How to Fix ‘Blue Screen of Death’ (BSOD) – Most Common Causes

The “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD), officially known as a Stop Error, is one of the most dreaded sights for any Windows 11 user. It occurs when the operating system encounters a critical issue that forces it to shut down to prevent damage to your hardware or data. While a BSOD can feel like a terminal failure, it is usually a protective measure triggered by a specific, fixable conflict.

To fix a BSOD, you must first identify the Stop Code displayed on the screen (such as CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED or VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT). The most effective immediate solutions involve updating your graphics drivers, running the SFC scannow command, or uninstalling recently added hardware or software that may be conflicting with the Windows kernel.

1. The 3 Most Common Causes of BSOD in 2026

Despite the complexity of Windows 11, the vast majority of blue screens are caused by one of three issues. Understanding these allows you to target your repair efforts efficiently:

* Incompatible Drivers: Specifically, graphics and network drivers that are outdated or were corrupted during an update.
* Hardware Failure: Failing RAM modules or an overheating CPU are common physical culprits.
* System File Corruption: Critical OS files becoming unreadable due to a sudden power loss or malware interference.

By cross-referencing your specific Stop Code with these categories, you can narrow down the “offender” instantly.

2. Method 1: Repairing System Integrity with SFC and DISM

If the BSOD is caused by software corruption, Windows has built-in tools to “heal” itself. This should be your first technical step.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for the verification to reach 100%.
3. If errors persist, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

These commands compare your local system files against an official Microsoft “master copy” and replace any mismatched or broken data automatically.

3. Method 2: Rolling Back or Updating Drivers

A “VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE” or “DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” almost always points to a driver conflict.

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters or Network adapters.
3. Right-click the device and select Properties.
4. Go to the Driver tab. If you recently updated, click Roll Back Driver. If not, click Update Driver.

[Image: Device Manager properties window highlighting the Roll Back Driver button]

In a professional setting, we recommend downloading the driver directly from the manufacturer’s website (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) rather than relying on Windows Update’s generic versions.

4. Professional Insight: Decoding the “Minidump”

To an IT professional, a BSOD is not a mystery—it’s a data dump. Every time a blue screen occurs, Windows creates a Minidump file (found in C:\Windows\Minidump). This file contains the “black box” recording of exactly what happened at the millisecond of the crash.

Instead of guessing, we use a tool called BlueScreenView or the WinDbg (Windows Debugger) to read these files. They will highlight a specific file, such as nvlddmkm.sys (NVIDIA) or ntoskrnl.exe (Windows Kernel). By identifying the specific filename mentioned in the crash log, you move from “trying random fixes” to “surgical repair.” If you are managing multiple machines, keeping a log of these filenames is the only way to identify recurring hardware defects across your fleet.

Summary: Prevention and Stability

Fixing a Blue Screen of Death requires a calm, methodical approach. Most cases are resolved by simple driver adjustments or system file repairs. To prevent future BSODs, avoid installing “beta” drivers and ensure your PC has adequate ventilation, as heat is a major silent killer of hardware stability. If you continue to see different Stop Codes every time, this is a strong indicator of Failing RAM, and you should run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool immediately to check for physical hardware damage.