Blue screen (BSOD)

Computer shows a blue screen and restarts unexpectedly.

Blue screen with a stop code, unexpected restarts, or the PC boot-loops after a crash.

Capture the stop code, check for recent changes, and update drivers.

1. 1Note the exact stop code shown on the blue screen (e.g. MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL).
2. 2Restart the PC and check if it boots normally.
3. 3Undo any recent hardware or driver changes if the crash started after one.
4. 4Run Windows Update to install the latest drivers and OS updates.
5. 5Run a memory check with Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe).
6. 6Contact IT with the stop code and a photo of the screen if it recurs.