The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a stop error screen displayed on a Windows computer system after a fatal system error. It indicates that the operating system has encountered a problem from which it cannot recover, prompting a system crash. When it occurs, the screen displays error codes and messages that can help diagnose the cause of the crash.
What causes the blue screen of death?
Any issue that stops Windows from operating safely can lead to the blue screen of death. Hardware issues like a hard disk that has to be formatted or overheating from overclocking your CPU can also cause the BSOD. Software issues that might cause this include incompatible driver upgrades.
Although corrupted files or issues with hardware connection are typically the cause of the blue screen of death (BSOD), the Windows error code can help identify the exact cause. Unless crashes occur frequently, the majority of BSOD reasons are usually not too worrying.
Common Windows Stop Codes.
Windows stop codes, also known as bug check codes, help identify the specific error that caused the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Here are some common Windows stop codes and their meanings:
- 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
- Description: Indicates that a kernel-mode driver or process tried to access a memory location without proper permissions.
- Common Causes: Faulty drivers, hardware issues, or incompatible software.
- 0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
- Description: A kernel-mode program generated an exception that the error handler did not catch.
- Common Causes: Faulty drivers or hardware issues.
- 0x0000003B: SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
- Description: Indicates an exception in a system service routine.
- Common Causes: Graphics drivers, antivirus software, or corrupt system files.
- 0x00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
- Description: The system tried to access a non-existent piece of memory.
- Common Causes: Faulty RAM, corrupt drivers, or malware.
- 0x0000007B: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
- Description: Windows lost access to the system partition during startup.
- Common Causes: Incorrect boot order, damaged hard drive, or boot sector viruses.
How to fix the blue screen of death on Windows.
Fixing a blue screen of death has many different possible solutions, but conveniently there’s just one process you need to follow to find your blue screen of death to fix and resolve the issue. Here’s how to fix a blue screen of death:
1. Turn off the computer that displayed the BSOD.
To turn off the computer, press and hold the power button. This is OK as the goal of a proper shutdown is to preserve all temporary data on the machine. If the system has already crashed, it is too late to accomplish that; the only option is to force a shutdown.
2. Unplug every USB device, excluding the keyboard and mouse.
Take out any external devices, including printers and hard drives. The error may have been caused by these peripherals and their drivers.
3. Use networking to restart the machine in safe mode.
Safe Mode is a stripped-down version of your standard Windows operating system that only permits necessary processes that are extremely unlikely to cause another Blue Screen of Death, providing you more room to fix the issue.
Restarting in Safe Mode involves turning on your computer normally again, holding down the Shift key while choosing Restart from the Power icon when you get the Windows sign-in screen.
Once your computer restarts, the Select an option screen will appear. To restart, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
You will be presented with a list of alternatives upon startup. To boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, press F5.
4. Remove any software that was just installed.
As soon as you’re in Safe Mode, you should uninstall any recently installed software because it’s most likely the source of the problem. Press the Windows key in Windows to uninstall the program, type “add or remove programs” and click Open.
Then, scroll through the list of programs and search for software you recently installed or don’t seem like they belong (but leave anything with Microsoft in the name alone). Click on the application, and then click Uninstall.
5. Roll back driver updates.
Just like newly installed software, a recent driver update could also be the reason. It’s necessary for you to actively search for drivers that have recently updated because most drivers update automatically. This can be accomplished by examining each driver’s Properties, which is a laborious but essential step to identify and disable the problematic driver.
First, press the Windows Key, type “Device Manager,” and hit Enter.
Then, scroll through the list of your hardware components, right-click on your selection, and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.
Finally, click the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
6. Execute a malware investigation.
The cause of the file corruption causing your BSOD problem could be a virus or another type of malware. If so, using an antivirus program to remove the malware is necessary.
7. Run an SFC Scan.
Now is the time to use a System File Checker (SFC) scan to look for corrupted or missing system files and, if possible, repair or replace them. Here’s how to use Command Prompt to perform a System File Checker scan:
First, press the Windows key and type “cmd.” Right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator.” Select “Yes” or “OK” on any prompts that appear.
Then, type sfc /scannow into the Command Prompt dialogue box, hit Enter, and wait for the scan to complete.
8. Scan your hard drive.
A CHKDSK hard drive scan looks for damaged parts of the hard drive, including corrupted system files and physical damage to the disk itself both common causes of the blue screen of death.
To run a CHKDSK scan, press the Windows key and type “cmd.” Right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator.” Click “Yes” or “OK” if prompted.
Then, simply type “chkdsk” and hit Enter to run the command line and initiate the scan.
9. Check your computer’s RAM.
If problems with your RAM have caused a BSOD, the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will help you identify the specific issue.
To check if your computer’s RAM is functioning correctly, press the Windows key, type “Windows Memory Diagnostic,” and press Enter.
Then, click Restart now and check for problems (recommended) when you’re ready.
10. Restart your PC again.
The RAM check requires a restart, so this is the perfect time to reboot and see if any of the above fixes have worked. If your device restarts without the intimidating BSOD error message, congratulations! You’ve found your solution.
You can now carefully reinstall the programs and drivers you removed or rolled back. Be sure you’re downloading from reputable sources to avoid any bugs or malware.
11. Reinstall Windows.
If all else fails, try reinstalling Windows. Before doing so, back up your PC’s hard drive to an external hard drive in Safe Mode if possible. Reinstalling Windows will wipe your hard drive, user data, and files from your PC. This last resort should resolve any BSOD causes.
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