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ailsagirl

(23,843 posts)
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 03:14 PM Mar 2024

Help!! Blue screen of death has appeared

I have Windows 10 and this morning, when I turned on my computer, there it was. The message says, "your device ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you."
100% complete

Should I just do nothing and wait?

Thanks in advance!

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Help!! Blue screen of death has appeared (Original Post) ailsagirl Mar 2024 OP
I would restart it myself. SleeplessinSoCal Mar 2024 #1
Brilliant!! I was afraid to do anything... ailsagirl Mar 2024 #3
Just in case. Make sure you have a back up of your files/photos/music, etc. LuvLoogie Mar 2024 #7
Agree, depending on the age of the computer Best_man23 Mar 2024 #8
So glad it worked. SleeplessinSoCal Mar 2024 #12
Me too ailsagirl Mar 2024 #15
Yep, I agree with Sleepless canetoad Mar 2024 #2
BSODs are still a thing. TwilightZone Mar 2024 #5
Purposely programmed in. Microsoft is like Trump. The victims come back for more punishment. Wonder Why Mar 2024 #9
I still get them. I have an older desktop publishing program. LeftInTX Apr 2024 #16
It will usually reboot at the end of the process. TwilightZone Mar 2024 #4
A funny story PJMcK Mar 2024 #6
well...the coffee was probably pretty hot.... bahboo Mar 2024 #10
OMG!! ailsagirl Mar 2024 #13
Did you have an update when it happened? Boxerfan Mar 2024 #11
For me, it's a dangerous thing to troubleshoot ailsagirl Mar 2024 #14

LuvLoogie

(7,562 posts)
7. Just in case. Make sure you have a back up of your files/photos/music, etc.
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 03:53 PM
Mar 2024

Maybe you have a friend who would know how to make an image of your hard drive after they verify that it isn't corrupted.
You have about a year an a half until Microsoft ends support for Windows 10.

If your current system is not Windows 11 compatible, budget for a good refurbished machine that will run Windows 11. You can get a decent Core i5 10th generation machine for a few hundred bucks. If you get one still running Windows 10, You can migrate everything over, then do the automatic upgrade to 11. But that would require some utilities and know how.

Just a couple things to keep in mind and help you plan ahead.

Best_man23

(5,124 posts)
8. Agree, depending on the age of the computer
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 04:15 PM
Mar 2024

Find a good replacement currently running Windows 10 with capability to "upgrade" to Windows 11. Don't upgrade to Windows 11 if you can hold off doing so. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of Windows 11. Mrs Best has it on her work computer and it gives her issues all the time.

What I'm hoping is Windows 12 (slated for release in early 2025) will be a signficant improvement over Windows 11 so when Win10 hits end of support, I'll migrate all my machines to 12 (or finally pull the trigger and go 100% Linux).

canetoad

(18,194 posts)
2. Yep, I agree with Sleepless
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 03:19 PM
Mar 2024

And I'm not even sure the BSOD is even a thing anymore, with recent versions of Windows.

Do a hard restart and let us know what happens. Might be a virus or trojan.

LeftInTX

(30,314 posts)
16. I still get them. I have an older desktop publishing program.
Sat Apr 6, 2024, 07:38 AM
Apr 2024

It isn't compatible with Windows 10, so I had to adjust settings. Every once in a while, I get a BSOD with a driver message while running the program.

I think I've had several others not related to the program.

TwilightZone

(28,834 posts)
4. It will usually reboot at the end of the process.
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 03:22 PM
Mar 2024

If it's been sitting at 100% for a long time, you could do a manual reboot. Hold the power button down for a few seconds until the computer turns off, wait about 15 seconds, then turn it back on. Hopefully, it will boot normally.

Once you're back in Windows, Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter for BSOD errors.

Here's more info:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/resolving-blue-screen-errors-in-windows-60b01860-58f2-be66-7516-5c45a66ae3c6

They're often caused by device driver issues. If you recently updated a driver, try rolling back to the prior version through Device Manager.

Here's a tutorial:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-roll-back-a-driver-in-windows-2619217

PJMcK

(22,967 posts)
6. A funny story
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 03:28 PM
Mar 2024

Glad you got your machine up and running.

Sometime ago, I had a MacBook Pro on my office desk. One night, the cleaning lady came in and bumped the desk knocking over a cup of coffee. It all went into the laptop. The machine literally screamed as it was dying! Fortunately, I was able to get it cleaned and repaired. It was very funny at a moment of terror.

Boxerfan

(2,533 posts)
11. Did you have an update when it happened?
Wed Mar 27, 2024, 06:23 PM
Mar 2024

There are 2 updates that won't fit in the older PC's windows files.

I had to go back to a restore point .

There are tools in the PC settings- Go to update & security & Find the troubleshoot icon. That allowed me to update 1 safely but the other update failed but did no harm. Worth a try-AND-always have a current restore point.

ailsagirl

(23,843 posts)
14. For me, it's a dangerous thing to troubleshoot
Fri Mar 29, 2024, 12:40 AM
Mar 2024

More than once, my good intentions made things worse. I had Windows 7 before this, and I loved it. I was forced to upgrade to 10 and I recalled (before the forced upgrade) hearing so many people trashing Win 10. Now I know why. I was told that Win 11 was "just as bad" as 10. 😣

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