How To Fix Blue Screen of Death in Windows 7

Every Windows user will agree with me when I say that experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) screen, (also known as a “stop error code”), is one of the worst and most frustrating things that can happen to your PC.

So what exactly is a BSOD Stop Error?

A stop error code usually occurs when there is an underlining software or hardware issue on your computer. The system shuts itself down, and you will lose any unsaved data when Windows displays a stop error screen.

When your PC crashes or a reboot occurs, you will usually experience a screen that looks like this:

Here are some example blue screen stop codes you might encounter during a crash:

Windows Stop Error Codes

Fortunately, there are various methods to solve blue screen errors in Windows 7. You should be able to log in to your system (after a system crash due to a BSOD) to solve potential errors following the methods I outline below.

Since I have fixed countless PC problems I can tell you by experience that a majority of the blue screen errors I have encountered are due to one of three things:

1. Device drivers
2. RAM errors
3. HEAT

That’s it. There are less common causes such as a failing PSU (power supply), but for most users it’s going to be one of the top three culprits listed above 🙂

Before You Continue – Read This!

Before you continue on, it’s important that you scan your PC and make sure all your hardware device  drivers are updated. This will solve most blue screen issues!

I personally use DriverFinder and use it on a monthly basis to keep my devices up-to-date. You should do the same.

After you make sure your drivers are updated, you can use the methods I outline below if you are still experiencing stop errors.

Steps To Fix Blue Screen Errors (Windows 7)

Note: You may be prompted to enter your administrator’s password when you try to execute certain system tasks!

Method 1: Using System Restore

1. Click on the Start button on the Taskbar.
2. Type “System Restore” (without quotes) in the Search box and hit Enter or,
3. Click on System Restore (when you see System Restore pop up  in the list of search results).
4. Make sure the “Recommended restore” radio button is checked on the restore utility window.
5. Click on Next and follow the instructions given.

Note: There is the option on the restore utility to select “Choose a different restore point”. Unless you have a specific reason to select a different date and time than what Windows recommends, just select the recommended option stated in the steps above. If you choose to select another one, follow these steps:

1. Click on that desired date and time, and Windows 7 will perform a scan for any affected programs in that restore point.
2. Once completed, click Next and follow the instructions given.

Once you have selected the restore point, your system will start the restoring process, after which you will have to restart the system.

Method 2: Check memory problems

Memory management issues can also cause a BSOD in Windows 7. Thankfully, Windows 7 has a Memory Management Diagnostic tool that detects and solves problems related to system memory.

1. Click on the Start button on the Taskbar.
2. Type “Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool” or “Memory” (without quotes) in the Search box or,
3. Click on Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool (in the search results).
4. Click on “Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)”.
5. The system will restart, and you need to follow the instructions given on the screen.

Method 3: Remove unsupported devices

Unsupported hardware may also result in a BSOD error. The easiest solution to this problem is to uninstall such hardware. You can detect the hardware that’s creating the problem through the Device Manager in Windows.

1. Click on the Start button on the Taskbar.
2. Type “Device Manager” in the Search box.
3. Click on Device Manager (in the list of results).
4. Expand all categories in the hardware tree – (click the little arrow icons).
5. Look for devices that have a red cross (x) against their name. These devices are not supported by Windows 7 and may be one of the reasons for BSOD errors.
6. Right click on these devices, and select Uninstall.

A corrupt registry can also lead to BSOD errors in Windows 7. I would suggest you to download a good registry cleaner and scan your system for registry errors. You can find one on my recommended software page. There are both free and paid versions available and they both have pros and cons. Most of the registry cleaners available are easy to install and operate.

The cleaning process is automated, and the programs also backup the registry before cleanup, which acts as a safeguard. You can restore the registry to its previous state if you encounter system errors after the cleaning process.

There’s really no need to panic when you see a BSOD error on your screen. Just stay calm and follow the checklist above to fix the error.