The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD): Causes, Fixes and Prevention

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is one of the most common and unpleasant problems that Windows users can encounter. It is a critical system error that causes the computer to automatically restart or shut down. In this article, we will look at the main causes of BSOD, methods for eliminating them, and ways to prevent such failures.

1. What is BSOD and why does it occur?

BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is an emergency shutdown of Windows due to a serious error that the system cannot fix on its own. When BSOD occurs, the screen turns blue and displays an error code and a brief description of the error.

Main causes of BSOD:

• Driver issues - conflicts, outdated or incompatible device drivers.
• RAM failures - malfunction or overload.
• Processor or video card overheating - critical temperatures lead to shutdown.
• Hard drive or SSD problems - damaged sectors or file system failures.
• Software conflicts - especially after installing new updates or drivers.
• Virus attacks - malware can cause system crashes.

2. How to find out the BSOD error code?

When a blue screen appears, Windows displays an error code (for example, 0x0000007B, 0x0000001E, or CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED). Remember or take a photo of this code—it will help determine the cause of the failure.

How to view the BSOD log after restarting:

1. Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and press Enter.
2. In the event log, go to Windows Logs > System.
3. Look for critical errors with the BugCheck code.
4. For a more detailed analysis, you can use the BlueScreenView program, which will help you decipher the errors.

3. Ways to fix BSOD

1. Restart and check recent changes

If BSOD occurred accidentally, try restarting your computer. If the error persists, recall what you have recently installed or updated (drivers, programs, Windows updates).

2. Boot in safe mode

If the BSOD prevents Windows from starting, try safe mode:

• Restart your computer and press F8 (Windows 7) or Shift + F8 (Windows 8/10) during startup.
• Select Safe Mode.
• Remove any recently installed drivers or programs.

3. Update or reinstall drivers

Update your drivers through Device Manager:

1. Press Win + X > Device Manager.
2. Find devices with a yellow triangle (problematic drivers).
3. Click Update driver or uninstall it and reinstall it.

4. Use the Windows troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool for fixing critical errors:

1. Press Win + I > Updates & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Select Blue Screen and run the check.

5. Check system files

If the problem is related to corrupted Windows files, run a check:

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R, type cmd, run as administrator).
2. Type:
   sfc /scannow

This will run a check and restore system files.

6. RAM test

Check your RAM using Windows Memory Diagnostic:

1. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
2. Select Restart now and check for problems.
3. After restarting, the system will run a test and display the results.

7. Check your hard drive or SSD

If the disk has errors, it can cause BSOD. To check:

1. Open Command Prompt (cmd as administrator).
2. Enter the command:
   chkdsk /f /r

This will check the disk and fix any errors.

8. System restore

If the problem occurred after updating or installing applications, try rolling back the system:

1. Press Win + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.
2. Select a restore point before the problem occurred and start the process.

9. Disable overclocking

If you have overclocked your processor or video card, return them to their default settings via BIOS/UEFI or an overclocking program.

10. Update BIOS/UEFI

An outdated BIOS version can cause compatibility issues. Download the new BIOS version from the motherboard manufacturer's official website and update it according to the instructions.