How to Fix Blue Screen Errors
Blue screen errors, or blue screen of death (BSOD) errors, are the most severe errors Windows can encounter. Since Windows can not recover from this kernel level error, a blue screen is displayed with the error details. The error details contain a STOP error code, which indicates the type of error.
There are a lot of possible causes for blue screen errors, but most of them relate to the computer hardware. The cause of a BSOD error can be a temperature problem, a timing error, a resource conflict, hardware failure, a corrupt registry, a virus or simply a device incompatibility or driver error.
How to analyze blue screen errors
The first thing to do to analyze a blue screen error is to check the meaning of the STOP error code. You need to stop Windows from rebooting when a STOP error is encountered. Once the blue screen of death is shown, you can check the meaning of the STOP error code. Together with the filename of the driver or module, this will give an indication of the error cause.
Another option to analyze the cause of the blue screen error is to look at the Windows system event log or to debug the memory dump (minidump) that Windows created when the error occurred. The event log can be viewed using the event viewer. Right-click Computer in the Start menu, and then select Manage. In the Computer Management window select Event Viewer. The information in the event log can be of great help to isolate the cause of the blue screen error.
Within the Event Viewer, use the right-hand pane to create a custom view and select a date range or specific event category to nowwor down the events relating to the blue screen error.
Windows can also be configured to create a minidump of the current state when a critical error happens. Reading the minidump requires a bit more technical knowledge, but Microsoft has tools to read the minidump. Read more about how to analyze Windows minidump files if you want to use the crash dump file to find the cause of a Windows stop error.
The most common cause of blue screen errors
In reality, the most common cause of blue screen errors is a device driver problem. Outdated, incorrect or corrupt drivers can cause the system to encounter a STOP error, resulting in the BSOD.
So the easiest way to try and fix a blue screen error is to reinstall and update your system’s device drivers. This will ensure that all driver bugs are fixed and that all hardware has the correct driver.
If you know which device caused the error, you can update or reinstall that driver first. The file name in the blue screen of death can help identify the driver. Look for a file with the .SYS extension and search for that file name.
If you do not have the drivers for all devices, or are not comfortable updating your PC’s drivers manually, you can use a driver update tool to find, download and update all device drivers for you. Such tools will accurately identify your computer hardware, including any device causing an error, and automatically install the latest drivers for it.
In most cases updating or reinstalling drivers will solve your blue screen errors.
Other causes of blue screen errors
However, if updating device drivers does not fix the blue screen error, there are a number of additional things to try:
- Load the default BIOS values – resource conflicts and timing issues can be caused by incorrect BIOS settings.
- Update the BIOS – especially after adding new hardware or installing a Windows service pack this can help fix issues.
- Update Windows – missing updates, including service packs can be a source of stop errors.
- Check your system – run a virus scan after updating your definition files.
- Run a memory test to check your computer’s RAM. Memory faults can easily cause blue screen errors, so see if your RAM is error free. Vista and later Windows versions have a built-in option to test the memory, for XP you can use a program called memtest86.
- Driver rollback – if you have recently updated a driver, you can use the driver rollback to revert back to the previous driver version.
