Error Medic

Blue Tint Monitor & Blue Screen of Death (BSOD): Complete Troubleshooting Guide for Windows

Fix blue tint monitor issues and Windows BSOD stop codes (0xc000021a, memory management, kernel security check failure) with step-by-step commands and proven so

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Key Takeaways
  • Blue tint on monitor is usually caused by incorrect color calibration, a faulty display cable, or misconfigured GPU color settings — fixable without hardware replacement in most cases.
  • Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) stop codes like MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, and SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION are most commonly caused by corrupt or incompatible drivers, failing RAM, overheating, or a recent Windows Update.
  • Use the Windows built-in tools (Event Viewer, Memory Diagnostic, SFC, DISM, and BlueScreenView) to identify the exact failing driver or module before attempting fixes — never reinstall Windows without diagnosing first.
  • For stop code 0xc000021a after a Windows Update, roll back the update or use Startup Repair from a bootable USB to restore boot integrity.
  • Driver-related BSODs (nvlddmkm.sys, dxgkrnl.sys, dxgmms2.sys, amdkmdag.sys, ntoskrnl.exe) require a clean driver reinstall using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode.
BSOD & Blue Tint Fix Approaches Compared
MethodWhen to UseTimeRisk
Run SFC /scannow + DISMCorrupt system files, stop code 0xc000021a, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED10–20 minLow
Windows Memory Diagnostic / MemTest86MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, BAD_POOL_CALLER, PFN_LIST_CORRUPT stop codes30 min – 8 hrsNone
Clean Driver Reinstall via DDUnvlddmkm.sys, dxgkrnl.sys, amdkmdag.sys, VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE BSODs20–40 minLow
Uninstall Recent Windows UpdateBSOD after update, stop code 0xc000021a, KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE5–15 minLow
Boot into Safe Mode + Event ViewerIdentify exact crashing driver or process5–10 minNone
Monitor Color Calibration ResetBlue tint monitor, bluish screen display, monitor too blue2–5 minNone
Replace Display Cable (HDMI/DP)Persistent blue tint on specific monitor not fixed by software5–10 minNone
Startup Repair / Bootrec commandsBSOD on boot, INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE, unmountable boot volume15–30 minMedium
Reset or Reinstall WindowsAll else fails; multiple unresolvable stop codes1–3 hrsHigh — back up data first

Understanding the Issues: Blue Tint Monitor vs. Blue Screen of Death

These two problems share the word "blue" but are entirely different in nature. A blue tint on a monitor is a display output problem — your screen shows an unwanted blue cast over all content. A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a Windows kernel-level crash that forces the system to halt to prevent data corruption. This guide covers both comprehensively.

Part 1: Fixing a Blue Tint Monitor

What Causes a Blue Tint?

A blue tint on your computer monitor or laptop screen typically has one of these causes:

  • Incorrect RGB color balance or color temperature settings in Windows or the GPU control panel
  • A damaged or loosely connected display cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, or LVDS ribbon)
  • A misconfigured blue light filter (Windows Night Light set too high)
  • A failing monitor backlight or display panel
  • Incorrect ICC color profile applied to the display

Step 1: Disable Windows Night Light and Blue Light Filters

Windows 10/11 includes a built-in blue light filter called Night Light. If it is stuck on or misconfigured, the screen will appear bluish or orange.

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Navigate to System > Display.
  3. Find Night Light and toggle it Off.
  4. Click Night Light Settings and set the color temperature slider to neutral.

If you use a third-party blue light filter (f.lux, Windows bluelight filter app), disable it temporarily to rule it out.

Step 2: Reset GPU Color Settings

For NVIDIA:

  1. Right-click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Navigate to Display > Adjust Desktop Color Settings.
  3. Ensure Digital Vibrance, Hue, and Brightness are at default values.
  4. Under Output Color Format, select RGB and Output Dynamic Range: Full.

For AMD:

  1. Open AMD Radeon Software.
  2. Go to Display tab.
  3. Scroll to Color and reset all sliders to default.

For Intel Integrated Graphics:

  1. Right-click the desktop > Intel Graphics Settings.
  2. Navigate to Color and click Restore Defaults.

Step 3: Run Windows Color Calibration

  1. Press Windows + R, type dccw, and press Enter.
  2. Follow the on-screen wizard to calibrate gamma, brightness, contrast, and color balance.
  3. Adjust the RGB sliders until whites appear neutral (not blue-tinted).

Step 4: Check and Reseat Display Cables

If the blue tint persists after software fixes:

  • Power off the monitor and PC.
  • Disconnect and firmly reseat the HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA cable on both ends.
  • Try a different cable entirely — HDMI cables can develop internal wire breaks that cause color channel imbalance.
  • Test the monitor on a different computer to determine if the issue is the monitor itself or the PC.

Step 5: Update or Rollback Monitor ICC Profile

  1. Press Windows + R, type colorcpl, press Enter.
  2. Select your monitor under Devices.
  3. Click Add and choose sRGB IEC61966-2.1 as a test profile.
  4. Set it as default and check if the tint improves.

