BSOD 21 (LAST_CHANCE_CALLED_FROM_KMODE): causes and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: A last-chance exception path was reached from kernel mode.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_NOT_READY	Win32 error	Windows
KERN_RIGHT_EXISTS	Kern return	Mac
ippStsCpuMismatch	Intel Ipp Status	Any
EISDIR	errno	Any

LAST_CHANCE_CALLED_FROM_KMODE

Unhandled kernel-mode exception escalation

LAST_CHANCE_CALLED_FROM_KMODE is bug check code 0x00000015. This bug check means kernel-mode exception handling reached a point where the exception could not be recovered. The failing instruction, exception record, and module on the stack are more useful than the name alone.

How to read it in a dump

Inspect the exception code, trap frame, and faulting instruction.
Separate software exceptions from access violations, illegal instructions, stack corruption, or execute-protection failures.
If a driver is on the stack, preserve symbols and module version information.

What to check

Run WinDbg !analyze -v and inspect the exception/trap frames.
Check recently updated drivers and kernel hooks.
Use Driver Verifier if the same driver repeatedly appears before the last-chance path.

References

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