The BSOD is always an unwanted sight. It appears when Microsoft Windows encounters a system crash, in which the operating system has reached a condition where it can no longer operate safely. This is caused by many different problems, such as a general hardware failure or a crucial process terminating unexpectedly.
Oftentimes, Blue Screen of Death comes with the cause of death included in the STOP Code. These STOP codes zero down on the root cause. If you can copy these STOP Codes and look up the cause and fix, more power to you. Most times though, Windows will restart and fix whatever underlying errors without your input.
But not always. We have to go on a limb and troubleshoot some of the known causes behind the Blue Screen of Death.
What Causes Blue Screens of Death
BSOD is generally caused because of problems with our computer’s hardware or issues with its hardware driver software. Sometimes, they can be caused by issues with low-level software running in the Windows kernel. Regular apps usually won’t be able to cause blue screens. Even if an app crashes, it will do so without taking the operating system out with it.
A blue screen occurs when Windows encounters a “STOP Error.” This critical failure causes Windows to crash and stop working. The only thing Windows can do at that point is restart the PC. This can lead to data loss, as programs don’t have a chance to save their open data.
When a blue screen occurs, Windows automatically creates a “minidump” file that contains information about the crash and saves it to your disk. You can view information about these minidumps to help identify the cause of the blue screen.
That’s really not as big a deal as it sounds, though. Even in previous versions, blue screens tended to go by fast enough that reading that information was difficult, anyway. And there are easier ways to get all the details you need for troubleshooting.
This could be hardware, or software-related. Either way, once it happens, say bye to your unfinished and unsaved tasks. Your PC just won’t have time to save it for later.
Software causes
- New programs/drivers
- Old programs/drivers
- Corrupt system files
- Viruses/Malware
- BIOS not updated
Hardware causes
- Inadequate air circulation
- Small storage space
- Unnecessary hardware peripherals
- Loose hardware/cables
- Failing hardware
Troubleshooting BSODs
Troubleshooting is a must to do job here when your system runs into a BSOD. The troubleshooting process may vary for particular types of Windows OS.
Windows 7, 8 and 10, we can directly go to the Control Panel->Security and Maintenance. In the Security and Maintenance section we will be able to check for solutions of the existing problems.
Windows 8 and 10 actually perform this troubleshooting step automatically when your PC restarts after a BSOD. However, it may still be worth paying a visit to the Action Centre to see if there are more details or additional troubleshooting steps.
If Windows can’t fix the problem on its own, your best bet for troubleshooting the problem is to search the web for the solution. Scan the blue screen or the minidump file for the specific error.
You may see a “Stop Error” number that looks something like “0x00000024.” Or, you may see an error like “Driver_IRQL_not_less_or_equal.” Either way, a quick search for the exact error will likely yield good results. In fact, Windows 8 and 10 often recommend right on the blue screen that you perform a search for the error.
Many a times the system runs into a BSOD while upgrading the OS. There are some tasks which can be done to avoid BSOD.
- Uninstall Applications
An incompatible piece of software, such as an old program or third-party antivirus, is likely the root of the problem. To resolve this issue, try uninstalling any unnecessary apps or a piece of software you installed recently. Once you successfully upgraded to the latest version of Windows 10, you can reinstall the apps and they should work as expected.
- Disconnect non essential Hardware
- Re-downloading the upgraded files
- During Clean Installation
How to troubleshoot blue screen during boot without desktop access
Other times, a BSOD will appear on Windows 10 after installing a new update or device driver, and you won't be able to get to the desktop to fix the problem. When this happens, you can use System Restore or Safe mode to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
Fixing blue screen using Safe mode
If you can't access the desktop, let your computer fail to start at least three times to trigger the automatic repair environment, and then do the following:
1. Select Troubleshoot on the Choose an option screen.
- Click on Advanced options.
3. Click on Start Settings.
4. Click the Restart button.
5. After your computer reboots, press F4 or the 4 keys to select Enable Safe Mode.
Once you're in safe mode, depending on what's causing the problem, you can use the following steps to uninstall an update or device driver.
Wrapping things up
Getting a BSOD error on Windows 10 can be a frustrating experience, but as you can see in this blog, there is plenty of things you can do to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
If you're still unable to resolve the issue, you can also make a note of any error message and contact your manufacturer for help. Sometimes, they may not have an update to fix the issue, but they may be able to offer a workaround.
And it's not just the blue screen on Windows 10 that signals a problem. You may also come across a black screen, an issue that can be caused by a graphics driver, a connection problem with your display, or during the installation of the OS (or updates). Likewise, you may also experience a flickering screen, which usually is caused by an application or video driver problem.
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