diff --git a/src/spice2x/launcher/signal.cpp b/src/spice2x/launcher/signal.cpp
index 4c73e8c..663c072 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/launcher/signal.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/launcher/signal.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "signal.h"
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <future>
 #include <exception>
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
 #endif
 
 static decltype(MiniDumpWriteDump) *MiniDumpWriteDump_local = nullptr;
+static LONG EXCEPTION_HANDLER_ACTIVE = 0;
 
 namespace launcher::signal {
 
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ static std::string control_code(DWORD dwCtrlType) {
     }
 }
 
-static std::string exception_code(struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *ExceptionRecord) {
+static std::string exception_code(const struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *ExceptionRecord) {
     switch (ExceptionRecord->ExceptionCode) {
         V(EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION);
         V(EXCEPTION_ARRAY_BOUNDS_EXCEEDED);
@@ -77,6 +79,388 @@ static std::string exception_code(struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *ExceptionRecord) {
 
 #undef V
 
+static const char *access_operation(ULONG_PTR operation) {
+    switch (operation) {
+        case 0:
+            return "read";
+        case 1:
+            return "write";
+        case 8:
+            return "execute";
+        default:
+            return "unknown";
+    }
+}
+
+static const char *memory_state(DWORD state) {
+    switch (state) {
+        case MEM_COMMIT:
+            return "committed";
+        case MEM_FREE:
+            return "free";
+        case MEM_RESERVE:
+            return "reserved";
+        default:
+            return "unknown";
+    }
+}
+
+static const char *memory_type(DWORD type) {
+    switch (type) {
+        case MEM_IMAGE:
+            return "image";
+        case MEM_MAPPED:
+            return "mapped";
+        case MEM_PRIVATE:
+            return "private";
+        default:
+            return "none";
+    }
+}
+
+static const char *memory_protection(DWORD protection) {
+    switch (protection & 0xff) {
+        case PAGE_EXECUTE:
+            return "execute";
+        case PAGE_EXECUTE_READ:
+            return "execute-read";
+        case PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE:
+            return "execute-read-write";
+        case PAGE_EXECUTE_WRITECOPY:
+            return "execute-write-copy";
+        case PAGE_NOACCESS:
+            return "no-access";
+        case PAGE_READONLY:
+            return "read-only";
+        case PAGE_READWRITE:
+            return "read-write";
+        case PAGE_WRITECOPY:
+            return "write-copy";
+        default:
+            return "none";
+    }
+}
+
+static void log_exception_parameters(const struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *record) {
+    const auto parameter_count = record->NumberParameters <= EXCEPTION_MAXIMUM_PARAMETERS ?
+            record->NumberParameters : EXCEPTION_MAXIMUM_PARAMETERS;
+
+    log_warning("signal", "exception flags: 0x{:08x}, parameters: {}",
+            record->ExceptionFlags, parameter_count);
+
+    for (DWORD parameter = 0; parameter < parameter_count; parameter++) {
+#ifdef _WIN64
+        log_warning("signal", "exception parameter[{}]: {:016x}",
+                parameter, record->ExceptionInformation[parameter]);
+#else
+        log_warning("signal", "exception parameter[{}]: {:08x}",
+                parameter, record->ExceptionInformation[parameter]);
+#endif
+    }
+}
+
+static bool query_memory(const void *address, MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION *memory) {
+    return VirtualQuery(address, memory, sizeof(*memory)) == sizeof(*memory);
+}
+
+static void log_memory_information(const char *label, const MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION &memory) {
+    log_warning("signal",
+            "{}: base={}, size=0x{:x}, allocation_base={}, state={} (0x{:x}), "
+            "protect={} (0x{:x}), type={} (0x{:x})",
+            label,
+            fmt::ptr(memory.BaseAddress),
+            memory.RegionSize,
+            fmt::ptr(memory.AllocationBase),
+            memory_state(memory.State),
