Why do blue screens occur

After clicking Next once, you'll see a list of restore points you can return to. Select one, then hit Scan for affected programs if you want to see what software will change. Running a System Restore doesn't affect your files, but it will uninstall any drivers or software you've installed since the restore point was made.

In addition, it will reinstall anything you removed since that time. Confirm your system restore, then you can start the process. This will take a few moments, then you'll be back to your system like it was at the time. If you don't get blue screens after this, your problem was likely software related. Malware can damage your Windows system files and result in a blue screen. You should run a scan for infection to rule out anything like this.

We recommend using Malwarebytes to run a scan. This will look for all sorts of rogue software and remove it for you. If it finds anything, reboot after the cleaning and see if your blue screen errors go away. If you haven't figured out why you're getting a blue screen of death, you should next check your computer's physical components. Sometimes a failing stick of RAM or similar can result in a blue screen. We've showed how to test your PC for hardware failure before.

Use those tools to test your system and you can plan to replace anything that's faulty. Running it checks for damaged Windows system files and attempts to fix them. Doing so may solve your blue screen issue. Depending on the severity of your issue, you may be able to perform all of the above troubleshooting steps while working in Windows as usual.

However, if you have a major issue, the blue screen errors might prevent you from working normally. In that case, you'll need to boot into safe mode. Safe mode allows you to load a basic Windows configuration with only the essentials that it needs to run.

This prevents third-party apps from interfering with normal operation. If you can work in safe mode without hitting a blue screen, an installed app or service is likely causing the problem. While in safe mode, you can run a malware scan, use System Restore, and otherwise troubleshoot as we've discussed.

For deeper troubleshooting, you can utilize tools that interpret the information Windows dumps after it crashes. These are typically only for advanced users. Follow our instructions on how to fix blue screen errors with WinDbg and BlueScreenView for help using a few of these tools.

If all else fails, you'll need to reinstall Windows on your computer. Best VR Headsets. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories. Best Linux Laptops. Best Gaming Monitors. Best iPads. Best iPhones. Best External Hard Drives. Browse All News Articles. Smart TVs Ads. Team Comes to Workplace by Meta. Block People Spotify. Verizon Selling PS5. Windows 11 SE Explained.

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Should You Upgrade to Windows 11? Browse All Windows Articles. Copy and Paste Between Android and Windows. If you're having trouble restarting, you can start your PC in safe mode.

For more info, see Windows Startup Settings including safe mode. You can also try getting the latest updates with Windows Update, help from other sources, or restoring Windows to an earlier point in time.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings , and then tap Change PC settings. If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings , and then click Change PC settings.

Tap or click Update and recovery , and then tap or click Windows Update. Tap or click Check now , and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your PC. If Windows finds updates, tap or click Install updates. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice. Read and accept the license terms, and then tap or click Finish if the update requires Windows Update will tell you if it successfully installed the updates.

If these solutions don't solve the problem, you can get help from Microsoft Support and the Microsoft community. Microsoft Support offers technical help about different versions of Windows. The Microsoft community pages in the Windows forum offer solutions from other people who have experienced similar problems with their PCs. You can restore Windows back to an earlier point in time, called a restore point. For instructions, see Windows Startup Settings including safe mode.