Understanding the Blue Screen of Death
A BSOD means Windows hit an unrecoverable error. Don’t panic — the stop code tells you exactly what went wrong.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
1. Identify the Stop Code
The blue screen shows a code like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. Write it down.
2. Boot into Safe Mode
If Windows won’t boot normally:
- Power on, wait for Windows logo, hold power button to force shutdown.
- Repeat 3 times — Windows enters Automatic Repair.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode.
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
chkdsk C: /f /r
Most Common BSOD Stop Codes
| Stop Code | Common Cause | Fix |
|---|
| IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL | Faulty driver accessing wrong memory | Update/roll back the driver shown in crash dump |
| KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR | Bad disk sector or failing HDD/SSD | Run chkdsk /f /r; replace drive if SMART shows errors |
| PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA | Bad RAM or corrupt driver | Run Memory Diagnostic; test with MemTest86 |
| SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION | Antivirus conflict or corrupt system file | SFC + DISM; disable third-party antivirus |
| DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE | Device driver can’t handle sleep/wake | Update chipset + GPU drivers; disable fast startup |
| CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED | Essential Windows process crashed | SFC + DISM; if persistent, in-place upgrade repair |
| UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION | Storage driver or fast startup issue | Disable fast startup; update storage drivers |
| KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED | Hardware or driver problem | Identify driver from dump; replace if hardware |
| WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR | Hardware failure (CPU, RAM, or motherboard) | Check temperatures; test RAM; may need hardware replacement |
| DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION | SSD firmware or storage controller | Update SSD firmware and AHCI/NVMe drivers |
| Tool | Purpose | How to Run |
|---|
| SFC | Scan/fix corrupt system files | sfc /scannow (admin CMD) |
| DISM | Repair Windows image | DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth |
| chkdsk | Fix disk errors | chkdsk C: /f /r (reboot required) |
| WinDbg | Analyze crash dump files | Open .dmp from C:\Windows\Minidump\ |
| Memory Diagnostic | Test RAM | mdsched.exe |
| MemTest86 | Thorough RAM test (boots from USB) | Download and boot |
| Event Viewer | Check system logs around crash time | eventvwr.msc > Windows Logs > System |
| Driver Verifier | Stress-test drivers to find faults | verifier (use carefully, can cause more BSODs) |
Quick Fixes by Symptom
| Symptom | Most Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|
| BSOD after Windows Update | Bad update | Uninstall recent update from Safe Mode |
| BSOD during gaming | GPU driver or overheating | Update GPU driver; check temps with HWMonitor |
| BSOD on boot every time | Corrupt boot files | Startup Repair or bootrec /fixmbr |
| BSOD after installing new RAM | Incompatible or bad DIMM | Remove new RAM; test sticks individually |
| BSOD after driver install | Bad driver | Roll back in Device Manager from Safe Mode |
| Random BSODs, different codes | Bad RAM | Run MemTest86 overnight |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|
| Can’t boot at all | Use Windows installation USB > Repair > Command Prompt |
| SFC finds errors but can’t fix | Run DISM first, then SFC again |
| BSOD persists after all fixes | In-place upgrade repair (keeps files and apps) |
| Need the crash dump but can’t find it | Check C:\Windows\Minidump\ or %SystemRoot%\MEMORY.DMP |
Summary
- Read the stop code — it’s your most valuable diagnostic clue.
- SFC + DISM + chkdsk fix most software-caused BSODs.
- Driver issues cause ~70% of BSODs — update or roll back.
- RAM failures cause random BSODs with different codes — test with MemTest86.
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