List of STOP Errors Causing BSOD:
- Stop 0x00000003 UNSYNCHRONIZED_ACCESS
- Stop 0x0000000A IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
- Stop 0x0000001E KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
- Stop 0x00000023 FAT_FILE_SYSTEM
- Stop 0x00000024 NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
- Stop 0x0000002E DATA_BUS_ERROR
- Stop 0x0000003F NO_MORE_SYSTEM_PTES
- Stop 0x00000044 MULTIPLE_IRP_COMPLETE_REQUESTS
- Stop 0x00000050 PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
- Stop 0x0000006B PROCESS1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED
- Stop 0x00000073 CONFIG_LIST_FAILED
- Stop 0x00000074 BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO
- Stop 0x00000076 PROCESS_HAS_LOCKED_PAGES
- Stop 0x00000077 KERNEL_STACK_INPAGE_ERROR
- Stop 0x00000079 MISMATCHED_HAL
- Stop 0x0000007A KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
- Stop 0x0000007B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
- Stop 0x0000007E SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
- Stop 0x0000007F UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP
- Stop 0x0000008E KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
- Stop 0x0000009C MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION
- Stop 0x0000009F DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE
- Stop 0x000000BE ATTEMPTED_WRITE_TO_READONLY_MEMORY
- Stop 0x000000C2 BAD_POOL_CALLER
- Stop 0x000000C4 DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION
- Stop 0x000000CA PNP_DETECTED_FATAL_ERROR
- Stop 0x000000CB DRIVER_LEFT_LOCKED_PAGES_IN_PROCESS
- Stop 0x000000CE DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS
- Stop 0x000000D1 DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
- Stop 0x000000D5 DRIVER_PAGE_FAULT_IN_FREED_SPECIAL_POOL
- Stop 0x000000D8 DRIVER_USED_EXCESSIVE_PTES
- Stop 0x000000DA SYSTEM_PTE_MISUSE
- Stop 0x000000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER
- Stop 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
- Stop 0x000000F2 HARDWARE_INTERRUPT_STORM
- Stop 0x000000F4 CRITICAL_OBJECT_TERMINATION
- Stop 0x000000FC ATTEMPTED_EXECUTE_OF_NOEXECUTE_MEMORY
- Stop 0x000000FE BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER
- Stop 0xC0000218 UNKNOWN_HARD_ERROR
- Stop 0xC000021A STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED
- Stop 0xC0000221 STATUS_IMAGE_CHECKSUM_MISMATCH
- Stop 0xC0000244 STATUS_AUDIT_FAILED
A complete list of error codes can be found on the Microsoft MSDN website.
Please share your own experiences with blue screen of death errors, including possible solutions. New insights can help others, or maybe we can help you with specific STOP errors.
irql_not_less_or_equal and memory_corruption a few times. I am not sure on the exact stop message since it happens randomly. I do have access to the minidump files if needed through.
Thank you so much for this helpful site. I began getting a BSoD on Vista 64-bit after a service pack 2 update attempted to install. The computer restarts so quickly that I only see a flash and cannot decipher the specific error. The computer will not start in safe mode either. I reformatted the hard drive and attempted to install XP only to get the same blue screen even after install seemed to go correctly. I was able to run Knoppix off a CD and save my data before the reformat so I know my hard drive is intact. I don’t know if you have any suggestions but they would be very appreciated. Thank you!
@Jaycee – The irql_not_less_or_equal is often a driver error. Considering that you get the error when you start a game, I’d first try updating or reinstalling the video and audio drivers. If that does not help, I suggest you run a memory test, as faulty RAM is another possible cause for that error (and games often do use a lot of memory for buffers).
You can try looking at the Windows event manager for more details about the error.
When I try to start a game, I’m getting this error (when I look in computer management at it:)
Error code 1000000a, parameter1 00000060, parameter2 0000001c, parameter3 00000001, parameter4 804f88e1.
It’s an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL but there is no file shown for me to troubleshoot. Is there anywhere you can direct me for more information?
@jbmoney7 – Yes indeed, that works very well. I use it on a corrupt Vista setup recently as well (turned it off while it was updating, which left it not bootable). The Windows 7 setup recognizes installed Windows installations and if one is corrupt (boot-wise), it will offer to correct it. If you have a Windows 7 disc, definitely try it.
I read on microsift’s website that I could use a Windows 7 installation CD too. DOes this sound right?
@Sean – If you never had issues with the disk before, there is no need to replace it, disk errors like that do happen sometimes. If you get them more often, I do suggest you get a new HDD.
@jbmoney7 – RegCure is legit alright, although it is not software that I would recommend since the support and refund procedures by Pareto are not the best in the industry.
Regarding the blue screen, if you can not boot Vista, not even in Safe Mode, the only option to repair Vista is to boot from a recovery or Vista setup CD/DVD. Select the Repair option in the setup or use the recovery console.
jbmoney7 regcure is legit. i have it on my computer.
My brothers computer running Vista won’t even boot up. It attempts to but a blue screen pops up saying “A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer” and it goes on to say check newly installed hardware or software, etc.
