Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Fix Guide

📋 Common BSOD Error Codes

Write down or photograph the stop code shown on the blue screen. Here are the most common ones and what they mean:

• CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED — A critical system process crashed. Usually a driver or Windows update issue.
• SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION — A system service hit an error, often caused by outdated or incompatible drivers.
• IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL — A driver tried to access memory it shouldn't. Usually a driver or RAM problem.
• PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA — Windows can't find data it expected in memory. Points to bad RAM or a corrupted driver.
• WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR — Hardware error detected, often CPU overheating or failing storage drive.
• KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR — Windows can't read data from disk. Your hard drive or SSD may be failing.
• DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION — A driver took too long to respond. Common with SSD firmware issues or outdated SATA drivers.

1. Boot into Safe Mode

If your PC keeps crashing, you need Safe Mode to troubleshoot. Force-shutdown your PC 3 times during boot (hold the power button) to trigger Automatic Repair. From there, go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking. If Windows boots fine in Safe Mode, the problem is almost certainly a driver or startup program.

2. Update or Roll Back Drivers

Bad drivers cause the majority of BSODs. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager) and look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle. Right-click and select Update driver. If the BSOD started after a recent driver update, right-click the device, go to Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver. Pay special attention to:

• Graphics drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) — download the latest from the manufacturer's site
• Network adapters — especially after Windows updates
• Storage controllers (SATA/NVMe/RAID drivers)

3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

Faulty RAM is a silent BSOD generator. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and select Restart now and check for problems. The test runs before Windows loads and takes 10-20 minutes. If errors are found, you have a bad RAM stick. Try removing one stick at a time to identify the culprit, or run the more thorough MemTest86 from a USB drive.

4. Run SFC and DISM Scans

Corrupted Windows files cause crashes. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands in order:

sfc /scannow

Wait for it to complete (can take 15+ minutes), then run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This downloads fresh copies of any corrupted system files from Windows Update. Restart when finished.

5. Check for Disk Errors

A failing hard drive causes data corruption BSODs. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
chkdsk C: /f /r
You'll need to schedule it for next restart. This scans the entire drive for bad sectors and attempts repairs. If it finds many bad sectors, back up your data immediately — the drive is dying.

6. Use System Restore

If the BSODs started recently, System Restore can roll back to a working state. Search for "Create a restore point", click System Restore, and choose a restore point from before the crashes started. This undoes driver installs, Windows updates, and software changes without affecting your personal files.

7. Check for Overheating

Overheating CPUs and GPUs trigger WHEA errors and sudden shutdowns. Download HWiNFO (free) and monitor temperatures. CPU temps above 90°C under load or 60°C at idle indicate a cooling problem. Clean dust from fans and vents with compressed air, reapply thermal paste if needed, and make sure all fans are spinning.

8. Uninstall Recent Software

Antivirus software, VPN clients, and system utilities with kernel-level drivers are notorious BSOD causes. If the crashes started after installing new software, uninstall it from Settings → Apps and see if the BSODs stop. Common offenders include third-party antivirus, fan control software, and RGB lighting apps.

9. Clean Install (Last Resort)

If nothing above works, back up your files and do a clean Windows install. Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC and choose Remove everything with the Cloud download option for a fresh copy of Windows. This eliminates all software-related BSOD causes. If BSODs continue after a clean install, you have a hardware problem (usually RAM, SSD, or motherboard).

🆘 Need Professional Help?

Recurring BSODs with hardware error codes often mean failing components that need hands-on diagnosis. Our technicians can test your RAM, storage, and motherboard.