+            memory.State,
+            memory_protection(memory.Protect),
+            memory.Protect,
+            memory_type(memory.Type),
+            memory.Type);
+}
+
+static void log_memory_region(const char *label, const void *address) {
+    MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION memory {};
+    if (!query_memory(address, &memory)) {
+        log_warning("signal", "{}: VirtualQuery failed for {}: 0x{:08x}",
+                label, fmt::ptr(address), GetLastError());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    log_memory_information(label, memory);
+}
+
+static void log_adjacent_memory_regions(const void *address) {
+    MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION current {};
+    if (!query_memory(address, &current)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const auto current_base = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(current.BaseAddress);
+    if (current_base > 0) {
+        MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION previous {};
+        if (query_memory(reinterpret_cast<const void *>(current_base - 1), &previous)) {
+            log_memory_information("fault memory previous", previous);
+        }
+    }
+
+    const auto current_end = current_base + current.RegionSize;
+    if (current_end > current_base) {
+        MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION next {};
+        if (query_memory(reinterpret_cast<const void *>(current_end), &next)) {
+            log_memory_information("fault memory next", next);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void log_exception_module(const void *address) {
+    MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION memory {};
+    if (!query_memory(address, &memory) || memory.Type != MEM_IMAGE || memory.AllocationBase == nullptr) {
+        log_warning("signal", "exception module: unavailable");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    char module_path[MAX_PATH] {};
+    const auto module = static_cast<HMODULE>(memory.AllocationBase);
+    const auto module_base = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(memory.AllocationBase);
+    const auto exception_address = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(address);
+    const auto module_length = GetModuleFileNameA(module, module_path, sizeof(module_path));
+
+    if (module_length > 0) {
+        const std::string module_name(module_path, std::min<size_t>(module_length, sizeof(module_path)));
+        log_warning("signal", "exception module: '{}' base={}, rva=0x{:x}",
+            module_name, fmt::ptr(memory.AllocationBase), exception_address - module_base);
+    } else {
+        log_warning("signal", "exception module: base={}, rva=0x{:x}",
+                fmt::ptr(memory.AllocationBase), exception_address - module_base);
+    }
+}
+
+static void log_instruction_bytes(const void *address) {
+    MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION memory {};
+    if (!query_memory(address, &memory) ||
+        memory.State != MEM_COMMIT ||
+        (memory.Protect & (PAGE_GUARD | PAGE_NOACCESS)) != 0) {
+        log_warning("signal", "instruction bytes: unavailable");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    constexpr size_t max_instruction_bytes = 16;
+    const auto region_end = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(memory.BaseAddress) + memory.RegionSize;
+    const auto instruction_address = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(address);
+    const auto available = region_end > instruction_address ? region_end - instruction_address : 0;
+    const auto byte_count = std::min(max_instruction_bytes, static_cast<size_t>(available));
+    uint8_t bytes[max_instruction_bytes] {};
+    SIZE_T bytes_read = 0;
+    if (byte_count == 0 ||
+        !ReadProcessMemory(GetCurrentProcess(), address, bytes, byte_count, &bytes_read)) {
+        log_warning("signal", "instruction bytes: read failed at {}: 0x{:08x}",
+                fmt::ptr(address), GetLastError());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    std::string byte_string;
+    byte_string.reserve(bytes_read * 3);
+
+    for (size_t index = 0; index < bytes_read; index++) {
+        fmt::format_to(std::back_inserter(byte_string), "{:02x}{}",
+                bytes[index], index + 1 < bytes_read ? " " : "");
