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0x0000000DBSODCritical

0x0000000D — Mutex Level Number Violation | Blue Screen Fix Guide

MUTEX_LEVEL_NUMBER_VIOLATION

Windows XPWindows VistaWindows 7Windows 8Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x0000000D Mean?

A mutex was acquired out of order, violating the kernel's deadlock prevention hierarchy.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Driver acquiring mutexes in wrong order
  2. 2Kernel synchronization bug
  3. 3Third-party driver conflict

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code MUTEX_LEVEL_NUMBER_VIOLATION
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  3. 3Check Windows Update
  4. 4Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze minidump with WinDbg
  2. 2Check Event Viewer for correlated errors
  3. 3Use Process Monitor to trace system activity
  4. 4Perform clean boot to isolate the cause

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes MUTEX_LEVEL_NUMBER_VIOLATION?
A mutex was acquired out of order, violating the kernel's deadlock prevention hierarchy.
Can I fix Mutex Level Number Violation myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x0000000FSpin Lock Already Owned0x00000010Spin Lock not Owned

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.