How to Fix Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Fix Windows blue screen errors with systematic troubleshooting. Check hardware, update drivers, run diagnostics, and resolve system crashes permanently.

1. Record the stop code and error message. Write down the stop code (like 0x0000007E) and any error message displayed on the blue screen. Take a photo if the system restarts too quickly. This information identifies the specific cause of the crash.
2. Boot into Safe Mode. Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly during startup. Select 'Safe Mode' from the Advanced Boot Options menu. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, allowing you to troubleshoot without interference from problematic software.
3. Check recently installed hardware and software. Remove any hardware added in the past week, including RAM modules, graphics cards, or USB devices. Uninstall recently installed programs through Settings > Apps or Control Panel > Programs and Features. Restart normally to test stability.
4. Update or rollback device drivers. Open Device Manager by right-clicking This PC > Properties > Device Manager. Look for devices with yellow warning triangles. Right-click problematic devices and select 'Update driver' or 'Uninstall device' if recently updated. Focus on graphics, network, and storage drivers.
5. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic. Press Windows + R, type 'mdsched.exe', and press Enter. Select 'Restart now and check for problems' to test your RAM for errors. The computer will restart and run a comprehensive memory test before booting Windows.
6. Run System File Checker and DISM. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run 'sfc /scannow' to check for corrupted system files. After completion, run 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' to repair the Windows image. Restart when both commands finish successfully.
7. Check hard drive health. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run 'chkdsk C: /f /r' to scan for and repair disk errors. Type 'Y' when prompted to schedule the scan on next restart. Reboot immediately to begin the disk check process.
8. Reset Windows if problems persist. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and click 'Get started' under Reset this PC. Choose 'Keep my files' to preserve personal data while reinstalling Windows. This resolves persistent system corruption that other methods cannot fix.