Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in Windows 10: Causes and Fixes

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), also known as a stop error or bug check, is a notorious error screen that appears on Windows devices when a critical system failure occurs. In this article, we’ll explore the most common causes of the Blue Screen of Death on Windows 10 and provide troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue.

What is the Blue Screen of Death?

The Blue Screen of Death is a fatal error screen that appears when Windows detects a critical system failure, such as a hardware or software malfunction, drivers’ corruption, or system file corruption. The screen displays a blue background with a white font, and the error message is usually followed by a series of technical details, including:

• The error code (e.g., IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL)
• The faulty system file or device driver
• The address of the file or driver that caused the error
• An option to restart the computer or run a diagnostic tool

Common Causes of the Blue Screen of Death on Windows 10

1. Driver issues: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can cause a Blue Screen of Death. Common culprit drivers include graphics drivers, network drivers, and sound drivers.
2. Hardware failures: Faulty or incompatible hardware components, such as RAM, graphics cards, or hard drives, can trigger a BSOD.
3. System file corruption: Corruption or deletion of critical system files can cause a Blue Screen of Death. This may occur due to a virus infection, malware, or a hardware failure.
4. Overheating: High temperatures due to a cooling system failure or blockage can cause a BSOD.
5. Windows updates: Sometimes, Windows updates can cause conflicts or corruption, leading to a Blue Screen of Death.
6. Third-party software: Malfunctioning or poorly coded third-party software can cause a BSOD.

Troubleshooting the Blue Screen of Death on Windows 10

1. Restart your computer: The simplest solution is to restart your computer and see if the issue persists.
2. Check for updates: Ensure that your Windows 10 operating system and drivers are up-to-date, as updates often resolve bugs and issues.
3. Run the built-in troubleshooter: Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooter that can diagnose and fix common issues, including BSODs.
4. Check for hardware issues: Run diagnostic tests to identify any hardware faults, such as RAM tests or disk checks.
5. Uninstall or roll back drivers: If you suspect a driver issue, try uninstalling or rolling back the driver to a previous version.
6. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan: This scan can help identify and fix corrupted system files.
7. Disable lately installed software: If you’ve recently installed software that’s causing the BSOD, try disabling or uninstalling it.
8. Perform a System Restore: If you’ve made recent changes to your system, try restoring to a previous point when the issue didn’t occur.
9. Check for disk errors: Run the Check Disk (chkdsk) utility to identify and fix disk errors.
10. Seek professional help: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, consider seeking help from a professional IT support or Microsoft Support.

Conclusion

The Blue Screen of Death is a frustrating error that can appear on Windows 10 devices. By identifying the common causes and following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can resolve the issue and get back to using your computer efficiently. Remember to stay patient, as resolving a BSOD may require testing and experimentation.