What to do with a blue screen of death

It’s the screen that every computer fears –the blue screen of death. Windows users will be well aware of the blue error screen that appears every so often, but few know how to actually deal with them.

Fortunately, there are a variety of BSOD errors and receiving one doesn’t necessarily mean your computer is breaking. However, there are a few steps you need to take whenever you receive one:

• Reset your computer. Sometimes this doesn’t fix the problem at all, but it sometimes does and a simple reset could be the cure needed to get your computer running properly again.
• Conduct a virus check. Often BSOD errors are caused when Windows detects a virus is hurting the computer, so make sure there aren’t any on your system.
• Check for spyware. Spyware can often lay dormant but can trigger a BSOD. Use a free checker like Spybot to get rid of any.
• Perform Windows updates. Keeping your Windows machine up to date is critical in avoiding error message.

If the BSOD error persists, speak to your IT provider. When the BSOD happens again, make sure you note the actual error code, which is at the top of the screen. Your technician will need this to diagnose the nature of your problem.