Blue Screen of Death Windows 10: Complete Troubleshooting Guide for All BSOD Error Codes

Understanding the Blue Screen of Death on Windows 10

A Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), also called a Stop Error, occurs when Windows 10 encounters a critical error from which it cannot safely recover. The system halts, displays a blue screen with a stop code (e.g., CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT), and automatically restarts. Each stop code is a clue pointing to the underlying cause.

BSODs can be hardware-triggered (faulty RAM, overheating CPU/GPU, failing SSD/HDD) or software-triggered (corrupt drivers, bad Windows updates, malware, system file corruption). ASUS laptops and desktops often see BSODs related to ASUS-specific drivers such as atk0110.sys or asmtxhci.sys. After a Windows Update, BSODs frequently stem from incompatible or partially installed drivers.

Step 1: Note the Stop Code and Collect Crash Dumps

When the BSOD appears, note the exact stop code shown. Common examples:

• CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED — A critical Windows process terminated unexpectedly.
• IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL — A driver tried to access memory at an invalid IRQL (usually a driver bug).
• KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE — Data structures are corrupted; often caused by outdated drivers or hardware failure.
• MEMORY_MANAGEMENT — RAM or memory subsystem error.
• SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION — A system service generated an unhandled exception (often win32k.sys, ntfs.sys, or a third-party driver).
• UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION — Storage device (SSD/HDD) failure or driver issue.

To read past crash dump files, open Event Viewer or use WinDbg. For quick analysis, use the free tool WhoCrashed or read minidump files located at C:\Windows\Minidump\.

Using Event Viewer:

1. Press Win + X and select Event Viewer.
2. Navigate to Windows Logs > System.
3. Filter for Critical and Error level events near the time of the BSOD.
4. Look for source BugCheck which shows the stop code and parameters.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode (If Windows Won't Start)

If Windows 10 crashes on boot or you keep getting repeated BSODs, enter Safe Mode:

1. Force-shutdown the PC 3 times in a row during startup to trigger Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Press 4 to boot in Safe Mode or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

In Safe Mode, Windows loads only essential drivers, making it easier to diagnose whether the issue is driver- or software-related.

Step 3: Run SFC and DISM to Repair System Files

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands in order:

sfc /scannow

This scans and repairs protected Windows system files. Wait for it to complete (10-15 minutes). If it reports corruption it could not fix, proceed with DISM:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again. Restart and check if the BSOD recurs.

Step 4: Update or Roll Back Drivers

Drivers are the #1 cause of Windows 10 BSODs. If a BSOD started after a Windows Update or driver installation:

Roll back a driver:

1. Press Win + X > Device Manager.
2. Expand the relevant category (e.g., Display adapters, Network adapters).
3. Right-click the device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.

Update drivers:

• For ASUS systems, check ASUS Support (support.asus.com) for the latest chipset, GPU, and ATK drivers.
• For GPU: Download directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel — not Windows Update.
• Use winget upgrade --all or manually download from the vendor.

Identify the faulty driver from minidump: Use the command below in an elevated PowerShell to list recently installed drivers:

Get-WinEvent -LogName System | Where-Object {$_.Id -eq 7045} | Select-Object TimeCreated, Message | Format-List

Step 5: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

For MEMORY_MANAGEMENT BSODs or random/unpredictable crashes:

1. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, press Enter.
2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
3. The test runs on reboot and takes 15-60 minutes.
4. Results are shown in Event Viewer under Windows Logs > System (source: MemoryDiagnostics-Results).

If errors are found, reseat your RAM sticks, try one stick at a time, or replace faulty RAM.

Step 6: Check Disk for Errors

For UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION or storage-related BSODs, run:

chkdsk C: /f /r /x

Schedule on next reboot if the drive is in use. This scans for bad sectors and file system errors. For SSDs, also check the drive's health using CrystalDiskInfo or the manufacturer's tool.

Step 7: Undo Recent Windows Updates

If a BSOD started after Windows Update:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > View Update History > Uninstall Updates.
2. Sort by date and uninstall the most recent Cumulative Update or Feature Update.
3. Alternatively, use CMD:

wusa /uninstall /kb:XXXXXXX

Replace XXXXXXX with the KB number shown in update history.

To temporarily pause updates: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Pause Updates.

Step 8: Check for Overheating

Overheating causes hardware-protection BSODs (especially KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE and random crashes). Use HWMonitor or Core Temp to check CPU and GPU temperatures. Normal CPU temps: under 80°C under load. If overheating:

• Clean dust from vents and fans.
• Reapply thermal paste on CPU (if older than 3-4 years).
• Ensure proper case airflow.
• Underclock GPU using MSI Afterburner if GPU-related.

Step 9: Scan for Malware

Some malware causes or mimics BSODs. Run Windows Defender offline scan:

Start-MpScan -ScanType OfflineScan

Or boot into Windows Defender Offline mode from Settings > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan.

Step 10: System Restore or Reset Windows

If all else fails:

• System Restore: Press Win + R, type rstrui.exe, and restore to a point before BSODs began.
• Reset Windows: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC. Choose Keep my files to preserve personal data while reinstalling Windows.