The blue screen , also called ” Blue Screen Of Death ” or BSOD , is one of the most feared problems by Windows PC users because it implies that there has been a rather serious problem . This problem may be related to hardware or software, but in any case below we are going to teach you what you can do to fix it .
The BSOD in Windows 10 , unlike in previous versions, usually give enough information regarding the specific error you are experiencing on the PC, a clue that will guide you to know the origin of the problem. However, when the blue screen simply tells us SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION you should know that in most cases the problem is caused by the software, so let’s see what we can do about it.
Hardware issues causing BSOD
Let’s take a look at the most common blue screen causing hardware problems and how to fix them.
Restore BIOS to factory settings
It is quite common to get blue screenshots when you are overclocking on the PC, since one of the reasons they come out is due to a desynchronization or a calculation error in the processor or RAM. If you were overclocking and when trying to boot you suffer a BSOD, it is quite clear that there is the problem so you must go to the BIOS of the PC and either retouch the OC level that you have done, or restore the factory settings of the BIOS .
In fact, restoring the BIOS to factory settings is one of the first things you should do when you experience a BSOD, even if you haven’t overclocked. There may have been a change in your hardware (remember that Windows often updates the drivers without even notifying you), so unless you have some specific configuration in your computer’s BIOS that you don’t want to lose, restoring it to factory settings is something who can help you.
Processor and RAM also cause BSOD
It is more frequent than you think that the CPU or RAM cause this type of problem. Sometimes it happens that we accidentally hit the PC case and something moves, or that too much dust has entered and it is causing a short somewhere.
It is very easy to put and remove the RAM memory, so it is one of the first things you should try: disconnect the PC from the electrical power, take out the RAM modules (take advantage of cleaning them from dust), wait 20-30 seconds and return to connect them. You’d be surprised how many times simply doing this fixes the problem.
If this does not work, it is also worth doing the same with the processor, although for this you will obviously have to disassemble the heatsink , for which you could take advantage of also changing the thermal paste since you disassemble it.
Try to boot without graphics card
If you have a dedicated graphics card and your processor has integrated graphics, it is also not a bad idea to remove the graphics and try to boot with the integrated one to see if it is the GPU that is causing the problems. Like the RAM, it is very easy to disassemble the graphics so it is something that will take you only a few minutes.
If your processor does not have integrated graphics, you could try to boot the PC with another GPU (from another PC or that a friend lends you), but if it is not possible, at the very least remove the graphics, clean it well on the outside, and reinstall it (In fact, you should try another PCIe socket on the motherboard just in case.)
Software problems causing BSOD
Now let’s see what you can do if the blue screenshots are caused by software problems; As we have indicated before, they are usually preceded by a BSOD that gives the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error followed by a system file with a .sys or .dll extension.
Updating Windows can avoid BSODs
One of the first things you should do if you are experiencing BSOD when booting your PC is to update Windows. Automatic updates to the Microsoft operating system contain driver updates, which can sometimes help you solve the problem you are having.
To check for updates, go to Settings -> Update and security -> Windows Update.
Update system drivers
Windows Update keeps most of the system drivers up-to-date, and automating this process means you’re less likely to have outdated versions of them. However, this does not mean that some are overlooked, or that Windows does not have the correct version of the drivers.
To check the latest updates you can go to Settings -> Update and security -> Windows Update and click on “View update history”, where you can check what has been installed. In any case, you can check if you have any driver problems from Device Manager (access by right-clicking Start -> Device Manager). If any component appears with a yellow alert icon, then there is a problem.
If this is your case, right-click on the device with the alert icon and select “Update Driver” so that the system will automatically search for and install the appropriate driver for it.
Check disk status
There are times when the BSOD is caused by the storage device, so it is also a good idea to check it. To do this, right click on Start and select “Command Prompt (Administrator)”. On the screen that opens, type the following and press ENTER:
chkdsk.exe / f / r
When doing so, a message will appear saying that Chkdsk cannot be executed because the disk is in use (normal if we have the computer booted), and that if we want it to run the next time the computer is restarted. Press the Y key on the keyboard and then ENTER to accept.
After doing so it is necessary to restart the PC. The next time the program starts, it will check the disk and solve any problems it finds. It is a process that can take a long time depending on the capacity and speed of the disk, so don’t despair.
Run System File Check
This is another one of those tools integrated in Windows 10 that can help us solve this type of problem. Its function is to find and repair corrupt system files, similar to what Chkdsk does but instead of checking the hard drive completely, it focuses on Windows system files.
To do this, reopen a Command Prompt as Administrator as in the previous step, and run the following commands:
DISM / online / cleanup-image / restorehealth
This command is simply to make sure that we have SFC in the system and that everything is correct. It is a process that can also take about 15 minutes, so be patient. Once finished, run this other command.
sfc / scannow
This process takes less time but it also takes time, so be patient again. Once finished, restart the PC and check if the problems have been solved.
System restore
Finally, as a last resort we can restore the system . This is especially useful if it has been precisely a Windows update that is causing the problems, something that sometimes happens since Windows installs universal drivers that in very few cases can cause problems with the drivers. If this is your case, then you should try it.
To do this, click on the Start button and type “Reset this computer”. A wizard will appear that will offer us to restore the system from different points, so you will have to make memory to know when the PC was not giving you problems and restore it to that point.
