Does your windows computer have the blue screen of death?

Your computer displays a "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) with an error message and then restarts unexpectedly. This indicates a critical system error that Windows encountered.

BSODs can be caused by various issues, including:

• Corrupted or outdated device drivers.

• Faulty hardware (e.g., RAM, hard drive).

• Corrupted Windows system files.

• Software conflicts.

• Malware.

Identify the Stop Code: When the blue screen appears, carefully note down the error code displayed (e.g., 0x0000007E, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA). This code is crucial for further diagnosis.

• Expected Outcome: You have the specific error code for the BSOD.

  Recall Recent Changes: Think back to any hardware (e.g., new RAM, graphics card) or software (e.g., new application, driver update) you installed or changed just before the crash started occurring.

• Expected Outcome: You have a list of potential recent changes that might be causing the issue.

Update Windows:

• Open Settings (Windows Key + I).

• Navigate to Windows Update.

• Click on "Check for updates" and install all pending updates, including optional updates.

• Reboot your computer if prompted.

• Expected Outcome: Windows is up-to-date with the latest stability and security fixes.

  Update Device Drivers:

• Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the menu.

• Expand the following categories and right-click on each device within them to select "Update driver":

  • Display adapters (Graphics Card)

  • Disk drives (Storage controllers)

  • Network adapters

• Select "Search automatically for drivers". If Windows doesn't find a new driver, consider visiting the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.

• Expected Outcome: Device drivers are updated to their latest stable versions, potentially resolving compatibility issues.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

• Search for "cmd" in the Start Menu.

• Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."

• Expected Outcome: Command Prompt window opens with administrative privileges.

  Run System File Checker (SFC):

• In the Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

• Allow the scan to complete. This tool will scan for and repair corrupted Windows system files.

• Expected Outcome: Corrupted system files are repaired, or a message indicates no integrity violations were found.

  Run Check Disk (CHKDSK):

• In the Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r on your system drive (usually C:). For example, chkdsk C: /f /r.

• Press Enter.

• You may be prompted to schedule the check on the next restart. Type Y and press Enter.

• Reboot your computer as prompted to allow CHKDSK to run. This tool checks for and fixes disk errors and recovers readable information from bad sectors.

• Expected Outcome: Disk errors are identified and potentially repaired during the reboot process.

After attempting these methods, observe if the blue screen errors continue to occur. Test your system by performing typical tasks.

If you continue to experience blue screen errors, please contact IT Support with the following information:

• The exact Stop Code you noted from the blue screen.

• Any recent hardware or software changes you made before the issue started.

• A brief description of when the BSOD typically occurs (e.g., on startup, when opening a specific application, randomly).

• What troubleshooting steps you have already performed from this KBA.