Tech Tip: What to do if you get a Blue Screen error in Windows

Description: Here is a how to guide on what to do with a blue screen error on a Windows computer.

A blue screen error is a critical failure on a Windows computer. They will appear suddenly, provide a little information, and restart the computer. And they can be quite scary for people.

Here's some brief tips for what to do when a blue screen shows up:

1. Write down any Stop error codes that it shows. There are only a few seconds for this before the computer restarts.
   
   • These will typically come in the format 0x… (e.g. 0x00000050)
     
     
     
     
2. On a computer (likely another) do a search for that error code.
   
   
   
   
3. Follow any instructions found in the search. Typically these fall into a few categories:
   
   • Reinstall Device Drivers - For how to do this, click here.
   • There is a virus - For how to start a virus removal, click here.
   • There is a hardware problem - If the malfunctioning hardware is known, replace it or please take it into your nearest Micro Center for service.
     
   • There is a corruption in the Operating System - This requires either running a repair on the operating system or reinstalling it completely.
     
     • To run a System File Check please follow this guide: How to Run System File Checker in Windows 7.
       
     • To reinstall the Operating System follow this guide: How to install Windows 7.
   • The Micro Center Tech Support Chat line is an excellent resource: chat.microcentertech.com.
     

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.