+    }
+
+    log_warning("signal", "instruction bytes: {}", byte_string);
+}
+
+static void log_stack_context(const CONTEXT *context) {
+    const auto *tib = reinterpret_cast<const NT_TIB *>(NtCurrentTeb());
+    const auto stack_base = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(tib->StackBase);
+    const auto stack_limit = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(tib->StackLimit);
+#ifdef _WIN64
+    const auto stack_pointer = static_cast<uintptr_t>(context->Rsp);
+#else
+    const auto stack_pointer = static_cast<uintptr_t>(context->Esp);
+#endif
+    const auto stack_used = stack_base > stack_pointer ? stack_base - stack_pointer : 0;
+    const auto stack_remaining = stack_pointer > stack_limit ? stack_pointer - stack_limit : 0;
+
+    log_warning("signal", "stack: base={}, limit={}, pointer={}, used=0x{:x}, remaining=0x{:x}",
+            fmt::ptr(tib->StackBase),
+            fmt::ptr(tib->StackLimit),
+            fmt::ptr(reinterpret_cast<const void *>(stack_pointer)),
+            stack_used,
+            stack_remaining);
+}
+
+static void log_exception_context(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *ExceptionInfo, DWORD last_error) {
+    const auto *record = ExceptionInfo->ExceptionRecord;
+    const auto *context = ExceptionInfo->ContextRecord;
+
+    log_warning("signal", "thread id: {}", GetCurrentThreadId());
+    log_warning("signal", "thread last error (GetLastError()) at exception: 0x{:08x}", last_error);
+    log_warning("signal", "exception address: {}", fmt::ptr(record->ExceptionAddress));
+    log_exception_module(record->ExceptionAddress);
+    log_instruction_bytes(record->ExceptionAddress);
+    log_exception_parameters(record);
+
+    if ((record->ExceptionCode == EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION ||
+         record->ExceptionCode == EXCEPTION_IN_PAGE_ERROR) &&
+        record->NumberParameters >= 2) {
+        const auto operation = record->ExceptionInformation[0];
+        const auto address = reinterpret_cast<const void *>(record->ExceptionInformation[1]);
+        log_warning("signal", "invalid memory access: {} at {}",
+                access_operation(operation), fmt::ptr(address));
+        log_memory_region("fault memory", address);
+        log_adjacent_memory_regions(address);
+    }
+
+    if (record->ExceptionCode == EXCEPTION_IN_PAGE_ERROR && record->NumberParameters >= 3) {
+        log_warning("signal", "in-page error status: 0x{:08x}",
+                static_cast<DWORD>(record->ExceptionInformation[2]));
+    }
+
+    if (context == nullptr) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    log_stack_context(context);
+
+#ifdef _WIN64
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: rax={:016x} rbx={:016x} rcx={:016x} rdx={:016x}",
+            context->Rax, context->Rbx, context->Rcx, context->Rdx);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: rsi={:016x} rdi={:016x} rbp={:016x} rsp={:016x}",
+            context->Rsi, context->Rdi, context->Rbp, context->Rsp);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: r8={:016x} r9={:016x} r10={:016x} r11={:016x}",
+            context->R8, context->R9, context->R10, context->R11);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: r12={:016x} r13={:016x} r14={:016x} r15={:016x}",
+            context->R12, context->R13, context->R14, context->R15);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: rip={:016x} eflags={:08x}",
+            context->Rip, context->EFlags);
+#else
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: eax={:08x} ebx={:08x} ecx={:08x} edx={:08x}",
+            context->Eax, context->Ebx, context->Ecx, context->Edx);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: esi={:08x} edi={:08x} ebp={:08x} esp={:08x}",
+            context->Esi, context->Edi, context->Ebp, context->Esp);
+    log_warning("signal", "registers: eip={:08x} eflags={:08x}",
+            context->Eip, context->EFlags);
+#endif
+}
+
+static void write_minidump(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *ExceptionInfo) {
+    if (MiniDumpWriteDump_local == nullptr) {
+        log_warning("signal", "minidump creation function not available, skipping");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    HANDLE minidump_file = CreateFileA(
