Tips To Fix Blue Screen Error or BSOD in Windows 10
How to Fix Blue Screen errors with Windows 10? Many of us are familiar with blue screen error also known as Blue Screen of Death. In this post, we will learn what causes blue screen error and different ways to fix the BSOD errors.
Table of Contents
What Causes a Blue Screen error (BSOD Blue Screen of Death) in Windows 10?
Few reasons mentioned below:
- Hardware failure
- Outdated software running in Windows kernel
- Not updating Windows or Windows update failure
- Poorly written device driver update
- Recently installed hardware or malfunctioning hardware
- Faulty Memory
- Power supply issues
- Overheating
- Running hardware beyond its specifications
- Incompatible DLLs
- External devices connected to the system
Some of the Common Blue Screen stop error codes/BSOD Stop codes
0x0000000A IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
0x0000003B SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
0x000000EF CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED
0x00000133 DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
0x000000D1 DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
0x1000007E SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
0xC000021A STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED
0x0000007B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
0x00000020 KERNEL_APC_PENDING_DURING_EXIT
0x00000021 QUOTA_UNDERFLOW
0x00000022 FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000023 FAT_FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000024 NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000025 NPFS_FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000026 CDFS_FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000027 RDR_FILE_SYSTEM
0x00000028 CORRUPT_ACCESS_TOKEN
0x00000029 SECURITY_SYSTEM
0x0000002A INCONSISTENT_IRP
0x0000002B PANIC_STACK_SWITCH
0x0000002C PORT_DRIVER_INTERNAL
And the list goes on…
Most of the error codes have the same potential resolutions so we will now go through the below steps to troubleshoot these blue screens stop error codes.
These steps are applicable when system boots to Windows.
Run Hardware diagnostic/Scan
Run the hardware scan to determine hardware failure with any component, while running a hardware scan if it finds any hardware failure then replacing that hardware component may fix the blue screen issue.
Update Windows
Microsoft keeps on updating Windows to fix many bugs in the operating system. It keeps the system up to date by updating the latest system updates and driver so installing recent windows update might fix the blue screen error.
Open Windows 10 setting by pressing Windows + I key on the keyboard, then click on Update & Security
Click on Check for updates
Now install updates available
Once the update is complete restart the system.
Sometime after installation of recent Windows update also causes Blue screen issues so uninstalling it may fix the problem.
Go to View update history in windows update settings
Now click on View update history and then click on uninstall updates which installed recently and after which you started facing blue screen issue. Refer screenshot posted below.
Once uninstalled restart the system.
Update System Driver from the System Manufacturer
Please visit the device manufacturer website or app to install latest drives available for hardware components. If you have installed any new hardware component such as network card, sound card or video card make sure that you install the latest driver for these components from device manufacturer website. Most of the hardware install driver automatically but in case the driver is not self-installing then update the driver from Device Manager.
Type Device Manager in Windows search box as shown below and open device manager.
Now select the component which you want to update, make a right click to update the driver as shown below by selecting Search automatically for updated driver software.
Once the driver is installed restart the system.
Perform System Restore
If you think that after installing some driver, updates or installing any app might have caused blue screen issue then you can restore your PC from a system restore point. Restoring your PC undoes recent changes made to the PC.
Please keep in mind that restoring your PC will not affect your personal files but it will remove apps and updates that were installed after the restore point.
To perform the system restore type System Restore in Windows search box and click on Create a restore point
Under System Protection click on System restore
Once you click on system restore it will give you two options, recommended restore or Choose a different restore point as shown below. Select a date which you think is related to the app, driver or update which has caused the blue screen and then click on next. Select the restore point created before the blue screen appeared.
Select the date and click on Next
Now confirm your restore point and click on Finish. It will take time to complete restore, your system may restart several times during the process.
Steps to Follow When System does not boot to Windows
Use Safe Mode to Troubleshoot Blue Screen Error
Sometimes you face blue screen as soon as you log in to the windows and the system restarts and this goes in a loop and you are unable to troubleshoot. In that case press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard and while holding the shift key click on the restart on Windows login screen as shown below to go to the Advanced Boot Options screen.
In case your system does not go to the login screen in that case you have to let your system fail to start at least 2 or 3 times to trigger the Windows Recovery Environment. You have to start your PC and as soon as you see your device manufacturer logo force shut down your PC, try this until it takes you to Advanced Boot Option. Follow the steps below to start Windows in Safe mode.
Click on Troubleshoot
Now click on Advanced options and then click on Startup Settings
Click on Restart
The system will restart, now press F4 or the 4 key on the keyboard to select Enable Safe Mode
After you are in safe mode uninstall windows update, bad driver or software which is causing blue screen issue. Follow the same steps mentioned above to uninstall recently installed Windows update.
Uninstall unnecessary app and software which may be causing a blue screen issue.
Open Run box by pressing Windows+ R key on the keyboard and type in appwiz.cpl and hit ok.
Now click on uninstall to uninstall unnecessary software from the system
Perform System Restore from Advanced Boot Options
As the system is not booting up so you have to let your system fail to start at least 2 or 3 times to trigger the Windows Recovery Environment. You have to start your PC and as soon as you see your device manufacturer logo force shut down your PC, try this until it takes you to Advanced Boot Option.
Click on Troubleshoot as shown below
Now Select Advanced options and then click on System restore
The system will restart now, select your account and sign in then click Next
Select the restore point created before the blue screen appeared and then click on Next and then Finish to initiate System Restore.
Once the system restore is done successfully, it will uninstall all the recent updates and drivers which might fix the blue screen error.
Reset Your PC/ Reinstall the OS
If all the above steps do not fix blue screen issue then you might have to reinstall the Windows 10 on the system as it might have gone corrupt. Please note that you will lose all the data and the apps you installed on the system so please backup your data before you reinstall Windows 10. To know how to reinstall the Windows 10 on your PC you can visit the below link.
Wrap Up
Getting Blue screen error is quite frustrating but all the troubleshooting steps provided will help you fix blue screen error. In case even after trying all the troubleshooting steps the issue remains the same then you may contact the system manufacturer who can sometimes fix the issue.
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