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 Outdated, incorrect or corrupt drivers can cause the system to encounter a STOP error, resulting in the BSOD.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.
@Rick – Weird that you can’t get in the bios. Not sure about your PC, but maybe try the Del key, Esc or F1.
One other option is to open the PC, and look for the CMOS reset jumper/switch. You will probably need the manual for that to locate it on the motherboard. In case you did not get that, I am sure it is also available on the IBM website.
Last option is to use a Windows boot CD and use the Repair option in the setup.
(I am assuming you did not change the PC configuration, extra memory, HDD, etc.)
Hi I have an IBM Intellistation Z Pro that I bought recently from a friend. It was working fine and then last night I got the BSOD. The Stop error I wrote down is:
Stop: 0x0000007E (0x80000003,0x805c24e8,0xb84c32b4,0xb84c2fb0)
I tried rebooting in safe mode and last known good configuration, still got BSOD. The part in the parenthesis is occasionally different but I have seen that exact one more than once. Please help. I cant get into windows to try anything and I can’t find my BIOD (f2 doesn’t seem to work, or maybe I am pressing it at the wrong time).
@John – Do you mean you can not start from the Windows XP install CD?
@Hman – You can configure Windows to not automatically reboot when a stop error occurs. In the control panel, select System, go to advanced settings and then startup and recovery.
But at least also try:
– loading the default Bios settings, or even reset the CMOS battery
– running memtest86 (you probably need to download and burn the ISO on a different PC)
– reinstall your audio and video drivers
Anthony I have windows xp home edition, but, it wouldn’t let me do anything else, it won’t get out of the blue screen.
Thanks.
It happens randomly, ive tried reinstalling vista/xp many times and it does not go away, even in safe mode it eventually comes, now it definitely happens everytime – im running windows vista sp1 as i havent been able to install sp2 or sp3 because of this interupting. Do you need anymore details or numbers etc to know or the problem? if so how do i note em down as it restarts after like 5 seconds.
@John – In that case you will need a Windows CD/DVD to start from and run the Repair option of the setup. If it is a desktop, you could first try to check the hard disk cables also.
@Elke70 – Did you try to run “SFC /SCANNOW” at a command prompt to repair the Windows system files? Might be that some files got corrupted or replaced by invalid versions.
@Hman – Most likely it is stop error 0x0000001A. Does it happen randomly? And what is your PC configuration and Windows version?
ill get the full details later and post
my bsod says MEMORY_MANAGEMENT , i havent noted the number down but that is what it says
Hi Anthony
I got this scary stop error on BSOD 0x0000008E(0xc0000005,0x8B1B88EC,0XBA4E3970,0X00000000)
””’00000AC7-address 8B1B88EC base at 8B1B8000, Datestamp 4accc699
I tried memtest + scanned and clean registry + scanned for virus etc but no luck I can event restore the system from a date point cause i had the checkpoint off I can access safe mode only I cant install SP3 either from safe mode cause it seas ndis.sys used by an other application
please help I dont know even where to start
Hi Anthony:
This is what I get from my PC :
A problem has been detected and windows has been shot down to preven damage to your computer.
If this is the firts time you’ve seen this STOP error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again- Follow these steps.
Disable or unistall any anti-virus, disk defrakmentation or back-up utilities, check your hard disk configuration and check for any up dated drivers.
Run CHKDSK/F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your pc.
Tech. Info.
….Stop: 0x00000024 (0x001902030,ox8aE62248, oxC0000102,0x00000000)
I had try to restart the pc on safe mode, or safe mode with prompt command, but everything has failed. I even removed the battery from hard drive but nothing, could you please help me ? Thanks a lot.
@Vivek Banerjee – Keygens are indeed known for containing viruses, backdoors and malware. Considering what you have tried, the best thing might be to do a clean Windows install.
Hi Anthony!,
I was using a software i.e ‘Driver Detective’ when I got a serial expired pop-up. I foolishly downloaded a keygen to get a new serial and it gave me a
BSOD “irql_not_less_or_equal”
0x0000000A (0x00000000, 0xC000001C, 0x00000001, 0x804E1BE8).
I can now work only in debugging mode. Everytime I try to run in normal mode I get the same BSOD. I have tried all kinds of virus cleaners and registry fixers with no result.
Please help!.
PS: Forgot to mention I am using XP Pro SP3. Also system restore and Last Known Good Configuration not working.
hi anthony, im back, well this is to inform you that i already fixed my BSOD error, i want to thank you for helping me and everybody here in your forum, i follow one of your comments here about my RAM, what i did i have 2 RAM on my memory, one is a 1GB and the other one is only 256MB, thats the reason why im having a BSOD, its not balancing at all, you told me to remove the 256MB stick and i let the 1GB RAM and my laptop works fine no more BSOD so i figured it out that when you have 2 slots for your RAM make it balance or jst use one with the highest memory, so what i did i ordered another 1GB of RAM so that it would balance my laptops memory, so thank you anthony i really appreciate it so i think this is also a big help to others what i did with your guidance and support, thanks anthony and more power to tyou!
