The Blue Screen of Death BSoD — also known as "blue screen," "stop error," or "system crash" — could happen after a critical error occurs that Windows 10 is not able to handle and resolve automatically. You will typically experience a blue screen error during the upgrade process of Windows 10when the computer boots up, or randomly when actively using the device.
The most annoying part is that you'll only see a solid blue background and a sad character face without enough information to determine the real cause of the problem.
The system will display a message like, "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. Or hexadecimal codes such as 0xD1, 0xA, or 0xBbut they're just hieroglyphics for regular users.
Although a stop error does not have a straight answer, it's almost always a problem with a quality or feature update for Windows 10, recently installed driver, incompatible program, or hardware-related issue.
In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the several troubleshooting steps to resolve a blue screen error. When you upgrade to a new version of Windows 10, a blue screen error may appear for many reasons. For example, it could result from a compatibility problem with an old program or security software.
Or it could be because of corrupted my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free in my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free current installation or damaged installation media.
Typically, when an error occurs, the setup will revert the changes to the previous installation without an explanation. If you are dealing with errors during the installation, uninstalling non-essential apps, clearing out corrupt downloads, disconnecting non-essential peripherals, or doing a clean install of Windows 10 may resolve the issue.
Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to uninstall additional apps, and then you can try the upgrade one more time.
After the update, you can reinstall the apps again. Sometimes, if you use the Windows My laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free option to upgrade a device, you could see a Blue Screen of Death when installation files were damaged during the download process.
In this case, you can use the Settings app to clear the previous files, allowing the system to redownload the upgrade bits. After you complete the steps, open the Windows Update settings and proceed with the steps to upgrade the computer one more time. If you continue with the same problem, you should consider using the Update Assistant utility to perform an in-place upgrade.
Or, if the utility does not work, try using the Media Creation Tool to create an installation media to install the new version of Windows Alternatively, you can also troubleshoot blue screen errors with the "SetupDiag" tool. SetupDiag my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free a Microsoft tool that offers an optional download to diagnose and determine why an update or upgrade failed to apply, which is valuable data that can help resolve any problems.
Once you complete the steps, the default text editor will open the file with the diagnostic results based on the known rules. If an error was detected, the logs will describe the information to determine why the device blue screened during the update, and if it's a known issue, you'll also get the steps to resolve it.
Sometimes you won't get any recommendations. If this happens, follow the link that might be available in the log file or use the error code or any meaningful information to research the problem online. Use this guide for more detailed instructions.
Windows can also crash due to a hardware-related problem. As a result, it's always recommended to disconnect all non-essential peripherals, including external hard drives, printers, secondary monitors, phones, and other USB or Bluetooth devices, before proceeding with an installation to minimize the chances of errors. The upgrade process only requires a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and internet connection. After the installation, you can always reconnect the peripherals.
If the issue persists, it could be a compatibility problem. You can usually resolve this issue by downloading and installing a newer driver version from your manufacturer's support website. If the computer uses the most recent driver, and the problem continues, it could be a compatibility issue with the new version of Windows 10, or the hardware in question may need to be replaced.
You can always visit the Microsoft health dashboard website opens in new tab to review any issues available with the latest release of Windows The best way to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10 is to erase everything and start from scratch with a clean installation. The process will help you avoid the Blue Screen of Death, and it will help improve system performance and resolve issues.
If you decide to perform a clean install, you first want to confirm that the computer can start from USB. Typically, the steps to open the motherboard firmware settings require pressing one of the function keys F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12the Esc key, or the Delete key as soon as the device starts. However, these settings are always different per manufacturer and even by device model. If you are not sure, it's best to check the manufacturer's support website for more specific details.
While in the firmware interface, open the "Boot" page, set the boot order to start from USB, and save the new changes. Once the device can start from the flash drive, create a bootable installation media and use it to start the Windows 10 setup, and then continue with the steps below.
Warning: This is a friendly reminder that you'll be making changes to your current setup, which can cause problems and even data loss if you don't do it correctly. My laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free recommended to make a temporary full backup before proceeding. Once you complete the my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free, the setup will begin installing Windows 10, avoiding many blue screen errors.
After the installation, you'll need to continue with the out-of-box experience OOBE to finish setting up the computer by creating a new account and selecting the preferred settings. You can use this guide to perform a complete installation of Windows If the computer no longer starts correctly, you can use some of the advanced system features, such as System Restore, Safe mode, or the Advanced startup environment to resolve the problem.
In case the error happened after adding new hardware, consider disconnecting it to double-check to see whether the new hardware is the reason the computer is bumping into this problem. System Restore is a legacy feature that allows you to undo changes without affecting your files to roll back the computer to a previous point in time when Windows 10 was working my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free.
The only downside about this feature is that you have to enable it manually before using it. If System Restore was previously enabled and configuredyou can use a restore point to fix the stop error. On Windows 10, there are at least two ways to access System Restore through Advanced startup, including through my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free boot options menu or USB installation media. Choose one of the methods below, and continue with the steps.
