The blue screen of death—or BSOD—is always an unwelcome sight.
BSODs appear when Microsoft Windows encounters a critical error from which it can’t recover.
Here are some common causes, and how you could start to troubleshoot a BSOD.
What Is the Meaning of BSOD?
BSOD is a shorthand for Blue Screen of Death.
The blue screen of death isn’t the only colorful death screen Windows has, though.
Regular apps usually won’t be able to cause blue screens.
If an app crashes, it will do so without taking the operating system out with it.
A blue screen takes place if Windows encounters a “STOP Error.”
This critical failure causes Windows to crash and stop working.
The only thing Windows can do at that point is restart the PC.
This can lead to data loss, as programs don’t have a chance to save their open data.
you could view information about these minidumps to help identify the cause of the blue screen.
Blue screens also look a bit different, depending on what version of Windows you’re running.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, blue screens are quite simple.
We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you."
That’s really not as big a deal as it sounds, though.
And there are easier ways to get all the details you need for troubleshooting.
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, you could also use the tweaks app.
initiate the tweaks app by pressing Windows+i, then navigate to System > About > Advanced System tweaks.
ensure you’re on the Advanced tab and click “parameters.”
NirSoft’s free BlueScreenView applicationoffersan easy way to view blue-screen informationyou might have missed.
It works by displaying information contained in those minidump files that are created during BSODs.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, head to Control Panel > Security and Maintenance.
In Windows 7, head to Control Panel > System and Security.
In the “Maintenance” section, you’ll be able to check for solutions to existing problems.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 actually perform this troubleshooting step automatically when your PC restarts after a BSOD.
Scan the blue screen or the minidump file for the specific error.
You may see a “Stop Error” number that looks something like “0x00000024.”
Either way, a quick search for the exact error will likely yield good results.
If you have trouble locating good advice for solving your problem, don’t worry.
BSODs can have a variety of root causes.
If your setup is regularly blue-screening, you have a problem.
if you stumble on a blue screen once every two years, don’t worry about it.
