How To Fix the Unknown Software Exception (0xe0000008) Error

The “This exception unknown software exception (0xe0000008)” error? Yeah, it’s a pain because it points to some underlying system memory issues, corrupt files, or possibly conflicting software. You might notice apps like Chrome, Discord, or Teams crashing unexpectedly or even getting weird black screens. Basically, something is messing with how your system accesses memory, and Windows throws this error as a warning. Because of course, Windows has to make fixing this more complicated than it needs to be. But don’t worry — a few common troubleshooting steps usually help sort this out. Here’s what to try if you’re stuck with this problem and want to get things back on track.

How to Fix the 0xe0000008 Error in Windows

Memory Check — Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

This is often where weird errors like this start — bad RAM can be sneaky and hidden. Windows has a built-in tool to check your memory sticks for problems. If there’s corruption or bad sectors, it’ll flag them so you can replace the RAM or re-seat the sticks.

Hit Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, then hit Enter.
Choose Restart now and check for problems (recommended). Your PC will reboot and run a memory test. Expect it to take a few minutes. Sometimes it’s finicky, so if you don’t see issues, that’s good — but if errors pop up, you might need to reseat or replace your RAM. On some setups, this test doesn’t always catch everything the first time, so second runs or testing RAM sticks in another machine can help.
Once done, your PC reboots, and you can see the results in Event Viewer (Win + R, type eventvwr.msc) under Windows Logs > Application. If errors show up, consider re-seating RAM modules or swapping them out. It’s a pretty straightforward hardware fix, but it’s the scary stuff that can cause memory issues causing this error.

Disk and System Files — Run CHKDSK & SFC

Corrupt system files or disk errors are common culprits here, especially if your drive is giving you trouble or if Windows reports disk-related problems. Running these tools helps catch and fix these issues pretty reliably.

Open Command Prompt as administrator: press Windows + R, type cmd, then hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Confirm UAC if it appears.
Type chkdsk C: /f and hit Enter. If you get a message about the drive being in use, just type Y and hit Enter to schedule it at next reboot. Restart your PC, and let CHKDSK do its thing — it’ll scan and fix disk errors.
While you’re at it, check your event logs if you want deeper info: Win + R, type eventvwr.msc. Dive into Windows Logs > Application and filter for Chkdsk entries to see results.

System File Checker (SFC)

Once CHKDSK wraps up, run SFC to repair any corrupt system files that might be messing with stability:

In the same admin Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
This will scan your system files and automatically fix any corrupted ones. Expect it to take some minutes.
After it’s done, restart your PC. This combo of disk and system file checks usually clears up issues like these.

Adjust Virtual Memory Settings

If the error still pops up, it’s time to peek into your virtual memory — that part of your hard drive acting as extra RAM. If this isn’t set correctly, it can cause errors similar to this one.

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to System > About > Advanced system settings.
In the System Properties window, click Settings under Performance.
Switch to the Advanced tab, then click Change under Virtual Memory.
Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Select your C: drive (where Windows is installed).Then choose Custom size.
Compute the initial size: multiply your RAM in GB by 1024 to get MB, then multiply that number by 1.5 — so for 16GB, it’s roughly 24, 576MB. Enter that in Initial size.
For Maximum size, multiply your RAM MB by 3 — for 16GB, that’s about 49, 152MB. Enter this value.
Hit Set, then OK. Restart the PC and see if the error persists. Sometimes adjusting virtual memory can stabilize memory-related crashes.

Reinstall the Problematic App

If particular apps keep crashing (say, Discord or Teams), it might be time to reinstall. Corrupted app files or bugs can cause this exception, especially if the software has been updated or modified recently.

Uninstall through Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall or go to Settings > Apps.
Download the latest version from the official website — don’t go for outdated or shady sources.
Install fresh, then test if the error shows up again. Sometimes a full reinstall clears out leftover broken files that could be causing conflicts.

System Restore or Reset

Still no luck? Might be time to go back to a previous restore point or reset Windows if you really want to get rid of this error for good.

System Restore

Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
Select a restore point from before the issues started. Follow the prompts, then let Windows do its thing.

Reset Your PC

Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Click Get Started under Reset this PC.
Choose either Keep my files (to preserve your stuff but remove apps) or Remove everything (a full wipe).Proceed through the wizard.

After reset or restore, reinstall your apps and see if this issue is finally resolved. Sometimes, this is the only way to get a clean slate.

This whole process can be frustrating, but usually, it’s just a matter of isolating whether it’s hardware or software causing the chaos. Fingers crossed, one of these fixes gets your system stabilized. Good luck — hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone.

Summary

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check RAM health
Check and fix disk errors with CHKDSK
Run SFC to repair corrupted system files
Adjust virtual memory settings manually
Reinstall problematic applications
Use System Restore or reset Windows if needed

Wrap-up

That’s pretty much all the common ways to fix the “0xe0000008” error. Sometimes it’s hardware, sometimes software, or a combination of both. Just messing around with RAM, disk checks, or a clean install can do wonders. Not always fun, but worth it if it finally makes your system stable again. Hope one of these methods works — good luck, and don’t forget to backup important files before doing major changes.