After the third interruption, Windows 10 should open the Advanced startup environment and continue with the steps below to access System Restore. After you complete the steps, the feature will undo updates, drivers, apps, and system changes done after the point of restoration was created, fixing the system crashes.
Windows 10 also has "Safe mode," an environment that only loads the basic drivers and services needed to access the desktop to troubleshoot any issue, including system crashes. You can access Safe mode by using the Advanced startup menu during boot or by using Windows 10 installation media. Select one of the options below, and continue with the steps. After the third interruption, Windows 10 should open the Advanced startup menu and continue with the steps below to access Safe mode.
You can also use USB installation media to access the Advanced startup menu to enable Safe mode using these steps:.
While in Safe mode, you can use the steps below to uninstall updates and device drivers that may be causing problems.
After you complete the steps, restart the device and confirm that the error is no longer happening. Once you complete the steps, my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free the computer and determine whether the bug check has been resolved. If, after removing the update, the computer no longer shows a BSoB error, block the update or driver to prevent Windows 10 from reinstalling it automatically until a newer update becomes available.
If you cannot see the error code during the blue screen or want more details about the problem, the Event Viewer records every hardware failure, driver malfunction, app crash, and more information, which you can use to diagnose most problems. In my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free event log, the "General" tab includes a brief technical description of the error that might give you a hint of the blue screen problem.
In this guide, I forced a bug check using these instructionsso the event notes that the source of the problem was a "bug check" that caused the computer to reboot unexpectedly. However, it's not always easy to determine the source of the issue. If you can't find out the reason based on the event information, copy the description, source, and event ID and use it to research online for a possible solution.
Windows 10 also includes a feature to uninstall problematic updates directly from the Advanced startup menu. Select one of the options to access Advanced startup, and continue with the instructions to remove quality or feature updates causing the Blue Screen of Death.
After the third interruption, Windows 10 should open the Advanced startup environment, and then you can continue with the steps my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free to boot in Safe mode. To uninstall the most recent quality or feature update causing the Blue Screen of Death, use these steps:. After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will remove the most recent cumulative update or feature updatefixing the blue screen problem on Windows If you come across a Blue Screen of Death message, but you still have access to the desktop, the problem is usually the case of a missing system update, an issue with a specific driver, or a recently installed app.
If you have access to the desktop, my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free the latest updates for Windows 10 and drivers can help stop the blue screen error. Windows 10 downloads and installs updates periodically, but you may still need to check manually to download a critical update.
If there's an update available, but it does not download, try to download and install the missing quality update manually. Once you complete the steps, the latest version of the driver should solve the problem. If no updates were available, you might need to check the manufacturer's support website to download and install a newer driver using their instructions.
If the support website doesn't have a version higher than the one you already have, you may also want to try a beta version of the driver as it may contain a preview of the fix the company may plan to release on a future release. Software and hardware companies can also release buggy updates that cause problems like BSoD on Windows After you complete the steps, the problematic update will be uninstalled, fixing the Blue Screen of Death error.
You can also use these steps to prevent the Windows Update settings from trying to install the same update again. It's also possible to roll back the previous version of the driver my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free resolve the issue until another update replaces the buggy update.
After you complete the steps, the older version of the driver will apply to the system, fixing the system crashes. If you cannot roll back the driver, another workaround you can use involves disabling the hardware to mitigate the blue screen error until a new update becomes available to fix the issue permanently. If you have an app causing compatibility problems, the Blue Screen of Death is likely to happen randomly, or every time you launch the program. You can get around this problem by downloading and installing the latest version of the app from the software support website.
If an update isn't available, it's recommended to uninstall that program to mitigate the problem until a permanent solution becomes available. Once you complete the steps, you should my laptop keeps crashing blue screen windows 10 free longer experience blue screen error codes on the device. On Windows 10, you may also see a Blue Screen of Death message after connecting new hardware for example, graphics card, USB device, etc. When this happens, the problem is likely because the hardware is not compatible, broken, or the system is attempting to install the wrong driver.
If it's a compatibility issue, you may have to contact technical support or find a compatible replacement. It's rare, but if the system keeps applying the wrong driver, use the previous steps to uninstall and install the correct driver manually using the manufacturer's instructions.
Once you complete the steps, the tool will download and replace any system file that may be damaged in the local image of Windows To use the SFC command tool to repair the current setup using the local image already inspected and repaired with the DISM tooluse these steps:.
Why does my PC keep crashing randomly? Computer crashing is a common problem for windows 10 users that are caused by a number of problems. Here are all the things you need to know if you are the victim of this error. If you run into data loss for PC crashing issue, use EaseUS data recovery software to restore deleted or lost files efficiently. About the Author. Reviews and Awards. So you were playing a game, writing some important thoughts on the notepad, or watching a movie online, and your computer screen froze.
You tried the task manager and possibly every way to revive the screen and not lose any data. But nothing seemed to work. At last, you were only left with the option of the restart. If you are recently becoming the victim of this misery, you are at the right place. Such issues are found all over the web if you google for " why does my computer keep crashing randomly in Windows This is the most common and reported reason for computer freeze in windows When you open too many programs, the load on the processor is doubled.
