Windows is the operating system that has the most market share out in the world. The majority of people rely on Windows for their daily jobs. But sometimes, even the mightiest operating system can have failures and crashes. Well, when Windows crashes, it gives us a blue error screen, also known as 'The Blue Screen of Death' (BSOD)!
Why does BSOD occur and how to fix it?
So what is the reason behind this Blue Screen of Death? Whenever Windows encounters an error, an app crash, a driver problem, or hardware issues powerful enough to bring the whole operating system down with them, then we get to see the Blue Screen of Death. It generally can't be caused by a simple program crash, or a common OS bug or glitch, unless it affects the Windows Kernel somehow. When that happens, it leaves Windows with the only choice which WIndows has for any problem - a Restart! So, most often than not, after a BSOD, your PC would restart and try to fix the error. And if the problem is fixable by Windows, then you would be good to go on with your tasks.
BSOD can occur due to multiple causes -
Buggy Drivers -
If the drivers become corrupt or buggy for some reason (like after an update), they can cause windows to crash and show the BSOD. You can try to roll back to the previous version of the same driver to see if the problem gets solved.
Corrupt Windows core files -
If some important core part of Windows has become corrupted or missing, then there is a high chance that your system will crash and show BSOD when that part is needed to function. You can perform a 'System Restore' to a previous time if your computer has recently started to show BSOD randomly.
Malware -
Malware and viruses can also be the culprits in this case. If malware somehow gets into the core of your operating system or the Windows Kernel, it can easily corrupt and crash your system causing BSOD. You can scan your PC from Windows Security or any other good antivirus program to check if there are any unwanted programs like viruses or malware infecting your system.
A bad Windows Update -
Yes, sometimes something that is meant to make your PC better and more secure can lead to the opposite. Sometimes Windows Updates might not be properly optimized for your PC and might cause some fatal error, causing your system to crash and cause BSOD. You can try to go back to your previous update by going into Settings ----> Update & Security ----> Recovery and then selecting Get started under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10. This option may not be present for everyone.
Hardware issues -
Like corrupt software, hardware can also get corrupted or damaged after long use, or due to any other reasons, which can cause the system to crash and show the BSOD. One method to check whether it is a hardware or a software issue is to 'Reset your PC' from the Settings. This generally takes somewhere around 20 mins to a few hours. It completely resets and reinstalls your operating system. It is the last thing that you can do to fix your BSOD. If the BSOD continues to show after a system reset, then it is most probably a hardware issue which you would have to fix by going to a professional.
Conclusion
Having occasional BSODs here and there a few times in a couple of months is no big deal. It may just be some random event that may have caused the BSOD. But if your system crashes and you get BSODs frequently, then there might be a problem underlying beneath it, which might need to get checked out. Generally, BSODs show an error code below the main message which you can search on the internet to get more information on what caused the system crash. Also, whenever the system crashes, Windows makes a log file of it, which you can see to get more information on what caused the failure, which turned the winds of luck to you seeing the legendary Blue Screen of Death!
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