Repeated Crashing. Here's what codes said: Your laptop is repeatedly crashing, and Windows is automatically restarting afterward. I checked its actual event logs: - 17 crashes since September 2, all reporting 0x0000018B — SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR.

Trevor Fuhriman 0 Reputation points
2026-09-18T22:09:25.3533333+00:00

Your laptop is repeatedly crashing, and Windows is automatically restarting afterward. I checked its actual event logs:

  • 17 crashes since September 2, all reporting 0x0000018B — SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR.
  • Two crash reports today, at 9:13 a.m. and 1:53 p.m.
  • Automatic restart after a crash is enabled, which can make the error screen easy to miss.

Microsoft defines this code as a fatal error in Windows’ secure kernel—the protected part of the operating system used for security functions. Microsoft documentation

The failure is confirmed; the underlying cause isn’t yet. Three of the five latest crashes also flagged Modern Standby as active. That makes a problem involving sleep, firmware, or drivers a useful lead, but it doesn’t prove which component is responsible. Windows denied access to the detailed crash reports, so I couldn’t identify a specific driver.

For your HP EliteBook 6 G2q, I recommend:

  1. Check Windows Update, including Advanced options → Optional updates, for applicable driver and firmware updates.
  2. Check HP’s drivers for your exact model, especially BIOS and Qualcomm platform drivers. Your installed BIOS is Y68 Ver.01.02.00, dated May 2026. HP provides guidance for obtaining model-specific updates. HP instructions
  3. If it continues, give HP or your IT team this finding: “17 repeated SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR 0x18B crashes; several associated with Modern Standby.” Five crash dumps are available in C:\Windows\Minidump for analysis.Your laptop is repeatedly crashing, and Windows is automatically restarting afterward. I checked its actual event logs:
    • 17 crashes since September 2, all reporting 0x0000018B — SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR.
    • Two crash reports today, at 9:13 a.m. and 1:53 p.m.
    • Automatic restart after a crash is enabled, which can make the error screen easy to miss.
    Microsoft defines this code as a fatal error in Windows’ secure kernel—the protected part of the operating system used for security functions. Microsoft documentation The failure is confirmed; the underlying cause isn’t yet. Three of the five latest crashes also flagged Modern Standby as active. That makes a problem involving sleep, firmware, or drivers a useful lead, but it doesn’t prove which component is responsible. Windows denied access to the detailed crash reports, so I couldn’t identify a specific driver. For your HP EliteBook 6 G2q, I recommend:
    1. Check Windows Update, including Advanced options → Optional updates, for applicable driver and firmware updates.
    2. Check HP’s drivers for your exact model, especially BIOS and Qualcomm platform drivers. Your installed BIOS is Y68 Ver.01.02.00, dated May 2026. HP provides guidance for obtaining model-specific updates. HP instructions
    3. If it continues, give HP or your IT team this finding: “17 repeated SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR 0x18B crashes; several associated with Modern Standby.” Five crash dumps are available in C:\Windows\Minidump for analysis.
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  1. Hoang Le 6,110 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-18T23:39:42.2166667+00:00

    Hello Trevor Fuhriman,

    The repeated SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR (0x18B) crashes you are seeing confirm a fault in Windows’ secure kernel, and the correlation with Modern Standby strongly suggests a firmware or driver issue rather than a pure OS bug. The first step is to disable automatic restart so you can capture the full stop code screen; this is done under System Properties → Startup and Recovery → Automatically restart. Then update all optional drivers and firmware via Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates, and cross‑check with HP’s support site for your EliteBook 6 G2q, focusing on BIOS and Qualcomm platform drivers. Your BIOS version Y68 Ver.01.02.00 (May 2026) is outdated, so applying the latest BIOS package is critical. If the crashes persist, provide HP or your IT team with the minidumps located in C:\Windows\Minidump along with the finding “17 repeated SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR 0x18B crashes; several associated with Modern Standby” so they can escalate with Microsoft if necessary. This ensures the root cause is isolated at the driver or firmware level rather than leaving the system unstable.

    If my answer is useful for you, please hit Accept the answer to support me.

    Thank you,

    HL.

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