Part 2: Diagnosing Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Reading the Stop Code

Every BSOD displays a stop code (e.g., MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED). The QR code on modern Windows BSODs points to https://www.windows.com/stopcode which provides a lookup tool. The stop code is the most important piece of information — always record it before rebooting.

Common stop codes and their primary causes:

Stop Code Primary Cause
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (0x0000001A) Faulty RAM, corrupt drivers
KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE (0x00000139) Corrupt drivers, RAM errors, malware
CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED (0x000000EF) Corrupt system files, failing drive
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (0x0000003B) Driver conflict, especially GPU drivers
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0x0000000A) Incompatible driver accessing restricted memory
VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (0x00000116) GPU driver crash (nvlddmkm.sys, dxgkrnl.sys, amdkmdag.sys)
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (0x0000007B) Boot drive failure, SATA mode change, corrupt BCD
BAD_POOL_CALLER Driver allocating memory incorrectly
PFN_LIST_CORRUPT RAM failure or driver corruption
0xc000021a Critical Windows session process (winlogon/csrss) failure
DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Driver not completing within time limit, SSD firmware
APC_INDEX_MISMATCH Driver mismatch, often after Windows Update
WDF_VIOLATION Windows Driver Framework rule violation
NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM File system corruption on NTFS volume
DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE Driver failing to handle sleep/wake transitions

Step 1: Collect Crash Dump Information

Windows saves minidump files at C:\Windows\Minidump. Use BlueScreenView (by NirSoft) to analyze them without a debugger.

  1. Download BlueScreenView from https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html.
  2. Open the application — it auto-loads all minidump files.
  3. Look at the Caused By Driver column — this identifies the exact .sys file responsible.
  4. Cross-reference the driver filename with the known causes table above.

Step 2: Check Event Viewer

  1. Press Windows + X, select Event Viewer.
  2. Navigate to Windows Logs > System.
  3. Filter for Critical and Error events around the time of the crash.
  4. Look for sources like BugCheck, EventLog, or the specific driver name.

Step 3: Repair System Files (SFC and DISM)

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following (see code_block section for the full script):

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

SFC scans and repairs corrupted Windows system files. DISM repairs the Windows image used by SFC. Always run DISM first if SFC fails repeatedly.

Step 4: Test RAM

For any MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, BAD_POOL_CALLER, PFN_LIST_CORRUPT, or KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE errors:

  1. Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, press Enter.
  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
  3. For thorough testing, boot from a MemTest86 USB drive and run at least 2 complete passes.
  4. If errors are found, reseat RAM sticks, test one stick at a time, or replace faulty modules.

Step 5: Fix Driver-Related BSODs (GPU/Network/Audio)

For stop codes pointing to nvlddmkm.sys, dxgkrnl.sys, dxgmms2.sys, amdkmdag.sys, atikmpag.sys, netio.sys, ndis.sys:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode (press F8 or Shift+Restart > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings).
  2. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html.
  3. Run DDU in Safe Mode to completely remove GPU drivers.
  4. Reboot normally and install the latest stable driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel's official site.
  5. For network drivers (netio.sys, ndis.sys), open Device Manager, right-click the network adapter, and select Update Driver or Uninstall Device then reinstall.

Step 6: Fix Stop Code 0xc000021a

This error indicates that either winlogon.exe or csrss.exe (critical Windows session processes) has failed. It commonly appears after a Windows Update.

Boot from Windows installation media (USB):

  1. Select Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
  2. If Startup Repair fails, open Command Prompt from Advanced Options and run:
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd
sfc /scannow

Roll back the problematic update:

  1. Boot to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates.
  2. Select Uninstall latest quality update or feature update.

Step 7: Fix INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (0x0000007B)

  1. Check BIOS/UEFI: ensure the SATA controller mode hasn't changed from AHCI to IDE (or vice versa).
  2. Boot from Windows USB, open Command Prompt, and run chkdsk C: /f /r.
  3. Verify the boot drive is detected in BIOS.
  4. Run bootrec /rebuildbcd to repair the boot configuration.

Step 8: Check for Overheating

Overheating causes random BSODs with various stop codes. Use HWiNFO64 or Core Temp to monitor temperatures.

  • CPU should stay below 90°C under load (ideally below 80°C).
  • GPU should stay below 85°C.
  • Clean dust from vents and heatsinks; reapply thermal paste if the system is over 3 years old.

Step 9: When to Reset or Reinstall Windows

If SFC, DISM, memory tests, and driver reinstalls all fail to resolve recurring BSODs:

  1. Back up your data to an external drive.
  2. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC.
  3. Choose Keep my files for a repair reset, or Remove everything for a clean install.
  4. Alternatively, perform a clean install using a Windows 11 or Windows 10 bootable USB from Microsoft's official site.

