It has happened to many of us. Just imagine… you are sitting at your Windows based computer typing away when all of a sudden there it is. The dreaded BSOD!  Ah!!  What do you do?  Reboot? Panic? The BSOD, or Blue Screen of Death, is the last thing that any Windows user ever wants to see.

In This Case, Blue Means STOP!

There might not be a great deal of steps you can take to prevent a BSOD Error.  Most of the time, the computer user is completely surprised by its appearance. If you are a user surprised that a blue screen popped up, it can help to understand a few of the potential blue screen of death causes and errors.

Cause of BSOD

Simply, the Blue Screen of Death will appear when Windows discovers a hardware, software, or driver error that will not allow the operating system to function properly.  The system is unable to run and therefore stops and uploads the classic blue screen filled with codes that seem impossible to understand.

Hardware and Software BSOD Errors

Have you ever erased a file that maybe you weren’t supposed to? If your computer detects an infected or missing piece of software or hardware you might expect to see the blue screen pop up.

Installation, Updates, and Start Up BSOD Errors

Of course, if you don’t install software properly it can cause problems. You might see a BSOD error when you try to turn on your computer. Some users even encounter the blue screen when they update current settings or security updates.

Other BSOD Culprits

Believe it or not, an overheating processor can be the cause of the BSOD.  For some computer users this can seem impossible, yet it is very true. If your computer is radiating a great deal of heat, it could be result is something even more annoying.

Malware Or Viruses

The BSOD could simply appear if you have been infected by malware or a virus. You should stop and think of any attachments you might have recently downloaded or any new programs you installed.

The Good News On BSOD Errors

The codes that seem impossible to understand might actually make sense to some intermediate or advanced computer users and of course, a great deal of Information Technology professionals!  The codes that appear on the blue screen were designed to help pinpoint the problem and BSOD error.  The only trick is that Windows is programmed to automatically restart after a BSOD error so you need to prevent this prior to any error messages.  You must disable the automatic restart so you can have the time to read the BSOD code. This is a simple process and you can locate the steps with a simple online search.

Regardless of why you have a BSOD, it can be helpful to find the culprit in the code.  If you can take the proper steps to read the code, even the code on a blue screen, it can be easier to catch the error and relay it to an Information Technology professional.