If you have used a computer for any amount of time you have probably seen the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) also called a bug check, stop error, kernel error, or system crash. When you encounter a BSOD it means the Windows operating system has encountered a critical error causing Windows to restart as it attempts to recover from the error.

Any problem that causes Windows to stop operating can trigger the BSOD. Most often it is caused by software, hardware, or a device driver issue.

When a BSOD happens, there are steps you can take to try to figure out what kind of problem is causing it to occur.

The Stop Code

When a BSOD happens, an error will be displayed on the screen. Take note of the error and the stop code that you see. Sometimes the screen will display a QR code that you can scan with your phone, it will take you to the Microsoft Support site where you can review error details and troubleshooting steps. If there is no QR code go to Microsoft’s Bug Check Code guide to locate the error code and find out what it means. You can also enter the error code into a search engine to find troubleshooting information.

Check Device Manager

Open Control Panel > Device Manager. This will show a listing of the hardware that is installed. Look for any devices that are flagged as a problem. If something is flagged, right click the device and select properties from the right click menu. Check the device status to find out why the device is not working properly. Also check for device driver updates. A device driver is defined as a software program without a user interface (UI) that manages hardware components or peripherals attached to a computer and enables them to function with the computer smoothly. If a device driver is faulty, it can cause the computer to malfunction. Manufacturers release driver updates that correct problems with the software.

Check the Hard Drive Space

Open File Explorer and locate your hard drive. It will be listed under “My PC” check to see if there is adequate free space. You should have at least 10% to 15% of free space available. Without adequate free space Windows and applications may not function properly. You can free up space by uninstalling programs and deleting files you no longer need.

Check for Windows Updates

Windows updates contain patches and fixes to address problems found in the operating system, apply any available updates and restart the computer.

Test the Memory

Windows has a built-in utility called the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool that can be used to test the memory. To launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, type “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search bar or press the Windows Key+R, type “mdsched.exe” into the Run dialog that appears, and press enter.

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool will open, you can choose to restart the computer now and run a test or run a test the next time you restart. To run the test immediately select “Restart now and check for problems (recommended).”

The computer will restart and test the memory. During the test you will see a progress bar and status message displayed on the screen. The test may take some time and you don’t have to watch the screen, once the computer restarts you will be able to view the results.

When the computer restarts, open Event Viewer, by typing “Event Viewer” in the search box or by opening Control Panel > Windows Tools > Event Viewer. Navigate to Windows Logs > System. Click the Actions menu > Find. Type “MemoryDiagnostic” into the find box and click “Find Next.” You’ll see the result displayed, as well as additional details about your RAM at the bottom of the window.

Run System File Checker

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows tool that scans for missing or corrupt files and reports any issues it finds. If corrupt files are found SFC will attempt to replace them with healthy files. To run SFC, type Command Prompt or CMD in the search window, when the results are displayed click “Run as Administrator” In the Command Prompt dialogue window, type sfc /scannow and then press enter. The scan will run and complete any repairs on its own. Restart the computer when the scan is complete.

Boot into Safe Mode

When you start your computer in safe mode only necessary system services and drivers are loaded, which can help determine if a third-party program is causing the problem. If the computer runs normally in safe mode, it is most likely a driver or program that is causing the problem. To boot into Safe Mode restart your computer and press F8 or F2 repeatedly during the startup process. select Safe Mode in the Startup settings menu.

Use the Troubleshooter

In the search box type “Get Help” the get help menu will open, in the help menu search box type “Troubleshoot blue screen error”. Follow the guided walkthrough in the Get Help app.​​​​​​​

Consider Recent Changes

Consider any recent changes you made to your computer prior to the BSOD appearing, changes can include Windows or driver updates, new software installs, connecting a new peripheral device, or adding new hardware. Any of those changes can cause a problem. If you made any changes right before the problem started such as adding new memory or installing a new program undo the change to see if that solves the problem.

Overheating

Overheating can cause all kinds of computer problems. If you have not opened the computer case for cleaning, try that. Dust accumulates inside of the computer. Use a can of compressed air and blow it out, while the case is open check to see that the fans inside of the computer are running properly. If the power supply, CPU fan or graphics card fans are not functioning properly the computer will quickly overheat.

Scan for Malware

If your computer is infected with malware, it can cause the BSOD, run a thorough virus/malware scan to check for problems.

If none of the troubleshooting steps solve the problem a clean install of Windows may be in order.