The blue screen of death (BSOD) is a longstanding Windows diagnostic screen that appears in Windows 10 whenever the operating system encounters a critical issue that it is unable to recover from. Although Microsoft has refined the OS and patched many known problems since Windows 10’s launch, BSODs can still occur, halting your PC’s critical processes to prevent further damage.
Knowing how to resolve a BSOD remains a valuable skill. While these errors frequently crop up during system upgrades, driver installations, or hardware changes, Windows 10 now provides more transparent error messages and has better rollback features than earlier versions of the OS. This means the troubleshooting process is often more straightforward than in the past.
What is the blue screen of death?
When Windows 10 detects a serious fault — be it from hardware incompatibility, a faulty driver, or a newly installed update — it halts your entire system to prevent damage and displays what’s known colloquially as the 'blue screen of death' (BSOD) or simply a Blue Screen error. Your screen will turn a striking shade of blue, show a simple ‘sad face’ emoticon, and present a brief, but somewhat vague, message:
"Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you."
Beneath this message, you’ll often find a stop error code. Although these codes rarely offer a step-by-step repair guide, they serve as important clues, indicating which part of the system is at fault. By searching the error code online, consulting official Microsoft support pages, or tapping into reputable troubleshooting forums, you can begin piecing together what’s wrong.
In many cases, this initial code search can help you determine whether you’re dealing with a faulty driver, a failing storage device, an incompatible peripheral, or simply a glitch introduced by a recent Windows update.
Most common blue screen error messages
While a blue screen of death (BSOD) can be triggered by a wide range of issues in Windows 10, a handful of stop error messages appear more frequently than others. Some of the most common ones include:
SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED: Often linked to faulty or outdated drivers, this error suggests that a thread in the system caused an exception the Windows kernel couldn’t handle.
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL: Typically related to memory or driver issues, this means a kernel-mode process tried to access a memory address it didn’t have the right to.
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA: Occurs when the system looks for data in memory that should not be paged out, frequently caused by faulty hardware, corrupt NTFS volumes, or certain outdated drivers.
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION: Usually points to driver or system-level conflicts, and can sometimes stem from recent software updates or third-party antivirus tools.
BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO: Suggests there’s a misconfiguration in the system’s registry or boot configuration data, often after an unsuccessful system update or abrupt shutdown.
Deciphering error codes and hexadecimal values
In addition to a simple stop error code, you may see a complex hexadecimal code on the BSOD screen. While this combination of numbers and letters can look intimidating, it’s essentially a clue. Advanced users and IT professionals can use these parameters to identify which driver, memory address, or component caused the crash. Armed with this information, troubleshooting might involve updating or rolling back a driver, checking disk integrity, or removing recently added hardware.
An example: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED
A BSOD with the error code HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED often indicates a fault in the boot process, typically pointing to driver conflicts or hardware malfunctions. For instance, a newly installed graphics card driver may be at odds with the system’s existing configuration, triggering this stop error. Although this code alone won’t tell you precisely how to fix the problem, it narrows down where to investigate — checking drivers, running hardware diagnostics, and ensuring firmware (BIOS/UEFI) settings are correct.
No IT background? No problem
If you’re not deeply familiar with Windows internals, these hexadecimal codes can be difficult to interpret. In many cases, your best first step is to search for the error code on Microsoft’s support site or other reputable technology forums. Updated documentation and community-driven troubleshooting guides now make it easier than ever for all levels of users to find relevant guidance and work towards a lasting fix.
What causes the blue screen of death?
Blue screen errors in Windows 10 often appear during tasks that significantly interact with your system’s core components—such as upgrading the OS, adding new hardware drivers, or installing third-party software. Although many BSOD incidents occur immediately following a change to your system, it’s not unheard of for these errors to surface during ordinary, day-to-day use.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Faulty or outdated device drivers: A poorly matched or corrupted driver can cause the system to crash unexpectedly.
- Insufficient system disk space: When Windows struggles to manage its virtual memory and system files due to limited storage space, stability can suffer.
- Hard disk corruption or failing storage media: Damaged sectors or corrupt file systems can trigger BSODs.
- BIOS/UEFI misconfiguration: Incorrect firmware settings may prevent hardware from interacting properly with the OS.
- Outdated Windows operating system: Running older, unpatched versions of Windows 10 can leave the system vulnerable to known bugs and compatibility issues.
- Incorrect entries in the system’s registry: Corrupt or invalid registry configurations can create fatal conflicts between Windows components.
- Unidentified software bugs: Occasionally, a BSOD may be caused by a rare or undiscovered glitch in Windows 10, though Microsoft frequently issues patches to address these as they’re identified.
Before attempting a fix, it’s crucial to determine whether you still have access to the desktop. If you can reach the desktop environment, certain troubleshooting steps — like uninstalling a problematic driver or running a disk check — are significantly easier to carry out. If you’re locked out entirely, you’ll need to use alternate recovery methods, such as the Windows Recovery Environment, Safe Mode, or System Restore.
