I Always/Frequently Get Blue Screens

If you get a blue screen every time you turn on your computer and cannot get Windows to load:

1. Disconnect any non-essential peripherals, including printers, extra monitors, USB thumb drives, and external hard drives. Restart your computer.
2. If you still get a blue screen, restart your computer and look for text at the bottom of the screen that says "For boot options, press..." or "Boot menu..." followed by a key. Pressing this key before Windows begins to load should take you to a menu with a few options. Each manufacturer chooses the specific key to press, but common ones are Esc, F10, and F11. It can be difficult to read the key and press it before Windows begins to load, so you may need to restart and try a few times. When the menu loads, look for an option like "Diagnostics" or "System Tools." Most manufacturers include programs that can test your hardware for failures under headings like these. You should run all available tests. You may also see a "Recovery" option. Many manufacturers allow you to reset your computer to its original factory configuration this way. Restoring/recovering your computer may eliminate the blue screen. However, you should not do so unless you know you have backed up all files you wish to keep or you do not need to keep any data.
3. If you still get a blue screen, write down the error code and number from the blue screen and the make and model of your computer. Using another computer, search the internet for solutions. Usually someone else has had the same problem and may know a solution.
4. If you cannot find a solution online and your computer is still covered by your warranty, call the manufacturer. They will likely ask for your name, address, and phone number. They will probably require a product or serial code of some sort, so be sure to look for your computer's identifying numbers before calling. The manufacturer may ask you to try certain things from the CDs or DVDs that originally came with your computer, so try to have them ready when you call.


If you get a blue screen after logging on to Windows, you should run Windows Updates, run chkdsk (pronounced "check disk") to check your hard drive for errors, and update your device drivers.


Windows XP	Windows Vista	Windows 7
Windows Updates	Windows Updates	Windows Updates
chkdsk	chkdsk	chkdsk
Device Drivers	Device Drivers	Device Drivers



Windows Updates in Windows XP
Click "Start" and select "All Programs." Click on "Windows Updates." Internet Explorer will open to the Microsoft Windows Update website. Follow the instructions on the website to update your computer. You should install all available updates, restart your computer, and check again for more updates.


Windows Updates in Windows Vista
Click on the start menu icon and type "update" into the search bar. Click on "Windows Updates" when it appears.

This will open the Windows Updates console. If there are any important updates for you to install, you will see a button labeled "Install updates." Click on it.

Your computer will begin downloading and installing updates as shown below. When they have finished installing, restart your computer.


Windows Updates in Windows 7
Click on the start menu icon and type "update" into the search bar. Click on "Windows Updates" when it appears.


This will open the Windows Updates console. If there are any important updates for you to install, you will see a button labeled "Install updates." Click on it. If there are no important updates for you to install, you will see a window similar to the one below.



chkdsk in Windows XP
Click "Start" and select "Run" as shown below.


A small window will open. Type "cmd" in the blank field and press Enter or click "Run." This will open a command prompt


When the black window appears, type "chkdsk /r c:" and press enter. chkdsk is a program that checks your hard drive for errors. The "/r" option tells Windows to repair any errors it finds. "C:" specifies which hard drive to check. (Change this if you know C: does not contain your Windows installation. If you are unsure, C: is the best option.) Since your hard drive cannot be checked while it is in use, you will be asked if you would like chkdsk to run next time you restart your computer. Type "y" and hit Enter as shown below. Restart your computer and allow chkdsk to run. It may take several hours.


chkdsk in Windows Vista
Click on the start menu icon and type "cmd" in the search bar. When a program called "cmd" appears, right click on it and select "Run as administrator" as shown below. This will open the command prompt in Administrator mode. You will probably have to click "Continue" on a security warning.


When the black window appears, type "chkdsk /r c:" and press enter. chkdsk is a program that checks your hard drive for errors. The "/r" option tells Windows to repair any errors it finds. "C:" specifies which hard drive to check. (Change this if you know C: does not contain your Windows installation. If you are unsure, C: is the best option.) Since your hard drive cannot be checked while it is in use, you will be asked if you would like chkdsk to run next time you restart your computer. Type "y" and hit Enter as shown below. Restart your computer and allow chkdsk to run. It may take several hours.



chkdsk in Windows 7
Click on the start menu icon and type "cmd" in the search bar. When a program called "cmd" appears, right click on it and select "Run as administrator" as shown below. This will open the command prompt in Administrator mode.


When the black window appears, type "chkdsk /r c:" and press enter. chkdsk is a program that checks your hard drive for errors. The "/r" option tells Windows to repair any errors it finds. "C:" specifies which hard drive to check. (Change this if you know C: does not contain your Windows installation. If you are unsure, C: is the best option.) Since your hard drive cannot be checked while it is in use, you will be asked if you would like chkdsk to run next time you restart your computer. Type "y" and hit Enter as shown below. Restart your computer and allow chkdsk to run. It may take several hours.



Device Drivers in Windows XP
Click "Start," right-click on "My Computer," and select "Properties" as shown below.


Click on the "Hardware" tab as shown below.


Click on the "Device Manager" button.

To update a driver, expand a device category, right-click on a device, and select "Update Driver..." as shown below. Typically, you should update anything under "Display adapters" and "Network adapters." If you have a wireless keyboard or mouse or a special USB device, you should also update the devices found under "Human Interface Devices," "Keyboards," and "Mice and other pointing devices."


If you have never updated a driver this way, you will be asked if you want to connect to the internet to look for an updated driver. Select "Yes, now and every time I connect a device" as shown below.


Next, select "Install the software automatically (Recommended)" as shown below. You may need to restart your computer if Windows installs new driver software.





Device Drivers in Windows Vista
Click on the start menu icon and type "device manager" in the search bar as shown below. Click on "Device Manager" when it appears.


To update a driver, expand a device category, right-click on a device, and select "Update Driver..." as shown below. Typically, you should update anything under "Display adapters" and "Network adapters." If you have a wireless keyboard or mouse or a special USB device, you should also update the devices found under "Human Interface Devices," "Keyboards," and "Mice and other pointing devices."


Next, select "Search automatically for updated driver software" as shown below.


Windows Vista will then search online for update driver software for your device as shown below. You may need to restart your computer if Windows installs new driver software.


Device Drivers in Windows 7
Click on the start menu icon and type "update device drivers" in the search bar as shown below. Click on "Update device drivers" when it appears.


To update a driver, expand a device category, right-click on a device, and click on the update driver icon as shown below. Typically, you should update anything under "Display adapters" and "Network adapters." If you have a wireless keyboard or mouse or a special USB device, you should also update the devices found under "Human Interface Devices," "Keyboards," and "Mice and other pointing devices."


Next, select "Search automatically for updated driver software" as shown below.


Windows 7 will then search online for update driver software for your device as shown below. You may need to restart your computer if Windows installs new driver software.

You will see a message similar to the one below when your computer has finished searching for an updated driver.