We’ve all seen the blue screen error message on our PCs–the dreaded blue screen of death!  Most users are tempted to ignore a blue screen error and get back to work (if it hasn’t all been lost), but there is a lot of benefit to resolving the issue.  Here are a few ways to go about fixing the error.

Take Note of the Error Message

Even though that blue screen looks like it contains a lot of nonsense and computerspeak, it is possible for the average human being to make some use of this information.  Copy down the error name (FOUND_IN_ALL_CAPS_LIKE_THIS) and the STOP code (0×000000BE or something similar) for troubleshooting purposes.  Then put your favorite search engine to work.

Reboot your computer and enter what you wrote down into a search engine to find many possible solutions to your error.  Make sure you back up important files before deleting or changing anything on your hard drive.  A good search will provide easy ways to back up important files and instructions for creating a restore point.

Minidump Files Fix Stubborn Errors

If you’re really having a hard time diagnosing the problem, you may need to turn to the minidump files.  A minidump file is an account of what preceded your computer’s crash, and one is created every time you see a blue screen error.  They are kept at the file path C:\Windows\minidump and the file name contains the date of the occurrence and its number that day.

You will need to download WinDbg (Windows Debugger) to read these files.  Once the program is downloaded and installed, open the proper minidump file corresponding to the blue screen error you want to fix.  Scroll down to the bottom of the screen where you will see the words “Probably caused by:” and a file name.  Replacing this file should fix the error.

Fix and Prevent Blue Screen Errors

An easy way to fix blue screen errors is to fix the source of the problem–a cluttered and corrupted Windows registry.  The registry adds information every time a user changes his or her preferences, deletes or installs a program, or makes any other change to the settings on the computer or its programs.  Old registry entries remain in the computer even after the programs they corresponded to are gone.

All this extra data makes it hard for the computer to access necessary information.  Files cannot be found and this can create blue screen error messages and other errors.  Use a registry maintenance program to fix the blue screen error messages and prevent future ones.

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