Fixing the blue screen of death with desktop access
If you maintain access to the desktop after seeing a blue screen error, the likelihood is that the issue can be related to an app installed recently, an out-of-date driver, or an update to Windows 10.
To fix the error in this scenario, the following steps need to be performed:
- Check what Windows updates and drivers are installed
- Update to new drivers if required
- Remove any recently installed updates and drivers
- Remove any problematic peripherals
Check for the latest updates and drivers
1. Open the Start menu and click “Settings.”
2. Click “Update & Security.”
3. Click “Windows Update.”
4. Click “Check for updates.”
5. Follow all prompts to install the latest Window update if needed.
How to update the drivers on Windows 10
1. Type “Device Manager” into the Windows 10 search bar.
2. Click “Device Manager”.
3. Click the device category you suspect is causing the problem to expand it.
4. Right-click the suspected faulty device.
5. Click “Update driver”.
6. Click “Search automatically for updated driver software”.
If this doesn't fix the blue screen error, download and install a newer version of the driver from your device manufacturer's website.
Uninstall incompatible updates, drivers, and third-party apps
For the following, we'll be using Windows 10's older Control Panel view to uninstall software, as we find it's easier to use when looking for installed updates:
1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click “Uninstall a program” under the “Programs” headline.
3. Click “Installed updates” in the left pane.
4. Click the most recent update and click “Uninstall” above to delete the update.
Buggy drivers and Windows 10 updates can also cause the blue screen of death. Uninstalling these faulty updates will end the errors while also repairing potential malware vulnerabilities.
If the error appears after installing a specific driver, remove it using the following steps:
- Type “Device Manager” in the Windows 10 search bar and click on “Device Manager.”
- Click the malfunctioning device’s category to expand it.
- Right-click the malfunctioning device and click “Uninstall device.” Alternatively, you can roll back to the previous driver by selecting the “Properties” after right-clicking on the device. In the Properties window, open the “Driver” tab, click on the “Roll Back Driver” button, and click “OK” to confirm.
If the blue screen of death appeared after installing an app, this is the likely culprit. Uninstall the offending app using the following steps:
- Click the Start menu.
- Click “Settings”.
- Click “Apps”.
- Find the conflicting app in the list and click it.
- Click “Uninstall”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
Unplug incompatible peripherals
The blue screen of death can also occur if connected hardware isn't compatible with Windows 10.
Visit your hardware manufacturer's support website to determine if it's compatible with Windows 10. If it’s incompatible, disconnect it and opt for a suitable replacement.
Fix the blue screen of death without desktop access
If you can't access the desktop, you can use features like System Restore and Safe Mode as workarounds. We will be going over the following:
- Using System Restore to revert recent changes
- Using Safe Mode to uninstall drivers and updates
Undo recent changes using System Restore
1. Launch the advanced startup settings by powering on your PC and pressing and holding the power button to interrupt the boot sequence.
2. Repeat Step 1 two more times. After the third off-on power cycle, Windows 10 will automatically open in the advanced startup environment and display troubleshooting options.
3. Click “Advanced options”.
4. Click “System Restore”.
5. Select the restore point created right before the blue screen appeared. Windows 10 usually creates a system restore point each time it installs an update, driver, or app.
6. Click “Close”.
7. Click “Next”.
8. Click “Finish”.
By deploying a System Restore, a user is able to move back the device’s system software to a previous state in time. To use the System Restore feature, however, you must deploy Advanced Startup settings. After that, System Restore can eradicate your PC from all drivers, updates, changes, and apps. This includes changes made to fix the error after the creation of the restore point.
Uninstall device drivers or updates in Safe Mode
If you’re unable to access the desktop normally, restarting your PC into Safe Mode provides a stable, stripped-down environment where you can remove problematic drivers or updates. Here’s how to do it:
1. Trigger Advanced Startup
Power on your PC, then press and hold the power button to force a shutdown before Windows finishes loading. Repeat this process two more times. On the third attempt, Windows 10 will automatically enter the advanced startup environment.
2. Access startup settings
Once in the advanced startup menu, select “Troubleshoot,” then “Advanced options,” and finally choose “Startup Settings.” Click “Restart” when prompted.
3. Enable Safe Mode
After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Press F4 (or the number 4) to enter Safe Mode.
4. Uninstall Updates or Drivers
With Windows running in Safe Mode, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates, or use the Device Manager to remove faulty drivers. This environment ensures fewer background processes interfere with the changes, making troubleshooting much simpler.
Using Safe Mode can often resolve blue screen errors by letting you safely remove problematic components that are difficult or impossible to uninstall during a normal boot.
Blue screen of death errors are challenging but not impossible to fix
Although these stop errors can feel overwhelming at first, Microsoft offers guidance and solutions for nearly every BSOD scenario. A little patience, combined with proven troubleshooting techniques — like removing faulty drivers, checking disk integrity, and rolling back recent updates — will often get your PC back on track.
Additionally, proactive measures such as regularly scanning for malware and maintaining reliable data backups can significantly reduce the disruption caused by unexpected system crashes.
