How to Fix the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

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WindowsBSODTroubleshooting

What is a BSOD?

A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is Windows stopping hard because something critical failed—bad driver, corrupt file, or hardware fault. It reboots to avoid damaging your data further. The stop code on screen is the clue you want before guessing.

Common Causes

  • Incompatible or outdated device drivers (especially GPU or network drivers).
  • Corrupted system files or registry entries.
  • Failing hardware (RAM, hard drive, or power supply).
  • Overheating.

The Fix: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Note the Error Code

When the blue screen appears, there is usually a stop code at the bottom (e.g., IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE). Write this down—it's your biggest clue.

Have a specific stop code? Jump to the targeted guide:

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

If Windows will not stay up long enough to change drivers, boot Safe Mode first. Full walkthrough: how to enter Safe Mode in Windows 11.

Quick path: interrupt startup three times at the logo (power button) → Automatic Repair → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 4 (Safe Mode).

Step 3: Update Drivers

If you just installed a new piece of hardware or updated a driver before the crash, roll it back or update it.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Look for any yellow exclamation marks. Right-click and choose Update driver or Uninstall device.

Step 4: Run System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted OS files can trigger BSODs. Let's fix them:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Win + X, then Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin)).
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the verification complete.

Step 5: Check Your RAM

Faulty memory is a leading cause of random BSODs.

  1. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
  3. Windows will reboot and test your RAM.

Still crashing?

  • Hot CPU or loud fans under load? See fix CPU overheating and thermal throttling.
  • Black screen instead of blue? That is a different guide: black screen on boot.
  • Persistent crashes after RAM and disk checks often mean failing hardware—test the drive with the manufacturer's tool and consider a shop visit if the machine is under warranty.

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