A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a type of error message that appears on Windows computers once they have encountered a critical system error. These types of errors are generally caused by hardware or software malfunctions and can be difficult to troubleshoot.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help diagnose and resolve the issue. In this article, we’ll explain what you can do to troubleshoot and fix a blue screen of death error on Windows.
1. Identifying the source of the error
The first step in the troubleshooting process is to identify the source of the blue screen of death error. To do this, you should look at the technical information contained in the BSOD error message. This information will provide clues about what caused the error, such as the file or device driver that caused it.
2. Run a System File Checker scan
If the blue screen of death error message does not provide sufficient clues about its cause, you may need to run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to check for any corruptions in your system files. To run an SFC scan, open an elevated command prompt window by pressing “Windows + X” and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin).” Then, type “sfc/scannow” into the window and press “Enter.” The SFC scan will take several minutes to complete, after which you should restart your computer.
3. Run a Disk Check
A corrupted or failing hard drive can also cause a blue screen of death error. To diagnose this issue, run a disk check by typing “chkdsk /f” into an elevated command prompt window, then press “Enter.” This command will scan your hard drive for any errors, and repair them if possible.
4. Update your device drivers
Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible device drivers can also create blue screen of death errors. To fix this problem, update your device drivers to the latest version. You can manually update them through Device Manager or use an automated tool such as Driver Booster to update all your device drivers at once.
5. Perform a clean boot
Sometimes, third-party applications can interfere with the operating system and cause blue screen of death errors. To narrow down the cause, you should perform a clean boot by disabling all third-party programs. To do this, press “Windows + R” and type “msconfig” into the Run box. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab and check the “Hide all Microsoft services” option, then click “Disable all”. Next, go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager”. Finally, disable all the startup programs listed in the Task Manager and restart your computer.
6. Reset Windows 10
If none of the above methods fix the blue screen of death error, you may need to reset your computer. Resetting Windows 10 will remove all installed programs and return your computer to its default state. To reset Windows 10, open Settings, then select “Update and Security”, followed by “Recovery”. Click “Get started” under “Reset this PC” and follow the onscreen instructions. Your computer will restart several times during the reset process, after which all your installed programs will be removed.
7. Reinstall Windows 10
If resetting Windows 10 does not fix the blue screen of death error, you may need to reinstall the operating system from scratch. To do this, create a media installation file for Windows 10 and insert it into a USB drive. Then, restart your computer and boot from the USB drive to start the installation process. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most blue screen of death errors on Windows. If your issue persists, you may need to contact an experienced technician for assistance.