The “screen of death” and how to fix it

If you’re working on a PC using the Microsoft Windows operating system (OS), you may have encountered the blue or black “screen of death”, sometimes called “BSoD” for short.

When it appears on your monitor, you’ll soon discover your machine is entirely inoperable, stopping you from carrying out your role. Here, we explore what the meaning of this irritating but informational screen is, what triggers it and how to fix it.

What is the BSoD?

Also referred to by nicknames like bug check, fatal error and blue or black screen error, BSoD is officially a “stop error”. Versions of Microsoft’s OS prior to Windows 11 display the critical error screen to show that a computer has experienced a system crash. In critical condition, they are unable to function safely.

From blue to black screen

The critical error screen you see on your device depends on the OS version you run. After the Windows 11 upgrade, the blue screen of death ceased to exist. Instead, users see a black screen showing a frowning emoji with the message “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart”.

What causes the so-called screen of death?

There are multiple reasons at the root of the critical error screen. Possible issues include computer hardware failures, a crucial process unexpectedly ending or an issue related to a device driver.

How do you fix the blue or black screen of death?

In most cases, you’ll find simply rebooting your PC will clear the BSoD error. However, if problems persist, we can help. Reach out to us at 127 Solutions for reliable IT support.