Technology grows every day. Today’s PCs are powerful enough to allow for dynamic video, image capture, sophisticated document management, spreadsheets, 3D gaming and more. So, what software is behind the amazing powers of our computers? This software is called the operating system. In PCs, this is commonly known as Microsoft Windows.
The OS (Operating System) manages everything to be sure our computers work to the best of their ability, including managing errors. At times, errors are so bad that Windows gives up.
Blue Screen of Death
We’ve all heard of, and some may have experienced, the Blue Screen of Deal (BSoD). This error happens when an error is so critical, the system can’t handle it. This error is simple to recognize, your monitor will glare a bright blue when the OS gives up on dealing with the error. The blue screen will provide basic information about the error that can help to fix it.
The BSoD can be caused by defective software, which is caused by errors that have yet to be fixed in the original Windows design. Other issues could include conflicts between different components of software installed on the system, hardware driver problems, virus damage and failing or faulty hardware.
Fixing the BSoD
Four routes to fixing the BSoD are:
- A system restore can typically reverse the issue if it was due to a recent change. Always attempt a system restore to see if it corrects the problem first.
- The last thing changed caused the most recent problem – this is a known rule in fixing your computer’s problems. For example, if you just installed new software and it’s easy to remove, try to remove it and see the results. If it fixes the problem then you are done.
- If it does not, search online for this problem by searching for blue screen problem or BSoD problem.
o If the search didn’t provide an answer, if you know the name of the software or the vendor of the hardware, contact the software’s (or hardware’s) support staff. If you don’t have the contact information, a simple search for " support contact" should do the trick.
- A solution for your specific error may have already been found by Microsoft. To check, go to the control panel and click Problem Reports and Solutions. You can also get here by clicking System and Maintenance, then click Problem Reports and Solutions. Select ‘check for new solutions.’ Microsoft will provide links for fixing the problem or information on how to fix it if they exist.
Additional BSoD Info
Always install your Windows’ updates. These include changes from Microsoft that are created for fixing problems. These should be applied; they could even correct the causes of BSoD before they start.
If your problems seem to be hardware related, be sure to upgrade to the latest drivers for your hardware.
Run a sfc/scannow from the run command/command line to check the integrity of your system software of Vista and Windows 7.
Please note: The Windows registry is an important part of the operating system and attempting to repair BSoD errors through registry repair programs can often do more harm than good. Typically, BSoD is not caused by registry errors. If you do find yourself needing to restore your registry, try ccleaner. It is a free registry repair program that many trust.
The program that will repair most software problems with minimal effort is Reimage. It goes far beyond registry repair. It fixes virus damage, errors and maintains the integrity of your system software. It will even notify you about hardware that’s failing and needs to be fixed. It's an overall great solution for Windows software issues.