Frequently Asked Questions

powershell
# ============================================================
# BSOD & Blue Tint Monitor - Windows Diagnostic & Fix Script
# Run PowerShell as Administrator
# ============================================================

# --- STEP 1: Check recent BSOD events from Event Log ---
Write-Host "[1] Recent BSOD Events (last 30 days)" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{
    LogName = 'System'
    Id = 41  # Kernel-Power unexpected shutdown
    StartTime = (Get-Date).AddDays(-30)
} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object TimeCreated, Message | Format-List

# --- STEP 2: List minidump files ---
Write-Host "`n[2] Minidump Files Found:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
$dumpPath = "C:\Windows\Minidump"
if (Test-Path $dumpPath) {
    Get-ChildItem -Path $dumpPath -Filter "*.dmp" | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending | Select-Object Name, LastWriteTime, @{N='SizeMB';E={[math]::Round($_.Length/1MB,2)}}
} else {
    Write-Host "No minidump directory found. Ensure small memory dumps are enabled." -ForegroundColor Yellow
}

# --- STEP 3: Enable small memory dumps if not already set ---
Write-Host "`n[3] Ensuring Small Memory Dumps are Enabled..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
$regPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "CrashDumpEnabled" -Value 3  # 3 = Small memory dump
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "MinidumpDir" -Value "%SystemRoot%\Minidump"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AutoReboot" -Value 1
Write-Host "Small memory dumps enabled at $dumpPath" -ForegroundColor Green

# --- STEP 4: Run System File Checker ---
Write-Host "`n[4] Running SFC (System File Checker)..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "This may take 5-15 minutes. Do not close this window."
sfc /scannow

# --- STEP 5: Run DISM to repair Windows image ---
Write-Host "`n[5] Running DISM to restore Windows health image..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

# --- STEP 6: Check disk health ---
Write-Host "`n[6] Checking disk for errors on C: drive..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Note: A full scan will be scheduled on next reboot if volume is in use."
cmd /c "echo Y | chkdsk C: /f /r /x"

# --- STEP 7: Scan for driver issues ---
Write-Host "`n[7] Listing recently installed drivers (last 30 days)..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='System'; ProviderName='Microsoft-Windows-DriverFrameworks-UserMode'; StartTime=(Get-Date).AddDays(-30)} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 20 TimeCreated, Message | Format-List

# --- STEP 8: List installed drivers sorted by date ---
Write-Host "`n[8] Recently Modified Drivers:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-WindowsDriver -Online -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Date -Descending | Select-Object -First 20 OriginalFileName, ProviderName, Date, Version | Format-Table -AutoSize

# --- STEP 9: Check RAM slots and memory info ---
Write-Host "`n[9] RAM Information:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_PhysicalMemory | Select-Object BankLabel, DeviceLocator, Capacity, Speed, Manufacturer | Format-Table -AutoSize

# --- STEP 10: GPU Driver Info ---
Write-Host "`n[10] GPU / Display Adapter Information:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_VideoController | Select-Object Name, DriverVersion, DriverDate, VideoProcessor | Format-Table -AutoSize

# --- STEP 11: Monitor color profile fix (blue tint) ---
Write-Host "`n[11] Opening Color Management for Monitor Blue Tint Fix..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Start-Process "colorcpl.exe"
Write-Host "In Color Management: Select your monitor > Add > choose 'sRGB IEC61966-2.1' > Set as Default Profile"

# --- STEP 12: Disable Night Light via registry (blue tint quick fix) ---
Write-Host "`n[12] Disabling Windows Night Light (if enabled)..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
$nightLightReg = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\DefaultAccount\Current\default`$windows.data.bluelightreduction.bluelightreductionstate\windows.data.bluelightreduction.bluelightreductionstate"
if (Test-Path $nightLightReg) {
    # Reset to disable Night Light
    Remove-Item -Path $nightLightReg -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    Write-Host "Night Light registry entry cleared. Log out and back in to apply." -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
    Write-Host "Night Light registry key not found or already disabled." -ForegroundColor Yellow
}

# --- Launch Windows Memory Diagnostic ---
Write-Host "`n[13] To run RAM test now, execute:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "  mdsched.exe" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Or for offline testing, download MemTest86 from https://www.memtest86.com/"

# --- STEP 14: List recent Windows Updates ---
Write-Host "`n[14] Recent Windows Updates (last 15 days):" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-HotFix | Where-Object {$_.InstalledOn -ge (Get-Date).AddDays(-15)} | Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descending | Select-Object HotFixID, Description, InstalledOn | Format-Table -AutoSize

Write-Host "`n=== Diagnostics Complete ==="  -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Review output above. For BSOD analysis, also run NirSoft BlueScreenView on your minidump files."
Write-Host "Download: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html"
E

Error Medic Editorial

The Error Medic Editorial team consists of senior Windows engineers, SREs, and system administrators with 10+ years of experience diagnosing hardware failures, BSOD crash dumps, and display issues across enterprise and consumer environments. Our guides are built from real diagnostic data, Microsoft WinDbg analysis, and field-tested remediation steps.

Sources

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