workstation Pro 17.6.3 and now I'm on 26H1 but with same result.

I rolled back some Intel drivers that were installed just before this happened, no change.

Windows Event Viewer has a critical Event 'Kernel Power' EventID 41

VMWare Log attached.

I've tried turning off memory integrity and unticking Accelerate 3D.

If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it

Thanks

Alex

Attachment View in library

vmware.log 208 KB

kasper posted Jun 03, 2026 12:40 PM

Make a new backup of host and guest so you can fall back doing a process of elimination to pinpoint the issue.

For the guest, erase all files except for the VMDK. Create a new guest and point it at the existing VMDK. See if that helps.

For the host. SFC /SCANNOW. CHKDSK. Check device drivers for updates. If AMD, download the chipset and driver packages and install those.

Alex Wilson posted Jun 04, 2026 05:13 AM

I tried both to no avail - I found a different VM opened OK so maybe the backup VM I have is no good too.

Weird that it was working fine and now neither the VM or a backup copy (taken whilst it was working) both crash the host.

Broadcom Employee Dhairya Tomar posted Jun 04, 2026 05:20 AM

Alex Wilson Requesting you to share support bundle of the host.

Alex Wilson posted Jun 04, 2026 05:27 AM

Hi Dhairya - can you explain what the support bundle of the host is please? I'm running a Dell laptop with Windows 11 Pro and VMWare Workstation 26H1

Broadcom Employee Dhairya Tomar posted Jun 04, 2026 05:42 AM

Alex Wilson You can recreate the issue and go to Workstation menu option Help->Support->Collect Support Data, generate the support bundle and share it.

Alex Wilson posted Jun 04, 2026 05:50 AM

Hi Dhairya - OK - I recreated the error but when I try to get the Support Data it fails to create the zip file. It starts collecting data and then the popup closes, but with no zip file in the location I selected. I've tried selecting the VM and not selecting it too. I have also waited a few minutes in case it was running in the background. I did leave a copy of the vmware log file in my original post.