Blue screen of death
 

Has anyone had this and know what the fix is?

Yes, many times. It is a sign of a possible major malfunction. Rebooting usually sorts thing out.
But if it reoccurs, take a note of the error code and Google that for help.

Yes, turn it off and on again. If the BSOD is still there, you turned the monitor on and off. Try the computer next time! ;)

On a more serious note, see here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Screen_of_Death

Haven't seen one in years... (fingers now crossed, lucky charms festooning top of screen....)

If it's a one off, don't worry about it.

Note that any of the below steps could stop the computer from working. you need good backups of critical files. Saying that, I would do these steps on my computer but I don't really have super critical stuff on it.

If it is recurring -
1.
Consider undoing any recent changes to the computer that may have made it occur.

2.
check operating system integrity with

chkdsk /r
sfc /scannow
If sfc reports that it can not fix it use
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
and repeat sfc /scannow -

If that dism command reports that it can't fix it it is more complex than I can deal with.

Sometimes you need to repeat the sfc /scannow - I think it tells you that it is not finished.

3.
Check the windows logs with Event Viewer for messages that indicate a serious problem shortly before the crash.

Windows Logs/Application
Windows Logs/System

4.
Enable minidump and use a dump analyser to see if the crash is being consistently caused by a particular file. If that file is associated with some particular software consider re-installing it. Everyone should enable minidumps anyway - else on a crash the system will write the whole active virtual memory to a file which takes a LONG time. I would get fed up and turn the machine off which MAY compound the problem.

Finally - I am not recommending the installation of any software off of the Internet - you need to research such software yourself and evaluate the risk.

[B} below has some good stuff

You can also start by that:[list]

• Update all possible drivers
• Uninstall all unused programs
• Run chkdsk /r /f and sfc /scannow
• Perform a clean boot: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
• Disable temporary all security softwares you have
• Run memtest86+ to check your RAM. If an error was detected then replace the faulty RAM or contact your manufacturer Technical Support for assistance
  
  
  
  [A] https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/16/us...sues-sfc-cant/
  [B] https://social.technet.microsoft.com...m=winservergen
  [C] https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-a...dump-dmp-file/

Hot day?
Cooling all working?
Dust build up?

Good thoughts there from Helix and Jim.

On the hottest day of the year, one of my hard disks shut down - a 7.2K spinning disk. Not the CPU or graphics card, or system disk (SSD), just the data drive. I assume it was due to the heat, although tests didn't indicate an overtemp event. Everything is backed up, but I didn't need to restore, as the disk came back once everything had cooled down. I will continue to use it, on the basis that it's backed up regularly.

My experience has been that BSODs in PCs are very often down to faulty memory or failing PSUs in particular.

Just something that hasn't been mentioned - not likely, but worth asking...
You're not by any chance still using Windows XP would you? or even Windows h eight?
BSOD frequent before I moved to 7, only twice since then, yonks ago.

Wot the Rev Jim said - with emphasis. Not altogether uncommon on XP - a semi regular occurence or 98 / 95 (is there anyone other than me that goes back that far?).

Not seem on w7 or w10 - but there's still time :E

I started using IBM & compatible PCs back in the mid 1980s, with whatever version or flavour of DOS was to be found on a 5.25" floppy. Oh the luxury of having 2 floppy drives! The really fortunate had internal hard drives with as much as 10MB of storage! Like PDR1, my first experience of Windows was monochrome, I can't remember what version, but I do remember Windows 3.0 in full colour, running on DOS 4 (or 5, it's a bit hazy). By the time that Windows 3.1 came out and was actually pretty usable, DOS was definitely at 5.0. Windows 3.11 for Workgroups on DOS 6.2 was my first MS Certification - I have a 4-digit MCP number, which no-one believes is genuine! It was challenging to get all the drivers you needed loaded into high memory in those days, it's far too simple now.:p BSODs were the norm, not the exception.

