Computers have become such an integral part of our daily lives, assisting us in our work, communication, and entertainment. So, experiencing the dreaded black/blue screen of death (BSOD) can definitely be a frustrating, even scary experience. You might start wondering whether you’ll need to buy a new laptop, or whether all your data has been lost, as a barrage of other thoughts and considerations overwhelm your racing mind. This is particularly true if your job revolves around working on your pc – be it a desktop or laptop. Editor and site owner of NoDepositExplorer.com, no deposit bonus guide, Emma Davis understands this stress all too well:
‘The anxiety is real and cannot be taken lightly. Especially if you have dozens of windows open with a million and one pending tasks. The last thing you want is to lose a day or week’s worth of work, time and effort. That’s why it’s super important to always know how to troubleshoot the problem. Not only will it calm your nerves, it can possibly resolve the issue.’
And that’s exactly where we come in. We’re here to let you know that the majority of BSOD cases can be resolved. It’s only a matter of whether your issue requires a simple or a more complex solution. So, let’s cut to the chase and provide you with some practical solutions to your pc problems.
Simple Fixes To Basic BSOD Issues
It may very well be the case that your BSOD is not due to a major fault. So, we suggest that you always keep it simple in the beginning, by checking out the basics, and then only try more advanced solutions if the issue persists. The following are simple hacks that might just do the trick.
Check Your Power Supply
It may sound silly, but there are cases where the BSOD is simply the result of inadequate or unstable power supply. Make sure you’re using a stable power source because it can make all the difference. To help prevent BSOD, you should make it a point to always use a high-quality power supply.
Try A Quick Restart
Again, a basic fix, but a reboot might be all that your computer needs, especially if the system’s been running for a while. Sometimes you don’t need to get very technical – try this quick fix that’s used for a host of other pc problems, and see whether everything returns to normal.
Restart The File Explorer
There are cases where despite the black screen, the mouse cursor would still be visible. This indicates that your File Explorer is not functioning properly. To resolve this, simply follow these steps:
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Launch the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys. Alternatively, you can go to the Start menu search bar, type in ‘task manager,’ and select the best match.
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In the Task Manager, click on File > Run new task.
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Type “explorer.exe” in the Create new task dialog box and press Enter.
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This should resolve the black screen error on your Windows 10.
Solutions To Other Causes of BSOD
The following are specific solutions that you can try if you’ve experienced the BSOD while you were in the middle of an installation or update, or if you’ve just upgraded your monitor.
Fixing BSOD If You Were Installing Windows 10
In this case, restart the computer and try to reinstall Windows 10. If you’re not able to do this, try the following checks and actions:
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Make sure you’re using a compatible Windows 10 version for your pc’s hardware
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Create a bootable USB with a fresh copy of Windows 10 to check for corrupted installation files
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Check whether your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10
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Disable overclocking settings in BIOS (basic input/output system)
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Update device drivers.
Any peripherals should be disconnected during installation. If the issue persists, seek professional help or contact Microsoft Support.
Fixing BSOD If You’ve Just Updated Your Windows 10
Again, try restarting your computer and then boot it into safe mode, before trying the following:
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Uninstall any recently installed updates or drivers
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Perform a system restore to a previous state
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Update device drivers to be compatible with an updated version of Windows 10
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Run a disk check to scan and repair disk errors
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Perform a Windows 10 repair or reinstallation using a bootable USB drive.
Once again, you should seek professional help or contact Microsoft Support if the issue persists.
Fixing BSOD If You’ve Just Upgraded Your Monitor
You should always try restarting your computer first. Then check for the BSOD error, before following these steps:
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Boot into safe mode and uninstall any monitor-related drivers
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Restart and let Windows reinstall or install the latest monitor driver
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Adjust the screen resolution and refresh rate settings
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Try a different port or cable.
If you still didn’t manage to fix the BSOD, it’s best to seek help from the computer manufacturer or an IT professional.
Serious Issues Causing BSOD And Possible Solutions To Them
Overheating
Overheating of the CPU or graphics card due to poor ventilation or dust accumulation can lead to a BSOD. If your BSOD was caused by overheating, shut down your computer immediately. Then allow your computer to cool down. Next, clean your computer’s cooling system, including cleaning the CPU fan and the GPU fan (if applicable). Finally, restart your computer to check whether you can resume the task at hand.
Faulty Drivers
To fix a faulty driver, you need to first identify it through the Device Manager. Then, update the drivers from the manufacturer’s website or use a third-party driver update tool. Next, if needed, roll back drivers to a previous version. Then, uninstall and reinstall drivers using the Device Manager once again. Finally, use the built-in driver troubleshooting tools in Windows.
Corrupted Operating System
BSOD can be the result of corrupted or missing system files. If this is the case, first restart your computer, then boot it into safe mode. Next, repair and restore your operating system (using the latter link, above). Finally, check and repair disk errors, and perform a system reset or reinstallation. It’s highly important to always back up important data before resetting or reinstalling the system.