+        "minidump.dmp",
+        GENERIC_WRITE,
+        0,
+        nullptr,
+        CREATE_ALWAYS,
+        FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
+        nullptr);
+
+    if (minidump_file == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        log_warning("signal", "failed to create 'minidump.dmp' for minidump: 0x{:08x}",
+                GetLastError());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    MINIDUMP_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION ExceptionParam {};
+    ExceptionParam.ThreadId = GetCurrentThreadId();
+    ExceptionParam.ExceptionPointers = ExceptionInfo;
+    ExceptionParam.ClientPointers = FALSE;
+
+    constexpr auto extended_type = static_cast<MINIDUMP_TYPE>(
+            MiniDumpWithUnloadedModules |
+            MiniDumpWithIndirectlyReferencedMemory |
+            MiniDumpWithProcessThreadData |
+            MiniDumpWithFullMemoryInfo |
+            MiniDumpWithThreadInfo |
+            MiniDumpIgnoreInaccessibleMemory);
+
+    auto written_type = extended_type;
+    auto minidump_written = MiniDumpWriteDump_local(
+        GetCurrentProcess(),
+        GetCurrentProcessId(),
+        minidump_file,
+        extended_type,
+        &ExceptionParam,
+        nullptr,
+        nullptr);
+    auto minidump_error = minidump_written ? ERROR_SUCCESS : GetLastError();
+
+    if (!minidump_written) {
+        log_warning("signal", "failed to write extended minidump: 0x{:08x}; retrying MiniDumpNormal",
+                minidump_error);
+
+        LARGE_INTEGER file_start {};
+        if (SetFilePointerEx(minidump_file, file_start, nullptr, FILE_BEGIN) &&
+            SetEndOfFile(minidump_file)) {
+            written_type = MiniDumpNormal;
+            minidump_written = MiniDumpWriteDump_local(
+                GetCurrentProcess(),
+                GetCurrentProcessId(),
+                minidump_file,
+                MiniDumpNormal,
+                &ExceptionParam,
+                nullptr,
+                nullptr);
+            minidump_error = minidump_written ? ERROR_SUCCESS : GetLastError();
+        } else {
+            minidump_error = GetLastError();
+        }
+    }
+
+    LARGE_INTEGER minidump_size {};
+    const auto minidump_size_available = minidump_written &&
+            GetFileSizeEx(minidump_file, &minidump_size);
+    CloseHandle(minidump_file);
+
+    if (minidump_written) {
+        if (minidump_size_available) {
+            log_info("signal", "wrote minidump to 'minidump.dmp' (type=0x{:08x}, size={} bytes)",
+                    static_cast<unsigned>(written_type), minidump_size.QuadPart);
+        } else {
+            log_info("signal", "wrote minidump to 'minidump.dmp' (type=0x{:08x})",
+                    static_cast<unsigned>(written_type));
+        }
+    } else {
+        log_warning("signal", "failed to write 'minidump.dmp': 0x{:08x}", minidump_error);
+    }
+}
+
+static void log_exception_chain(const struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *record) {
+    constexpr size_t max_exception_chain_depth = 8;
+    auto *record_cause = record->ExceptionRecord;
+    size_t depth = 0;
+
+    while (record_cause != nullptr && depth < max_exception_chain_depth) {
+        struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD cause {};
+        SIZE_T bytes_read = 0;
+        if (!ReadProcessMemory(
+                GetCurrentProcess(),
+                record_cause,
+                &cause,
+                sizeof(cause),
+                &bytes_read) ||
+            bytes_read != sizeof(cause)) {
+            log_warning("signal", "failed to read exception chain record {} at {}: 0x{:08x}",
+                    depth, fmt::ptr(record_cause), GetLastError());
+            return;
+        }
+
+        log_warning("signal", "caused by: {} at {}",
+                exception_code(&cause), fmt::ptr(cause.ExceptionAddress));
+        log_exception_parameters(&cause);
+        record_cause = cause.ExceptionRecord;
+        depth++;
+    }
+
+    if (record_cause != nullptr) {
+        log_warning("signal", "exception chain truncated after {} records", max_exception_chain_depth);
+    }
+}
+
 static BOOL WINAPI HandlerRoutine(DWORD dwCtrlType) {
     log_info("signal", "console ctrl handler called: {}", control_code(dwCtrlType));
 
