A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a warning message that appears on Windows computers when something has gone wrong. The message will typically list a specific error code, such as STOP: 0x0000001A, and will often provide useful troubleshooting information. While there are many potential causes for a Blue Screen of Death, most can be fixed relatively easily. This guide will walk you through the steps of resolving a BSOD issue.
1. Check your hardware. A common cause of Blue Screens of Death is hardware malfunction. If you recently added a new device to your system, such as a printer, modem, or other type of peripheral, it may be the cause of the problem. Try disconnecting any newly added devices and restarting your computer to see if the BSOD disappears. If it does, the problem is likely caused by the device you just disconnected.
2. Update your drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers are another common cause of BSODs. To ensure your drivers are up to date, open Device Manager (right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager from the context menu) and check for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark beside them. These indicate outdated or corrupted drivers. To update them, locate each device in the list, right-click on it and select “Update driver” from the context menu.
3. Check your RAM. Faulty memory can cause Blue Screens of Death, and while it’s a relatively rare issue, it’s worth checking out. To check your RAM, download a utility like Memtest86+ and follow the instructions provided. Once you’ve finished running the test, review the results and make sure that all of your memory is functioning properly.
4. Scan for malware. Viruses, trojans, and other types of malware can cause Blue Screens of Death as they interfere with system processes. Run a full virus scan using your preferred security suite and make sure that your system is free of malicious software. If any infections are found, remove them as instructed and restart your computer.
5. Check for damaged system files. System files are the ones which run the operating system and can become corrupted or damaged over time. To check for damaged system files, open the Command Prompt (right-click on the Start button and select Command Prompt from the context menu) and type sfc /scannow. This will initiate a system scan and repair any damaged or missing system files.
6. Uninstall recent software updates. If you recently installed a Windows update, this could be the cause of the issue. To uninstall the update, go to Settings > Update & Security > View Update History and select Uninstall Updates. You’ll then be able to select the update you want to uninstall and remove it from your system.
7. Roll back Windows. If none of the above steps worked, you may need to roll back your version of Windows. To do this, open the Settings app, select the “Update & Security” tab and click the Recovery option. Select the Advanced options link and choose Go back to an earlier build option. Choose a date before the update was installed and follow the onscreen instructions.
8. Reset your PC. If all else fails, you may need to reset your PC to its factory settings. Before doing this, make sure to back up any important data and settings as the reset process will remove them. To begin the reset process, open the Settings app, select the “Update & Security” tab and click the Reset this PC option. Follow the onscreen instructions to reset your PC.
Following these steps should help you fix any Blue Screens of Death that you encounter. Remember to back up your data regularly and to run regular scans for viruses and malicious software, as this will help prevent future issues.