No matter how robust your computer processor is, it has a maximum capacity. So, if you will burden it beyond its limits, it will freeze. Even if you have a large storage RAM, opening too many programs will still freeze the computer. Drivers work like a messenger between computer hardware and the operating system. They are used to communicate.
If some essential drivers get deleted or outdated, your operating system will fail to contact the hardware devices. Thus, resulting in a freeze of the computer. The best way to update all the drivers automatically is to download device driver software. Otherwise, it is a hectic task to check every driver individually and then update it. Still, if you know which driver causes the freezing issue, you can update it manually. Overheating can cause a computer to freeze by slowing down the system.
Moreover, if the temperature is too high, it can damage the internal components of your PC, resulting in freezing problems. But the fact is that good RAM storage runs many programs in the background without reloading them again every time you open it.
Reloading programs take a lot of time and can cause the computer to freeze. This will not be the most common reason for freezing. However, you should check the BIOS settings if the computer is freezing and there seems to be no solution. BIOS settings differ from company to company. The most common solution is to reset to defaults. Replacing it is the best way to correct the BIOS settings.
When an external device is faulty, the computer takes a long time to communicate with them or fails to make contact. This will result in a freeze. Also, there might be some malicious software that causes the computer to hang and freeze.
Delete all the unnecessary software and check for any damaged software to solve this issue. Viruses and malware are other major causes of computer freeze. Viruses infect the computer operations and slow them down, which eventually results in freezing. Moreover, viruses can stop some programs from working, which can also cause the computer to freeze.
In some cases, the anti-virus itself can cause a freeze. Therefore, always go with the paid version of a reputable anti-virus. Any third-party software, regardless of the manufacturer, has the tendency to affect your PC to freeze. Make sure to never download any pirated or malicious software as they can cause damage to many system files. Some apps may consume a large amount of memory in an attempt to execute operations or access services that Windows does not recognize.
Your computer may become stuck up and freeze if it is unable to manage the load. If your computer somehow froze and then crashed and this crash caused all your data to vanish, no need to worry. Professional data recovery software is a life-saver in such cases. It can recover all the photos, videos, files, and necessary data which is too valuable for you.
Because the computer crash problem is likely to cause data loss, or it is easy to lose data in the process of solving this problem, we recommend that users use data recovery software to restore data in advance.
Our product - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard , can help users to recover data from crashed or unbootable computers efficiently. What's more, you can use this file recovery tool for corrupted files repair , including Word, Excel, PDF, photos, videos, and other file formats.
Losing your data can be a nightmare. Therefore, it is suggested to always keep it safe with EaseUS data recovery software. Prepare an empty USB. If you have important data on it, copy the data to another device.
When you create a bootable disk, the data on the USB will be erased. Select the USB drive and click "Create" to create a bootable disk. For most users, it works well when they restart their computer and press F2 at the same time to enter BIOS. Press "F10" to save and exit. Select the drive you want to scan to find all your lost files.
Recover data from the computer or laptop. After the scan completed, you can preview all recoverable files, select the targeted files, and click the "Recover" button to restore your files.
You'd better save all of the recovered data to another place to avoid data overwriting. Here are all the solutions that will help you solve computer keeps crashing problem without causing any data loss.
Go to the topic page for detailed instructions. Another efficient way to fix computer keeps crashing issue is using reliable manual recovery and repair services from EaseUS. Our professional technical team can help you solve any system startup errors, including system failure, system blue screen, system black screen and so on. Consult with EaseUS data recovery experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. We could offer the following services after FREE diagnosis:.
We sincerely hope that our in-depth guide will help you get out of your freezing screen problem on windows Make sure not to skip any steps to obtain the desired results. If still, by any means, you lose your data, EaseUS data recovery software can come in handy anytime to help you out.
It is much better to backup your data in advance to prevent any data loss. Remember that prevention is always better than cure. However, if none of the solutions work for your PC, this might be a windows flaw, and Microsoft will work on it. He mainly writes articles about data recovery tutorials on PC and Mac and how-to tips for partition management.
He always keeps an eye on new releases and likes various electronic products. It's far from perfect, partly because today's advanced disk technology makes data-recovery more difficult than it was with the simpler technology of the past.
It comes with a selection of advanced features, including partition recovery, formatted drive restoration, and corrupted file repair. Screen Recorder. Transfer Products. File Management.
More Products. Top 8 Reasons Are Here! Computer Crashing Reasons Step-by-step Troubleshooting 1. Too Many Programs Running This is the most common and reported reason for computer crashing in windows Full steps 2. Outdated or Problematic Drivers If some essential drivers get deleted or outdated, the operating system will fail, and the computer Full steps 3.
Overheating Overheating can cause a computer to crash by slowing down the system. Running heavy software Full steps 4. If your RAM is broken or faulty Full steps. Was This Page Helpful? Read full bio. This is the most common and reported reason for computer crashing in windows If some essential drivers get deleted or outdated, the operating system will fail, and the computer