Blue Screen in Windows 10 and 11: How to Fix

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is one of the most unpleasant and alarming events that Windows 10 and 11 users can encounter. In this guide, we will look in detail at how to identify the causes of the BSOD and what steps to take to restore normal system operation.

The Blue Screen of Death, also known as BSOD, is a signal of a critical error occurring in the Windows operating system. This error causes the computer to shut down immediately and restart. When a BSOD appears, the system has detected such a serious problem that continuing to work could lead to data corruption or damage to the system itself. The screen displays a blue background with text containing information about the problem, the error code, and, in the latest versions of Windows, a QR code that can be scanned for more detailed information about the failure.

The causes of a blue screen can vary. The most common are hardware component issues such as faulty RAM, hard drive failures, or overheating of individual system nodes. It can also be software failures, including device driver issues, software incompatibility, Windows update errors, as well as viruses and other malware.

An important aspect is that the BSOD does not always mean serious system damage. In some cases, the error may be accidental, and a system reboot resolves the issue. However, recurring blue screens are a signal that diagnostics and troubleshooting are necessary to avoid more serious consequences. Despite its intimidating name, the blue screen is a useful diagnostic tool as it provides important information that helps identify and fix the source of the problem.

When a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) occurs, an error code or error message is displayed on the screen. This code is the key to understanding the cause of the failure. The most common codes include «IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL,» "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED," «PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA,» and others. Each of these codes points to a specific problem related to hardware or software.

The first step in diagnostics is to write down or photograph the error code. After that, use the Internet to search for information about this error. The search can include a regular query in a search engine or scanning the QR code provided on the BSOD screen in modern versions of Windows. Microsoft and other software developers provide databases and forums where you can find a detailed description of the error and possible ways to fix it. For your convenience in identifying the cause of the failure, we will consider each error code and the reason for its occurrence.

After identifying the cause of the error, you can proceed to fix it. Depending on the error code, this may include updating or rolling back drivers, removing conflicting software, checking and restoring system files, or even replacing hardware components.

One of the most common causes of a blue screen is software or device driver incompatibility or errors. If the blue screen appeared shortly after installing a new application or updating a driver, there is a high likelihood that the problem lies in this component.

The first step will be to remove or roll back recently installed programs or drivers. Windows provides several convenient tools for this:

After removing the problematic component, it is recommended to restart the computer to check if the problem has disappeared. If the blue screen no longer occurs, you can try reinstalling the software or driver, ensuring that the most up-to-date version is used.

Sometimes the Blue Screen of Death can be caused by incompatibility or errors in recently installed programs or drivers. If the BSOD started appearing after installing new software or updating drivers, this is likely the cause of the failure.

If blue screens began appearing after installing a new program, try removing it by following these steps:

After completing the uninstallation, restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved.

If the blue screen no longer appears after rolling back the driver, you can keep this driver or wait for a more stable update from the manufacturer.

If removing the program or rolling back the driver did not help, you can try restoring the system to a state before the problematic software was installed. System Restore allows you to roll back changes to the operating system without losing personal files.

After system restoration, the blue screen problem may disappear, as all changes related to recently installed programs and drivers will be undone.

These actions will help eliminate blue screens caused by incompatible or malfunctioning software or drivers and restore stable system operation.

If the blue screen problem persists despite system updates and removal of problematic programs, you should check the integrity of Windows system files. Over time, some of these files may become corrupted, which can cause critical errors.

Windows has built-in utilities to check and restore system files:

These utilities can help resolve issues with system files that may cause a blue screen. After completing these steps, you need to restart the system and check if the problem is resolved.

CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a built-in Windows utility that checks the integrity of the file system and the state of the hard drive. It can identify and fix disk errors, such as corrupted sectors, file system failures, and other issues that may cause various errors, including the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

CHKDSK scans the hard drive, checking the file system structure and the physical condition of the disk. The utility can perform the following tasks:

To run CHKDSK, follow these steps in the command prompt:

A blue screen can occur due to various issues, including file system corruption, hard drive failures, or driver errors. CHKDSK helps to:

However, it is important to note that CHKDSK does not always solve the problem, especially if the blue screen is caused by hardware or driver issues. In such cases, additional diagnostics and troubleshooting may be required.

Memory issues can also cause a blue screen. If the memory is malfunctioning, it can lead to errors when accessing data, which in turn causes system crashes. Windows has a built-in utility to check the state of the memory — Windows Memory Diagnostic.

To conduct a check:

If the utility detects errors, it may indicate problems with the memory, and you should consider replacing the defective modules. Otherwise, even if the memory is not causing problems now, regular checks can help identify and resolve potential issues that may lead to more serious problems.

Malicious software (viruses, trojans, etc.) can also cause errors leading to a blue screen. Some types of malware can alter system files, corrupt drivers, or affect the operation of critical processes, causing crashes.

To check the system for malware, it is recommended to use reliable antivirus software. This can be the built-in Microsoft Defender or third-party solutions from well-known antivirus software manufacturers.

Steps to perform the check:

Regular malware scans are one of the most important precautionary measures that can help avoid blue screen problems caused by viruses and other threats.

These methods constitute the main actions that need to be taken if a blue screen of death appears on a working system. They help detect and eliminate the most common causes of crashes, significantly improving Windows stability and minimizing the risk of recurring errors.