Windows 7 Blue Screen Issue (BSoD)
If you see a blue screen error, but Windows 7 restarts immediately and you can’t read the error text, follow these instructions to disable the Automatically restart option:
- Right-click on My Computer
- Go to Properties
- Go to the Advanced tab
- At the Startup and Recovery section, click the Settings button
- At the System failure section, make sure the “Automatically restart” option is unchecked
- Click OK
If you can’t boot into Windows, try booting into Safe Mode, follow the instructions above and then restart your computer again. To boot Windows 7 in Safe Mode, follow these steps:
- Restart your computer
- Press F8 before the Windows logo appears
- Use the arrow keys and select “Safe Mode” from the boot menu
- Press Enter
Common fixes
To fix Blue Screen errors in Windows 7, you can try any of the following tips:
Tip #1: System Restore
You can restore Windows 7 by following these steps:
- Boot your Windows 7
- Click Start
- In the search bar, type: “System Restore “
- From the list of search results, select System Restore
- If the system asks for your administrator password, type the password
- Click Next
- At the Restore system fields and settings screen, select Choose a different restore point
- Click Next
- Select a restore point from the available list
- Click Next
- Click Finish
- Click Yes to confirm
- The software will now start and your computer will reboot
- After your computer boots back, at the “System Restore completed successfully” confirmation message, click Close
Tip #2: Install updates
Similar to Windows Vista, installing recent updates from Microsoft might fix any errors you are experiencing in your Windows 7 system.
If Windows Update isn’t enabled to install the updates by itself, follow these steps to do so manually:
- Click Start
- In the search box, type “Update”
- Choose Windows Update from the list of results
- Click Check for updates, on the left
- Review any pending updates
- Click Install updates
Tip #3: Install the latest drivers
Make sure you have the latest device drivers installed on your system. Go to your computer’s manufacturer and check the driver’s latest version.
Many blue screen errors can be caused by an incompatible device driver. You can try removing any recently installed device driver and restarting your computer.
Tip #4: Check for hard disk errors
Windows 7 has several utility tools that can help you identify and fix certain errors. You can use these utility tools to check for hard disk or memory issues.
Check for hard disk issues:
- Click Start
- Go to Computer
- Right-click on the main drive, where Windows 7 is installed on, and click Properties
- Click the Tools tab and at the Error-checking section click Check now
- Select both Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
- Click Start
Check for memory issues:
- Click Start
- Click Control Panel
- Type “Memory” in the search box
- Click on Diagnose your computer’s memory problems from the list of results
- Follow the next set of instructions on the screen
Tip #5: Startup Repair
You can run the Startup Repair tool manually if you have a recovery option preinstalled on your computer, or have the original installation disk, or have the system recovery and repair disk.
If you have Startup Repair preinstalled on the system:
- Remove any CDs, DVDs or USBs from the system
- Restart your computer
- Press and hold F8 as your computer boots, but before the Windows 7 logo appears
- At the Advanced Boot Options screen, select Repair your computer using the arrow keys and hit Enter.