SD

I had a BSOD on a desk top a few years ago - rebooting didn't help, neither did our help desk. IT engineer came round, switched off and said "leave it five minutes". It worked, something to do with letting residual power ebb away.

Had a dodgy lap top as well, recommendation there was to remove battery and disconnect CMOS battery as well for a few mins. That also worked.

Windows 3.11 - and possibly Windows1? before that

First home computer was a 1985 Sun Microsystems 2/120 workstation deemed obsolete and surplus to requirements at work in 1987. In fact I had two and cannibalised them to build one super workstation with all the memory and disc it could take. Now in a very serious private computer museum, still with my name on the side in felt-tip.

Of course the owners of BBC Micro, Sinclair Spectrum, Radio Shack TRS-80 and similar devices can top that.


'a

That's about where I started with the PC series except that I could only afford a 286 at the time with a mono screen. 386s were another $500.

My first computer was the TRS80 model I with a cassette tape storage system . I later spent a small fortune on an external interface box with floppy drives (single sided - 360KB) and TRSDOS 1.3. Of course I used a hole punch and a notch to make floppies into flippies - double the capacity. With 360k disks at $4 each, it was something of a saving. I later bought a TRS80 model IV; I still have it. I get it out every so often to listen to the sounds of floppy drives and their musical clunk. I must connect up my original Epson MX-80 printer ($850 back in the early 80s) for extra sound nostalgia.

No BSODS in those days - they worked as expected and the screen was green anyway. TRS80s are making a comeback amongst hardware geeks. There are clever interfaces available to put everything ever written for them on a single SD card. I'm not sure what happens after that. Perhaps they also have a dot matrix printer running off the Centronics port .... :8

Thanks for all the advice!I shall get on to it in the morn.I have a three year old Acer laptop which is a backup for my main and has hardly any progs on it .I mainly take it when I am away from home.it started as perhaps once a week but now its every 15 mins so i guess I will have to be quick!!

DOS 1.0 & CPM running on an Apple II with additional Z80 card.

Before that it was ICL main frame at Uni running Basic on punch cards :

Almost forgot the BBC...

Just as well Apple shops don't need a Genius Bar since they never go wrong - where would we be if they did?
:-)

First principle for repair of a BSOD (very rare these days) is to do NOTHING.

Turn it off, unplug it, have a cup of tea, walk the dog or something.
Chances are that it will not recur.

The vast majority of total Windows OS stuffups are from well meaning attempts to tinker with the
OS and or the Registry.

jimjim1's advice is good and will fix many problems.
DO NOT download or use any "We will fix yr PC" programs 'cos they won't.

A recent and tested tested disk image is your best friend (I prefer Macrium)
Problems persist? Just restore the latest image.
A 4GB drive will hold a lot of compressed images and cheap at the price.

Mac

I am having some trouble location a cheap 4GB drive that will hold a lot of compressed images.

Can you suggest a link?

:)

Perhaps we should be looking at a 4TB drive. I guess it depends on where you are and how you wish to shop . Google for what are looking for - it will probably offer thousands of offers valid for your own location. On line, Amazon seem as good as any for price and are somewhat universal in terms of location. ($160 AU).

Probably best to seek out one with USB3 capability - if not for your present equipment, certainly for the future.

It can take quite a while to back up 4TB of data!

Ooooops! Of course I mean 4TB
The first backup takes a long time but after that it is much faster (it only records the differences)
I use a Grandfather, Father, Son backup hierarchy which takes a fractionally more time, but is safer and much faster to restore.

Anyone here using ZFS at home?

Mac

I am using a Acer laptop running on win 10 .Its a backup for my main and does not have any downloads on it!Started about 18 months ago but is now almost every day or hour.Tried a few suggestions on here but to no avail!

Reinstall Windows 10 completely, then copy over your files for backing up.

Isn't there another ways?When it comes to reinstalling Windows 10,it makes me think this is the last resort.

It does not take long.
Just think of it as changing bed sheets - clean and fresh when you first get in again!!