@@ -90,15 +474,23 @@ static BOOL WINAPI HandlerRoutine(DWORD dwCtrlType) {
 }
 
 static LONG WINAPI TopLevelExceptionFilter(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *ExceptionInfo) {
+    const auto last_error = GetLastError();
 
     // ignore signal if disabled or no exception info provided
-    if (!launcher::signal::DISABLE && ExceptionInfo != nullptr) {
+    if (!launcher::signal::DISABLE &&
+        ExceptionInfo != nullptr &&
+        ExceptionInfo->ExceptionRecord != nullptr &&
+        InterlockedCompareExchange(&EXCEPTION_HANDLER_ACTIVE, 1, 0) == 0) {
 
         // get exception record
         struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *ExceptionRecord = ExceptionInfo->ExceptionRecord;
 
         // print signal
         log_warning("signal", "exception raised: {}", exception_code(ExceptionRecord));
+        log_exception_context(ExceptionInfo, last_error);
+
+        // write the minidump before other diagnostics inspect potentially damaged state
+        write_minidump(ExceptionInfo);
 
         switch (ExceptionRecord->ExceptionCode) {
             case EXCEPTION_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION:
@@ -128,12 +520,11 @@ static LONG WINAPI TopLevelExceptionFilter(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *Exception
         // (e.g., ACIO init hang due to RTSS)
         deferredlogs::dump_to_logger(true);
 
-        // walk the exception chain
-        struct _EXCEPTION_RECORD *record_cause = ExceptionRecord->ExceptionRecord;
-        while (record_cause != nullptr) {
-            log_warning("signal", "caused by: {}", exception_code(record_cause));
-            record_cause = record_cause->ExceptionRecord;
-        }
+        // dump memory information before inspecting potentially damaged exception and stack data
+        memutils::show_available_memory();
+
+        // walk the exception chain with bounded, checked reads
+        log_exception_chain(ExceptionRecord);
 
         // print stacktrace
         StackWalker sw;
@@ -142,47 +533,12 @@ static LONG WINAPI TopLevelExceptionFilter(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *Exception
             log_warning("signal", "failed to print callstack");
         }
 
-        if (MiniDumpWriteDump_local != nullptr) {
-            HANDLE minidump_file = CreateFileA(
-                "minidump.dmp",
-                GENERIC_WRITE,
-                0,
-                nullptr,
-                CREATE_ALWAYS,
-                FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
-                nullptr);
-
-            if (minidump_file != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
-                MINIDUMP_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION ExceptionParam {};
-                ExceptionParam.ThreadId = GetCurrentThreadId();
-                ExceptionParam.ExceptionPointers = ExceptionInfo;
-                ExceptionParam.ClientPointers = FALSE;
-
-                MiniDumpWriteDump_local(
-                    GetCurrentProcess(),
-                    GetCurrentProcessId(),
-                    minidump_file,
-                    MiniDumpNormal,
-                    &ExceptionParam,
-                    nullptr,
-                    nullptr);
-
-                CloseHandle(minidump_file);
-            } else {
-                log_warning("signal", "failed to create 'minidump.dmp' for minidump: 0x{:08x}",
-                    GetLastError());
-            }
-        } else {
-            log_warning("signal", "minidump creation function not available, skipping");
-        }
-
-        // dump memory information
-        memutils::show_available_memory();
-
         // this will stall all UI threads for this process
         show_popup_for_crash();
 
         log_fatal("signal", "end");
+
+        InterlockedExchange(&EXCEPTION_HANDLER_ACTIVE, 0);
     }
 
     return EXCEPTION_CONTINUE_SEARCH;