Windows Blue screen of death

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), Blue screen error, Blue Screen, fatal error, or bugcheck, and officially known as a Stop error, is a critical error screen displayed by the Microsoft Windows and ReactOS operating systems in the event of a fatal system error.

The Blue Screen of Death indicates a system crash, in which the operating system has reached a critical condition where it can no longer operate safely. Possible issues include hardware failure, an issue with or without a device driver, or unexpected termination of a crucial process or thread.

Figure 1: The infamous Windows BSoD.
The warning informs you of a critical issue that’s forcing Windows to reboot. Before rebooting, Windows usually saves a “minidump” file on your computer, carrying data about the error.

Troubleshooting BSOD
During a BSOD, stop codes appear at the bottom of the screen. There are 270 stop codes total, but most are exceptionally rare. Here are the most common:

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
An error in the kernel process associated with incompatibility or equipment malfunction.

NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
This is a drive error caused during read or write, usually due to data integrity on disk or in memory.

DATA_BUS_ERROR
This is the result of errors in RAM. The cause may be incompatible or defective memory sticks.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
This error may be due to a malfunction of the drivers, system services or incompatible software.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
This is an error related to the swap file during operation of file systems or failure of a service or software.

More error codes found here.

What is the main cause of Blue Screen of Death?
Here are some common causes of a Blue Screen of Death on your Windows-powered laptop or desktop computer:

Drivers: Computer drivers are files, typically developed by a hardware manufacturer, that help the hardware work in an operating system. And according to this blue screen error resource from Microsoft, 70% of Stop errors are due to third-party driver code.
Software: Incompatible software like apps or programs may cause conflicts the result in the BSOD.
Hardware: Faulty memory (RAM), hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), motherboard, processor, or a power supply unit (PSU) can all be responsible for the blue screen crashes.
Overheating: your computer may display the BSOD if it’s overheating due to dust, defective fans, or overburdened hardware.
Malware: Malware, like a PC virus that corrupts your critical files and folders, can be the reason for a Blue Screen of Death.
How to change how Windows manages BSOD
You can stop Windows from automatically restarting after a blue screen error with a few easy steps. Type “System Properties” in your Windows 10 search bar and hit enter. Look for Startup and Recovery under the Advanced tab. Click settings and uncheck the Automatically restart option under System failure to stop your PC from rebooting automatically after the BSOD. Here, you can also modify how Windows writes a System failure event to the system log.
How do you fix a Blue Screen of Death?
An occasional BSOD that you never see again could be harmless. However, regular blue screens can be problematic and frustrating because they may indicate a deeper malaise and force you to lose data upon every reboot. There are two things to consider after a BSOD:

Software issues, due to bad coding, incompatibility, or malware.
Hardware issues due to incompatibility or breakage from shock, aging, or voltage fluctuation.

Drivers
Type “check for updates” in your Windows search bar to find Windows Update. Use this feature to update your drivers and software and improve stability. However, new drivers can rarely also cause system errors. You could try rolling back the changes if a new driver triggered BSOD problems.

Bad Software
Software that’s not playing well with other programs can cause blue screen crashes. Any recently downloaded or installed software could be the culprit. Type “add or remove programs” in your Windows search bar to find the Apps & features setting. Here, uninstall programs on top of your suspect list. You can also resort to Windows Safe Mode if you can’t remove software normally because of blue screen errors.

Alternatively, use the System Restore feature if your computer has some restore points. Type “recovery” in your Windows search bar and launch Advanced recovery tools from your Control Panel. Click Open System Restore to restore your system to a potentially more stable state.

Malware
Many different types of malware, like computer viruses, computer worms, some Trojans, and ransomware, can potentially create a BSOD by corrupting your essential files. Try our free virus and malware scanner to find and remediate all kinds of malware to clean your system.

Peripherals and new hardware
Remove any peripherals that may be causing the BSOD. Start by disconnecting printers, scanners, USB devices, and external storage from your PC. Next, remove any new piece of hardware. For example, if you bought a new stick of RAM, use your old one. Likewise, if you bought a new graphics card, revert to the previous one or use your onboard video options.

If there are no more blue screen errors after slimming your computer down to essential hardware, start adding the hardware back one by one to isolate the problem. Don’t panic if a fancy new piece of hardware is causing BSODs as it may not be faulty. For example, your new stick of RAM may not be compatible with your motherboard or your other stick of RAM. Likewise, a perfect graphics card may cause crashes due to conflicts, driver problems, or inadequate power.

