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Department of Cell and Developmental Biology

How to fix Windows 10 BSOD – Blue Screen of DEATH

Posted by on Thursday, December 8, 2016 in Uncategorized .

BSOD: This condition is called a ‘bug check‘. It is also commonly referred to as a system crash, a kernel error, a system fault, or a Stop Error.
When Windows encounters such a serious error that forces it to stop running, it displays a BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH or BSOD.
Typically, a hardware failure or a driver failure is the source of the issue.

In general, there are not too many options for any type of recovery. The 1st step is to just “reboot” the PC in the hope that the computer fixes itself. But if the BSOD persists, there are some steps the user can take to repair the system.

When a BSOD occurs, it stays only for a second and the PC immediately restarts before the user can read the error code on the screen. Knowing the error code can help identify the problem/solution. To prevent the computer from automatically restarting, follow the steps below.

1. Disable the UAC (User Account Control)

  1. Open the Control Panel (icons view) and select User Accounts.
  2. Click on the Change User Account Control settings link.
  3. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to continue.
  4. In the User Account Control settings, move the slider to the bottom (Never Notify).
  5. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to continue.

2.  Disable Automatic restart 

  1. In the Control Panel click SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE.
  2. Click on SYSTEM.
  3. Click ADVANCED SYSTEM SETTINGS.
  4. Click ADVANCED tab.
  5. Click SETTINGS in the Startup and Recovery section.
  6. Remove the check mark next to AUTOMATICALLY RESTART under System Failure.
  7. Click OK.

  8. Restart the computer

3. Read the Error Code

There are over 250 “documented” BSOD codes. The exact text of an error code varies, according to what caused the error, but the format is standardized and is made up of 3 parts:

  1. Symbolic error name: This is the Stop Error message that is given to the OS and corresponds to the Stop Error number that appears.
     
  2. Troubleshooting recommendations: This text applies to all Stop Errors of that particular type.
     
  3. Error number and parameters: Its the bug check information. The text following the word STOP includes the error number, in hexadecimal notation, and up to four parameters that are typical of this error type.

Example: The most common BSOD:
Bugcode 0xA – IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
This is a driver coding error that is fairly common and occurs when a driver has tried to access an invalid memory location.
Parameters:
1 – memory location that was referenced
2 – IRQL at time of reference
3 – 0 == read, 1 == write
4 – code addressed which referenced memory
Recovery/Workaround:
There is none. This is a fatal error and is a driver coding error.

4. Find the cause for the BSOD

  1. Debug Memory Dumps using Microsoft Debugging Tools
     

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