Windows Blue Screen (BSOD) — what it means and how to fix it
Windows & Ubuntu Guides · 1 views
A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) means Windows hit an error it could not recover from. The screen shows a STOP CODE (e.g. MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE) — photograph it, it tells us where to look.
IF WINDOWS RESTARTS AND WORKS AGAIN
1. Unplug non-essential USB devices (docks, hubs, drives) — faulty peripherals cause a surprising number of BSODs.
2. Install pending updates: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Install all, then restart.
3. Repair system files. Right-click Start > Terminal (Admin), then run these one at a time:
sfc /scannow
(waits ~10 min; repairs corrupted Windows files)
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
(repairs the component store that sfc draws from; needs internet)
4. Check the disk:
chkdsk C: /f /r
It will ask to schedule at next restart — type Y and reboot. This can take an hour; do not power off.
5. Test the RAM if the stop code mentions MEMORY: press Start, type "Windows Memory Diagnostic", choose "Restart now and check". Two passes run before Windows returns; errors in red mean a hardware ticket.
6. If it started right after a driver/software install: right-click Start > Device Manager > the device (usually Display adapters) > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. If Windows will not stay up long enough, do this in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > press 4).
IF IT BLUE-SCREENS ON EVERY BOOT
After two failed boots Windows opens the recovery screen automatically. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair first; if that fails, System Restore to a date before the problem; last resort is Reset this PC (see the Windows reset article — your files can be kept).
WHAT TO SEND IT SUPPORT
The stop code (photo), when it happens (boot / under load / random), what changed recently, and if possible the newest file from C:\Windows\Minidump (attach it to your ticket) — it contains the exact crash cause.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
IF WINDOWS RESTARTS AND WORKS AGAIN
1. Unplug non-essential USB devices (docks, hubs, drives) — faulty peripherals cause a surprising number of BSODs.
2. Install pending updates: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Install all, then restart.
3. Repair system files. Right-click Start > Terminal (Admin), then run these one at a time:
sfc /scannow
(waits ~10 min; repairs corrupted Windows files)
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
(repairs the component store that sfc draws from; needs internet)
4. Check the disk:
chkdsk C: /f /r
It will ask to schedule at next restart — type Y and reboot. This can take an hour; do not power off.
5. Test the RAM if the stop code mentions MEMORY: press Start, type "Windows Memory Diagnostic", choose "Restart now and check". Two passes run before Windows returns; errors in red mean a hardware ticket.
6. If it started right after a driver/software install: right-click Start > Device Manager > the device (usually Display adapters) > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. If Windows will not stay up long enough, do this in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > press 4).
IF IT BLUE-SCREENS ON EVERY BOOT
After two failed boots Windows opens the recovery screen automatically. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair first; if that fails, System Restore to a date before the problem; last resort is Reset this PC (see the Windows reset article — your files can be kept).
WHAT TO SEND IT SUPPORT
The stop code (photo), when it happens (boot / under load / random), what changed recently, and if possible the newest file from C:\Windows\Minidump (attach it to your ticket) — it contains the exact crash cause.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
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