BSOD 0x6F (VSL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED): causes and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: Virtual Secure Mode / secure-kernel related initialization failed during startup.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_BUFFER_OVERFLOW	Win32 error	Windows
ECONNREFUSED	errno	Linux
EIDRM	errno	Windows
SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED	BugCheck Code	Windows

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SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED	SESSION4_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

VSL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

VSL secure environment initialization failure for VSL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

VSL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED is bug check code 0x0000006F.

VSL refers to the Virtual Secure Level infrastructure used by virtualization-based security. This bug check points at early secure environment initialization rather than a normal driver load failure.

How to read it in a dump

Check whether VBS, Credential Guard, HVCI, Secure Boot, or hypervisor settings changed.
Firmware virtualization features and the Windows hypervisor path can be central evidence.
The stack and nested status decide whether the issue is firmware, policy, secure kernel, or image integrity.

What to check

Check UEFI Secure Boot, TPM, virtualization extensions, VBS policy, and recent hypervisor/security updates.
Compare with SECURE_BOOT_VIOLATION or HYPERVISOR_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT if present.
Verify that platform firmware and boot components are compatible with enabled security features.

References

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