Are you getting a blue screen error? In this guide, we will show you how to troubleshoot and fix this annoying problem on Windows 10.
Table of Contents
What Is a Blue Screen?
The blue screen of death is commonly technically known as a stop error or fatal system error in Windows 10. This is when the operating system crashes, meaning it ran into an issue that prevented it from running safely. When this happens, Windows displays a blue screen with some information about the problem and then restarts.
Typically, you will experience a blue screen error during the upgrade process of Windows 10, during startup, or when randomly using your laptop or desktop. The most disappointing part of all is that you’ll only see a solid blue background and a sad character face without enough valuable information to find out the real cause of the problem.
Troubleshoot Blue Screen Errors Follow These Steps
#1 Check for Windows and Driver Updates :
While bad updates can present problems, often Microsoft and third-party companies issue updates to fix problems like these. Go to Settings> Updates and Security> Windows Update and apply any pending updates, just Fix.
It is also important to check your drivers as they can often be the source of a Windows 10 blue screen. Press Win + X (or right-click on the Start button) to open the Power User menu. Choose Device Manager to open that utility. Or Right Click on MY Computer > Choose Manager > System Tools > Device Manager.
Here, check the yellow triangle icons, which indicate a problem with the driver. You should double check any device that comes with it, as you may need to reinstall the driver or remove the device. You can right-click on an entry and choose the update driver to check for updates, but this is not always reliable.
#2 Run an SFC Scan :
Windows includes a command line tool called SFC (System File Checker). Running it checks damaged Windows system files and attempts to fix them. Doing so may solve your blue screen problem.
Press Win + X (or right-click on the Start button) to open the power user shortcut menu. Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin), then type the following:
sfc /scannow
#3 Start Your PC Into Safe Mode :
Safe mode starts Windows in a native state using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem does not occur in safe mode, it means that the default settings and the original device driver are not causing the problem. Seeing Windows in safe mode can help you narrow down the source of the problem, and help you troubleshoot problems on your PC.
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Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.
- Press the power button again to turn on your device.
- On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.
- Press the power button again to turn on your device.
- When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.
- Press the power button again to turn on your device.
- Allow your device to fully restart. You will enter winRE.
Now that you are in winRE, you will follow these steps to take you to safe mode:-
- On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Tap on Troubleshoot .
- Now Choose Advanced Option.
- Click on Startup Settings.Â
- Tap on Restart.
- After your device restarts, you will see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for safe mode with networking.