Hardware tests
You can check your memory for errors through Windows or third-party tools. HCI Design’s MemTest is a popular tool for RAM tests. Alternatively, search for Windows Memory Diagnostic in your Windows 10 search bar.
Use your storage drive manufacturer’s software to check your Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Solid-State Drive (SSD) for errors.
Look for artifacts or computer slow downs when running video games to see if your GPU is faulty. You can also use video game benchmarking tools to check your graphics card for defects.
A faulty power supply can cause your computer to overheat, restart spontaneously, slow down, crash, or show the BSOD. The easiest way to test a power supply is to try a new one.
Overheating can cause blue screen errors. You can try a utility like Open Hardware Monitor to check your CPU and GPU temperatures. An Air Duster can clear up the vents and fans in a computer that’s running too hot. Your system should also be well-ventilated to stay cool.

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. Shut down the PC that showed the BSOD Press and hold the power button until the computer powers off. It’s okay to do this because the whole point of shutting down properly is to allow the computer to save all temporary data. It’s too late for that if the system’s already crashed — the only way to proceed is to force a shutdown.
2. Disconnect all USB devices except for the mouse and keyboard Remove all external devices like hard drives and printers. These peripherals and their drivers might be the cause of the error.
3. Reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode is a bare-bones version of your normal Windows OS that only allows essential processes that are very unlikely to trigger another BSOD, giving you space to troubleshoot the problem. To reboot in Safe Mode, turn your PC back on normally, and then when you see the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select Restart from the Power icon. After your PC reboots again, you’ll be presented with the Choose an option screen. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. Upon restart, you'll be given a list of options. Select F5 to start your PC in Safe Mode with Networking.
4. Uninstall recently installed software Now that you’re in Safe Mode, the first priority is to remove any recently installed software as this is very likely to be the culprit. To uninstall software in Windows, press the Windows key. Type “add or remove programs” and click Add or Remove Programs.

Then, scroll through the list of programs and search for software you recently installed or that looks unfamiliar (but leave anything with Microsoft in the name alone). Click on the program, and then click Uninstall.

While you’re at it, you should also run a scan using a junkware removal tool to jettison junk files and PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) that could be slowing you down. As well as freeing up disk space, getting rid of dead weight will help keep your PC running smoothly once you’ve completed the blue screen of death fix.

1. Roll back or disable drivers Since recently updated drivers could be the issue, you should try undoing recent driver updates. It makes the most sense to start with display adapter drivers and non-essential components, as these tend to be the most troublesome. First, press the Windows Key, type “Device manager,” and hit Enter.

Then, scroll through the list of components, right-click on your selection, and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.

Finally, click the Device tab and click Roll Back Driver.

Follow the same process to roll back recent driver updates for other hardware components.

1. Scan for malware It’s possible that a virus or malware caused the BSOD by deleting or corrupting critical system files. To prevent further disruption and ensure your PC is secure, launch your preferred malware removal tool, make sure it’s fully updated, and run a full scan to find any malware that may be lurking on your device. Download Avast One to scan your device for malware. DOWNLOAD FREE AVAST ONE Get it for Android, iOS, Mac
2. Run an SFC Scan Now it’s time to search for damaged or missing system files — and repair or replace them, if possible — using a System File Checker (SFC) scan. Here’s how to run a System File Checker scan using Command Prompt: 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.

1. Scan your hard drive A CHKDSK hard drive scan looks for damaged parts of the hard drive, including corrupted file systems 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.

If the scan identifies drive errors, you need to run a new CHKDSK process to repair them. Type “chkdsk /r” into Command Prompt and hit Enter — this will launch a deeper diagnostic scan and restore damaged hard drive sectors so that they're readable within the file system.
Hardware does degrade over time, so if your disk is more than a few years old, you should perform this kind of hard drive test regularly to catch issues before they result in a crash.

1. 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.

The results of the diagnostic will show as soon as your computer starts up again. If you would like to refer to them again, you can view them in the Event Viewer.

1. Restart your PC to see if the BSOD shows 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 the BSOD has stopped appearing, congratulations! You’ve found your solution. In that case, you can start carefully re-introducing software and drivers that you previously uninstalled or rolled back, making sure to download them from legitimate sources and install them one by one with no other programs running. It’s best to start by updating Windows drivers, followed by audio drivers, and then graphics drivers. To help keep your drivers updated for optimal performance, use a driver updater. Not only will this save you from having to manually configure updates, a dedicated tool can help minimize problems that can arise when installing new versions. Plus, it may help prevent getting hit by another Windows blue screen. Similarly, you can also help prevent Windows blue screens from happening by regularly cleaning your PC and downloading antivirus software to keep you, your files, and your machine safe and secure.
2. If all else fails, reinstall Windows If nothing’s worked until now, there’s only one option left: reinstalling Windows. This will wipe all the data stored on your machine, so it’s the final resort. But fortunately, if you’re able to use Windows normally in Safe Mode, you still have the chance to clone your hard drive and back everything up before deleting Windows and reinstalling a clean version of the OS.