How to fix a Blue Screen
Complete with pictures for the clueless
Oh stuff!The typical end-user believes that a "STOP" screen (more commonly referred to the Blue Screen of Death, abbreviated to BSoD) is the end of their computer. Contrary to popular belief, this is not true. Most can be resolved just by restarting, while some others, such as driver issues and registry errors, need action before the BSoD will stop occurring. This post will teach you how to solve them.
Uninstall any drivers and programs you have recently installedThe majority of BSoDs are caused by improper installation/selection of drivers and programs, and can be fixed easily. Start by
loading Windows in Safe Mode (that's a link!) This will ensure that only primary drivers and programs are loaded for a less-than-proper operating environment, and will allow the uninstall to go without error, as the program service or driver would not be loaded during the starting of Windows.
To uninstall a program, enter the Control Panel. Click one of the following icons corresponding to the version of Windows that you have installed.
Windows XP:
Windows Vista and 7:
From these icons, a list will appear of all the software you've installed on your computer. Gathering the list may take a minute or two, be patient. From here, you click one of the recently installed programs/drivers and click "Change/Remove", "Change", or "Remove." Follow the on-screen instructions after selecting to uninstall the program. Afterwards, restart your computer and check to see if the problem occurs. Repeat if necessary.
Run System Restore to a point where you could use your computerThis would have to be one of the easiest methods to fix a recurring BSoD ever. Pick the method corresponding to your version of Windows.
Windows XP:
Follow the on-screen instructions when the window comes up.
Windows Vista and 7:
Click on "System Protection"
This button may be greyed out if you don't have a restore point.
Afterwards, follow the on-screen instructions.
Look up the "STOP" error codeThis is a general "do-me-first" for experienced users. The "STOP" error code is the sequence that appears whenever a BSoD occurs (example, 0x000000E2.) For Windows Vista and 7 users, it's as easy as clicking a button to get the error code during your next startup.
Add the BCCode onto "0x00000000", whereas the BCCode would be 541, you'd have a "STOP" code of "0x00000541"
However, if you're using XP or 2000, you'll have to write down the error code. If the screen restarts too fast, or you're too scared and just reset your computer, you're going to have to
change system failure and recovery options. Here's a guide with pictures on how to do so:
Open the Control Panel, then you will open "System".
Head over to the "Advanced" tab.
Click the "Settings" button on the following
Turn off "Automatically Restart" on System Failure
For Vista and 7 users who would like to do the same:
Click on "Advanced system settings"
Then, follow the last 2 steps of the XP method.
You can look up "STOP (code)" on Google, or the
Microsoft Support website. Whichever one you use is pure choice. From here, there should be a guide on how to fix the issue you're having.
My computer won't boot Windows in Safe Mode!Provided you have the Operating System disk, you can Repair the system. Should you not, where I am, it is legal to download the disk, provided you have a license for the product. Insert the disk into your drive, watch when your computer starts up for "Press F8 to launch BBS", "F12 Boot Menu" or similar messages. When it appears, select "CD-ROM drive" or something with the name "DVD" or "CD" in it. Should you be using XP,
do not use the recovery console if you have no idea what you're doing. The recovery console is for more experienced Windows users who know what the issue is, and it's generally not recommended to play around in it. Follow the on-screen instructions after you've initiated the repair process. Generally the only thing you'll lose is modified system files, the rest of them should be fine after the repair process. If it doesn't detect any disks, ensure the hard drive is powered on, plugged into the SATA/IDE port, and is enabled in the BIOS (consult your manual that came with the computer for more information.) Should it not be detected by your BIOS, your hard drive may be dysfunctional. Test it in another system to verify.