I have tried to start the computer in every safe mode offered and have tried system restore (F10) but the blue screen continues to pop up and I can’t get past it to try to resolve the issue.
My brother told me that about a week or 2 ago he got a pop up on screen that said “RegCure has detected 1200 viruses, click here to remove them” which he did and since then it was running strangely and a Red Button “RegCure” was showing up on the task bar.
I figure it’s malware and an anti malware software could remove it if I get to the desktop or in safe mode.
I’m lost, if I can’t get past the blue screen during start up how can I attempt to resolve the issue?
Also, He uses Trend anti virus. if that helps.
Any suggestions? Help!
* i realize the question i just asked is way way off topic. but yeah
Anthony- i ran chkdsk /f and chkdsk /r and it repaired it. unfortunately, my crappy intel motherboard decided to give out on me. somewhat. sound and itnernet is absent. i bought myself a quality asus. now i can overclock!
but i have a question though …do you think i need a new HDD? even though it appears to be fixed.
@robert – Stop error 0x000000F4 is often a disk related problem. Try running a disk check from the Repair or Recovery console. You will need to boot from a Windows CD/DVD for this. Please also see my earlier answers on this stop error.
@WarriorMP – By default Windows will indeed reboot on a serious bsod error. That’s one of the first things I always change on a new configuration. But if you can not get into Windows, you obviously can not change that now.
You probably need to do a boot from a Windows CD/DVD and select the Repair option in the setup.
@Tom – uTorrent in itself should do no harm, but the files you download using torrent often have spyware or viruses, so be careful with that. Did you try running “sfc /scannow” at a command prompt in the Safe Mode? That will check your system files and correct any errors in them.
@Sean – That’s a serious error as your hard disk is not recognized as bootable. Check the hard disk cables in the computer, check if the disk is recognized in the Bios properly (load the default bios settings if not). Only other option is to use a boot disc (CD or DVD) to Repair the OS.
@956_Classic – Let’s hope it does not return!
@Jacket – What is the stop error code on the blue screen?
My HD seems to be locked in a continious restart loop, previous attempts to start in safe mode, last known good and/or start normally have failed. Each time the loops begins Windows XP would launch then a “Blue Screen” would FLASH followed by the restart process starting all over again. There is no oppertunity to even review the blue screen faults as the screen flashes so quickly.
I keep getting the blue screen with the code STOP:0x000000f4 (0x00000003, 0x88fc8b30, 0x88fc8c7c, 0x82030650). My laptop will not go past this blue screen even in safe mode.
I’ve been receiving bluescreens since I recently got my computer. At first I thought it was because of a vista issue since the bluescreen kept siting a vista driver. However, after I installed windows 7 I’ve still been receiving bluescreens.
I’ve done a memtest86 several times with no errors, I’ve used driversweeper to remove any corrupt drivers and reinstalled them, and I’ve ran virus scans daily with no infections.
I’ve asked a tech to look at it and he said he wasn’t sure the cause and tried asking on a tech forum but after i hadn’t found a result immediately they stopped replying.
The computer is only 6 months old and is my college computer so I am in a bit of a bind since it keeps crashing.
hey anthony
my portable hard drive has it s own AC adapter that i plug on the wall
my usb mic is wut had its on driver,i recently updated it and i havent gotten a blue screen error nomore.
im not sure if it got fixed or if its waiting to creep up again on me man lol
http://i48.tinypic.com/wkrdc1.jpg
Thats the picture of my bsod..dont worry it really is the picture of the bsod
and this is my gaming rig to boot!! :( :( :(
pleasssse help me anthony, i am at a loss for words and ive tried multiple things.
i cant boot into safe mode by the way.
what do i need to do to get my baby back????
-Sean
Hi there, sorry for my bad english
I have BSOD 2 days ago, while watching youtube
my sony laptop use window vista, and on the window says :
?Stop 0×00000050 PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
no file name or anything else under STOP line
.
