What Does a Blue Screen Mean on My Computer?
A blue error message screen, commonly called a "blue screen of death," is a Windows stop error. It means the Windows operating system has encountered a problem it can't solve on its own. The error causes the system to halt and display diagnostic information on a blue screen.
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Structure
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The stop message contains four parts. First is the bugcheck information, which includes the error number and the text-based name of the error. Second is a recommendation to the user about how to troubleshoot the problem. The third part contains information about any drivers associated with the error. Fourth is the "debug port and status information" portion.
Why They Happen
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Windows stop messages occur for a number of reasons, the most common being software or device errors, hardware errors, problems with installation and startup issues such as corrupt files.
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Troubleshooting
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The error message will first recommend the user restart the system. Often, this alone will fix the issue.
Drivers and Software
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If you can start your system in Safe Mode, the error is probably driver or software related. Consider any recently installed drivers or software; they may need to be removed and reinstalled. Take note of the driver information in the third section, as it will help you determine which driver, if any, is the source of the problem.
Hardware
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If you are unable to run Windows in Safe Mode without receiving a stop error, you may have defective hardware or a corrupt file. Consider any new hardware devices you may have added to your system. Remove any nonessential hardware and attempt to boot the computer in Safe Mode. Perform a Repair Install to determine if your system contains corrupt or missing files.
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