If you’re after a quick way on how to fix blue screen of death error codes, then you are probably disappointed with the information out there. Usually the fault lies with an application incompatibility such as an invalid device driver, but unless you know the exact cause, it’s often a shot in the dark. For most PC users who experience this problem, locating the actual problem is the hard part.
First off, the stop error code that appears on the blue screen, may not give you sufficient time to write the actual error message down, before it automatically reboots. It’s practically impossible to jot down the whole error message in time. The simple answer of course is to stop Windows from automatically restarting. This is done by locating the ‘Startup and Recovery’ menu in My Computer, and un-checking the function for automatic restart.
Disabling the auto-restart function will give you the time you need to jot down the error code. The error code that you written down may not like much, but it should put you on the right path to fixing your PC. Unfortunately, the stop code will not give you exact instructions on how to fix the BSOD. What’s more, each stop message might represent a number of different problems.
To illustrate the point a win32k.sys blue screen could be thrown up because of an unstable BIOS or faulty hardware. Another example is the atapi sys blue screen which can be caused by CD Emulation software or malware that has infected the atapi.sys file in the System32 folder. Seeing that error codes don’t always provide specifics, it might take time to find a fix.
It can be a daunting task to fix the problem yourself, since there are tons of stop error codes, the number of fixes are equally if not more extensive. It’s not cheap to have a computer specialist to analyze and fix your computer, but it’s a possible option. Chances are that you will be able to find out more about the stop error message that you have online and even a possible answer.
A majority of BSODs are actually fixable without the need of a PC technician. Before you do anything drastic, like taking your computer apart or reinstalling Windows, try some simple fixes. There are diagnostic applications that allow you to check your hard drive for errors. Also, check that any hardware installed isn’t loose and is as it should be.
Registry keys and device drivers are sometimes incompatible or can become corrupt. Run antivirus software to check for a possible virus or rootkit. If the BSOD started occurring after an update, roll back the update and see if this helps. Updates such as service packs can sometimes reveal existing infections in the OS. Reinstalling or removing programs badly are other possible reasons for blue screen codes.
Over time a computer’s performance can drastically reduce and this is often due to a bloated registry. Random error messages start appearing and intermittent screen freezing might occur. Defragging your drive once a week, as well as deleting temporary files can help speed up your PC. Furthemore, running a diagnostics and cleaning tool regularly can help remove or repair faulty files. You may just find that one of these methods is how to fix blue screen of death.
