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Blue Screen (BSOD): How to Find the Cause and Fix It

Medium 45 min Updated:

Quick answer

A blue screen is Windows' protective response to an error that could damage the system. First, note the error code on the screen (for example, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL), then use BlueScreenView or Windows Event Viewer to find the file that caused the crash. The most common culprits are drivers, faulty RAM, and disk problems.

How to recognize the problem

  • The computer shows a blue screen with an error code, then suddenly restarts or freezes
  • The blue screen appears during startup, before the desktop appears
  • The crash always happens during the same action, such as playing a game or copying files
  • Windows starts, but restarts again after a few minutes
  • A message like "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" appears on the screen

Most common causes

Faulty or outdated driver

A driver for the graphics card, network, or chipset is the most common cause of blue screens. Problems occur after Windows updates or installing new hardware.

Faulty RAM

A damaged memory module causes crashes during various actions and codes such as MEMORY_MANAGEMENT or PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA.

Disk or file system problems

Bad sectors and corrupted system files lead to codes such as NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM or UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.

Incompatible antivirus or third-party driver

Programs that integrate deeply into the system, such as antivirus software or virtualization tools, can cause crashes after updates.

Overheating or unstable power supply

Dust in the case and low power supply voltage cause crashes under load, often without a clear error code.

Step-by-step fix

  1. 1

    Note the error code from the blue screen

    At the bottom of the blue screen, there is a code in capital letters, for example IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION. If the screen closes too quickly, disable automatic restart: Settings > System > About, then open advanced system settings and in the Startup and Recovery section click Settings and turn off Automatically restart. The error code is the key to further troubleshooting.

  2. 2

    Check Windows Event Viewer

    Open Event Viewer via the Start menu search and go to Windows Logs > System. Filter by level Error and look for an event with source BugCheck. The description will contain the error code and parameter count, which helps narrow down the cause.

  3. 3

    Find the file that caused the crash

    Install the free tool BlueScreenView, which reads minidump files from C:\Windows\Minidump. In the Caused By Driver column, you will see the file name, for example nvlddmkm.sys for NVIDIA graphics or ntoskrnl.exe for the system itself. If a driver is the culprit, update it from the manufacturer's website, not via Windows Update.

  4. 4

    Check RAM

    In the Start menu search, run Windows Memory Diagnostic and select Restart now and check for problems. The test usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and the result is shown after the system restarts. If errors are reported, unplug the computer, open the case if you have a desktop, and check that the modules are properly seated, then test one module at a time.

  5. 5

    Check the disk and system files

    Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. To check the disk, run chkdsk C: /f /r and confirm that the check runs on the next restart. These commands repair corrupted system files, and chkdsk detects and marks bad sectors.

  6. 6

    Restore the system to a previous state

    If crashes occur after installing a program or driver, open Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore and select a point before the change. In Windows 11, you can also access the same tool via Start menu search. This action does not delete personal files, but returns system files, drivers, and programs to the state from the restore point.

  7. 7

    Remove suspicious drivers and programs

    In Device Manager, check for devices with a yellow exclamation mark and update or remove their drivers. Temporarily uninstall antivirus or virtualization software if crashes occur immediately after their installation. Do not leave the computer without antivirus protection and reinstall it when you finish troubleshooting. After each change, restart the computer and monitor whether the blue screen returns.

  8. 8

    Check temperature and power supply

    Before cleaning, unplug the computer from power. Clean dust from the case and check that the fan is working. If crashes occur only under load, test the computer with another power supply or at a service center, as the power supply is difficult to check with software.

If nothing helped: dump file and cleaner diagnostics

When the blue screen repeats even after all steps, check that dump file creation is enabled: Settings > System > About, then open advanced system settings and the Startup and Recovery section. Select Small memory dump and check the path %SystemRoot%\Minidump. You can send that file to an expert or analyze it with WinDbg, which shows the exact driver and error address. If the computer does not start normally, boot into safe mode by holding the Shift key while selecting Restart on the sign-in screen or in the Start menu, and check whether the crash occurs then. Crashes in safe mode indicate a hardware problem, most often memory or disk.

How to prevent it

  • Regularly update drivers from manufacturer websites, especially for the graphics card and chipset
  • Do not install unknown drivers and programs that modify system files
  • Clean dust from the case and check cooling once a year
  • Create restore points before major updates and installing new hardware

When to call a professional

Contact IT support if the blue screen repeats even after checking drivers and memory, if the computer cannot boot, or if it stores business data that you must not lose.

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FAQ

Does a blue screen mean the computer is permanently broken?

No. Most blue screens are caused by drivers or software and are resolved without replacing parts. Only some cases, such as faulty memory or disk, require hardware repair.

How do I find out which driver caused the crash?

Open the dump file in BlueScreenView or WinDbg and see which driver is listed as the cause. The file name usually indicates the manufacturer, for example NVIDIA, Realtek, or Intel.

Is it safe to use the computer after a blue screen?

If the blue screen appeared only once and the computer works normally, it was probably a random crash. If it repeats, wait before using it until you find the cause, because repeated crashes can damage files.

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