I did exactly what you said and updated some drivers. But my TPC is still experiencing BSOD. ): Are there any other solutions?
@Windward Wahine – Stop error 0x00000116 together with the nvlddmkn.sys driver file is related to the NVidia display card. You can start in Safe Mode because that uses the default VGA driver. Try downloading the latest NVidia display driver for your video card. Uninstall the current drivers and then install the downloaded drivers.
@Jolene – Updating drivers can be done in the Device Manager (from the Control Panel). Right-click a device and in the popup menu select Update driver.
@Martyn Bowie – The first things to do in case of stop error 0x000000e4 is to run a “chkdsk /r” and a “sfc /scannow”, which will check your disk and check your system respectively. Let me know if that helps.
@emanuel – Stop error 0x0000006B is not something I have seen a lot. From what I know it generally is hardware related. When are you getting this error?
At least try running a memory test (RAM) with memtest86.
@Samantha – Microsoft has a decent article on stop error stop error 0xc000021a, but I guess you might have used that already.
If you can still boot somehow, try running a “chkdsk /r” to check and repair the disk. If not, repairing using the recovery console might work (using a Windows CD/DVD). The last option is to do a fresh install, removing and recreating the partitions and doing a full disk format. Backup your data first though!
If you add a new hard disk, install Windows on that, boot from it and use your current disk as a second hard disk. You can probably still access most data that way.
@Jonny – Stop error 0×0000000ED really means that there is no valid boot volume. First see if there is any other disk that might be used incorrectly for booting (remove USB sticks and CD/DVD’s in the drive). If that is not it, check the hard disk cables (simply disconnect and reconnect them). If all that does not help, you really need a Windows setup disc to boot and recover.
I need alot of help. When I turn on my Windows XP computer, it comes to a screen saying that Windows did not start successfully. I have the option to choose Safe Mode, Start Windows Normally, Start Windows Normally With Last Configuration, etc. They all end with the same result.
The bkue screen says “A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.” With a message following saying UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
STOP: 0x0000000ED (0x8A635030, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
BTW, i do not have the installation disk, for I have lost it.
I would really appreciate it if you helped me.
Anthony,
Alrighty! So glad I found this as it seems you may be able to help me along with all the other wonderful people experiencing bluescreen…
My laptop booted up fine one morning then crashed, i manually turned it off then problem started.
Got STOP error c000021a, with 0xc0000003 (0x00000000 0x0000000) – might have to check those parameters but pretty certain it was mostly zeros.
The bluescreen told me there was a ‘fatal system error’ and failed to boot up the operating system.
I’ve done lots of the diagnostic stuff, all of them passed except for a few hard drive ones and had these subsequent error codes:
– 2000-0142.
got these ones during the harddrive testing:
– 0F00:075D – says the self-test failed the read portion of the test.
– 0F00:0244 – says uncorrectable data error or media is write protected.
– 0F00:1A44 – says uncorrectable data error or media is write protected.
– 0F00:065D – says says the self-test failed the read portion of the test.
Also safemode failed to boot up Vista, as did last good configuration, and anything else I’ve tried.
I’ve heard windows update can do funny things like this and since about march my updates started failing and I’ve tried almost everything to get them to install…to no avail.
Is this a simple case of getting a new hard-drive? lots of stuff I don’t want to lose.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
well i have this other problem which is (PROCESS1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED) and i dont know what to do how can i repair this and the technical information number thing is STOP: 0x0000006B (0xc0000040,0x00000002,0x00000000,0x00000000) plz any repair info (that works) would help……………….
Hi can you help with the following BSOD
PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
stop 0x0000004e
havent got a clue what this is, i have been getting the other which talks about page fault in a non page area as well
help
I updated my BIOs but it’s still not working.
I not sure about my device drivers. I have no idea how to update my drivers.
Aloha Anthony:
I was trying to perform system recovery on HPdv9000 Notebook with Windows Vista Home Premium. I received a NEW hard drive from HP last week. I inserted the recovery CD (also from HP) and installed the new hard drive. Windows does not start up Normally. I can use windows in Safe Mode with Networking to install updates. My BSOD error is as follows:
***Stop 0x00000116 (0x85EB6778, 0x8A7C3E30,0X00000000, 0X00000002)
***nvlddmkn.sys – address 8A7C3E30 BASE AT 8A7C0000, DATE STAMP 4578eca9
Could you please assist?
@Jolene – Have you tried to see if there was a bios update? And have you tried updating your device drivers, as that is still the most common solution to many blue screen errors that are not related to hardware failures.
I been getting the same error number 0×000000124.
@ sumit
thxs man..
i knw that best way to format OS but i don’t want format it now.. n in safe mode i am not able to update driver….
so…plz…any other solution
@PingPongPulse – Could very well be. You can probably test it first by removing the 256 MB module and see how it runs with 1 GB, laptops do not always require 2 memory modules like desktop motherboards often do. But check the manual on it in any case.