How to Fix the Dreaded BSOD Error in Windows 10
A sad smiley face accompanies the dreaded Blue Screen of Death or BSOD error on Windows 10 for a reason. The bugcheck can be bad news depending on why and when it occurs. If your encounter it while you’re using your computer, you could lose your unsaved data. And if it appears when you’re updating your OS, the update may fail to install.
Read on to learn about Windows 10 BSOD bug causes and solutions.
What Triggers BSOD Bugchecks in Windows 10
How to fix BSOD errors on Windows 10 depends on their root causes. A conflict between out-dated hardware drivers and the operating system is usually the bugcheck’s trigger. That’s why some users report the bug after installing a Windows 10 cumulative update (CU).
If you recently installed a Windows 10 cumulative update (CU) that’s incompatible with a certain device on your PC. You may need to install a software patch from Microsoft or the device’s manufacturer to address the CU/driver conflict.
In some cases, the bug may quickly go away after system reboot. But if it prevents your OS from rebooting, it could deny you desktop access. This scenario forces you to use safe mode or other options instead.
Learn how to repair the BSOD error on Windows 10 when you have desktop access.
How to Fix Windows 10 BSOD Bugs Via Your Desktop
If you can reboot Windows 10 despite the BSOD bugcheck, try updating the OS and device drivers. But you need to first determine which device drivers are causing the problem. It also helps to figure out if a recent Windows 10 update may be the cause of your PC trouble.
1. Research the BSOD Bug
If you started getting the bugcheck after installing a Patch Tuesday or optional update, research the specific files that you recently installed. You might discover that you’re not the only one experiencing that issue. Moreover, Microsoft sometimes acknowledges bugs that come with some of the regular Windows 10 updates.
Besides, only research might reveal the specific update or driver you need to install to fix the issue. With that background information, you can go ahead and update your PC.
Alternatively, use the BlueScreenView software to get the BSOD crash details. The app will extract minidump files and information to help identify the reason for the bugcheck. It’s good to have such diagnostics on hand before downloading and installing any BSOD fix.
2. Install Windows 10 Updates
Follow these steps to install the latest Windows 10 updates on your PC:
- Go to Settings
- Choose Update & Security
- Click on Windows Update
- Click on the Check for Updates command button
Once you complete the above procedure, Windows will automatically search for and download the latest fixes and improvements that may address the issue.
You may go to the Microsoft Update Catalog to look up and manually download the required files. If you don’t how to do that, check out this guide. Be sure to search the right file name, though, because the catalog has tons of updates.
3. How to Install Driver Updates in Windows 10
If an outdated driver is the cause of the blue screen of death, you may update it to repair the problem. Follow the steps below:
- Type Device Manager in Windows Search and hit Enter (or click on the Device Manager search result)
- Click on View on the Device Manager’s main menu
- Tick the Show hidden devices option if it’s off
- Double click on the hardware category with the fault to reveal the device in question
- Right-click the device and click on the Update Driver Option
- On the “Update Drivers” dialog window, do one of the following:
- Click on Search automatically for updated driver software. If Windows finds a more up-to-date driver for the device, it’ll download and install it.
- Click on Browse my computer for driver software. Choose this option if you already have the appropriate driver on your hard drive or removable storage. Follow the prompts and browse to the folder with the driver, select the file, and click Open.
The above steps enable you to update an outdated driver via the device manager. In case the instructions don’t get you the required drivers, follow these alternative steps:
- Go to the device manufacturer’s website
- Search for the device’s latest drivers on the site
- Click on the appropriate driver download link in the search results
- Double-click on the driver’s executable file (.exe) to install it
- Follow the ensuing prompts until you’re asked to click Ok to complete the installation
4. Uninstall Faulty Drivers
Sometimes, the latest version of the driver is the problem. That’s usually the case if your system was okay before your updated the driver. In such a scenario, searching for a more recent solution may not work until Microsoft or the device’s manufacturer announces an update.
One of your remaining options here is to uninstall the defective driver causing a BSOD error. Keep in mind that, while this solution works, it renders the affected device unusable. If you still need to use the hardware in question, consider rolling back to a driver that worked instead.
Here’s how to remove defective drivers:
- Type Device Manager in Windows Search and tap on the Enter key
- Double-click the defective device category
- Right-click the problematic device and click on uninstall device
- Click Ok
After completing these steps, you may notice a yellow exclamation market to the left of the device you just uninstalled. Nonetheless, the hardware component won’t be triggering a BSOD bugcheck anymore.
5. Rollback Driver
You may revert to the previous driver version that worked in Windows 10.
Follow these steps:
- Type Device Manager in Windows Search and tap on the Enter key
- Double-click the defective device category
- Right-click the problematic device and click on Properties
- Switch to the Driver tab
- Click on Roll Back Driver. This option is available only there’s a previously installed driver for the specific device on your system.
- On the prompt that comes up next, choose an answer for why you’re rolling back. You may provide a detailed or personalized answer in the text box below the options.
- Click Yes to proceed with the device driver rollback.
- Reboot your PC
With the above steps, Windows 10 will replace the latest driver installed for the device in question with a previous version. However, the system can’t roll back to a non-existent previous version of firmware.
Conclusion
Windows 10 BSOD errors have multiple troubleshooting options. The above 5 are just some of the easiest you can try even if you’re not a power user, provided that you can still access your desktop.