*** It happend the day after my son installed WINZIP and UTORRENT, so i did use Ccleaner uninstall Utorrent, but not the WINZIP, because Winzip won’t allow me to do so. I tried to swap RAM , safemode ran AVG scan ….nothing help
I tried to do Restore System in safemode but it says …i did not create a restore system points something ?
Please help me !
Best Regards
@956_Classic – If your mic or external hard drive have drivers, try reinstalling those (although I expect they are supported directly by Windows). Does the external hard drive have external power or does it rely on the USB port for power? Laptops sometimes have problems with providing enough power on the USB port, which could cause problems. On the memtest86, please follow the instructions on the website.
@Karl – Good that you provide details, thanks. But what is the Windows version?
Switching the power should not be a cause, unless something got defect when you did the swap. The only really sensitive thing is the RAM as it is sensitive to static electricity. There are two things I’d suggest:
1) reinstall the Intel system drivers. They affect ACPI behavior which is power related.
2) in Safe Mode, configure Windows not to reboot on a system error (Control Panel->System->Advanced). If a blue screen error happens again you can see the stop error code.
@Thomas – Stop error 0×000000D1 is generally due to a driver, so try uninstalling the drivers for the new hardware and reinstall them. Also check the device manager to see if there are any unknown devices or resource conflicts reported.
Ever since installing a bunch of new components into my computer and installing a few games the BSOD has been appearing quite frequently. the technical information reads:
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00724968, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x82A6ED99)
tcpip.sys – Address 82A6ED99 base at 82A01000, DateStamp 4a856b4a
What do I do to get rid of it?
Hi Anthony, sorry to jump on the bandwagon here, but I’m getting blue screen errors. I just upgraded my PSU from a 700w OCZ to a 850w Corsair. Before this upgrade my computer was solid as a rock and no overclocks. After i swapped in the new PSU I was not booting, so after trouble shooting I reset the CMOS and it booted up fine. I set the bios back to default and logged in. Windows loaded to deskptop fine then I got a blue screen about a minute later without doing anything. After repeatedly troubleshooting my hardware connections and my bios settings I am at a loss. I swapped video cards from my gtx260 back to my 9800gtx and reinstalled the nvidia drivers, and I thought that fixed it as I was able to go about 30 minutes, even testing a game. As soon as I logged out of the game i got another bluescreen. I tried swapping both the video cards and back to my old PSU with the same results.
I dont have the error code as it reboots too fast, but my computer does not blue screen at all in safe mode with networking, so I think it has something to do with the drivers, but I dont know what would have changed from a PSU swap. It’s either something driver related OR I am missing something critical in my bios settings. My comp is a Asus P5Q, intel E8500, 6gigs of Patriot extreme ddr2 800mhz, bfg gtx 260 prior to bluescreen, went back to xfx 9800gtx. 160gig sata2 boot drive and 640G sata2 data drive. And the newest addition again which is the Corsair 850tx PSU or the OCZ 700w gameXstream. Lastly I should note that with the new PSU I tried using the 8pin cpu power instead of the 4 I was previously using. I also tried only using 4pin cpu power again. Sorry for such a long post but I’m trying to be specific. Thanks
well i recently got a portable hard drive that i keep hookd up the pc
and i use a USB Mic but ive had that longer than the portable hard drive.
last ngiht when i got the 2nd blue screen was as soon as i unplugged my usb mic.
Kould this have happened from an infected file from where i download different things??
On Memtest86 what do i have to do exactly????
@Lon – You extract the .zip file first and then burn the .iso file.
@956_Classic – Stop error 0x0000008e is in most cases due to a memory error, so I suggest you first run a memory test as well using the memtest86 program.
If the RAM turns out to be fine, you can look further.
Any recent changes to your computer?
I have the same problem
i get the damn blue screen wit an error
heres wut it shows me
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 1000008e
BCP1: C0000005
BCP2: ABBDA52F
BCP3: C185D988
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6002
Service Pack: 2_0
Product: 768_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini123009-01.dmp
C:\Users\956_Classic\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-64397-0.sysdata.xml
C:\Users\956_Classic\AppData\Local\Temp\WER90D9.tmp.version.txt
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