Seeing a blue screen on your laptop may send you into panic mode; after all, the notorious blue screen is also called the blue screen of death. However, this is an issue you can resolve with the right steps, and so this post covers how to troubleshoot and fix a blue screen on a Dell laptop.
The blue screen of death (BSoD) doesn’t mean your laptop is dead; it typically signifies an issue with your laptop that needs to be addressed. Keep reading for information on the causes and solutions.
What Causes Blue Screen on Dell Laptop (Quick Answer!)
A blue screen on your Dell laptop occurs when Windows faces a critical error that prevents the OS from running. The errors can stem from low-level or faulty hardware drivers, faulty hardware, or low-level or faulty applications running within the Windows Kernel.
The operating system usually monitors itself and resolves issues that arise, so when you see a blue screen on your laptop, it means the system encounters an error it cannot resolve on its own. The common causes of this problem include overheating, boot problems, software or hardware conflict, and hard drive or RAM failure.
Troubleshooting and Fixing Blue Screen on a Dell Laptop
When a critical error occurs in your laptop, Windows automatically collects data concerning the failure and then restarts the laptop. Depending on the Windows version on your laptop, you may see detailed information on the cause of the error, but for Windows 10, you may see the error description or name.
However, worry not if your Dell screen doesn’t display the information or the screen passes too fast because the Action Center in the Control Panel will have the error logs. The Action Center is in “System and Security” in Windows 7 and “Security and Maintenance” in Windows 8 and 10.
Follow the Action Center’s troubleshooting procedures to uncover and fix the problem. However, if the blue screen doesn’t go away, check for the following:
1. Software or Hardware Conflict
Various hardware programs or pieces can sometimes fail to cooperate, causing a blue screen or laptop crush. If the Blue Screen of Death happened after installing hardware drivers or new hardware, the newcomer is likely the cause of conflict with installed software.
Disconnect the new hardware to check if that will resolve the problem. If it doesn’t, update the drivers because bad drivers can create problems; if that doesn’t work, uninstall the drivers you recently installed to your laptop.
In addition, if you installed software recently, uninstall it to see if that will resolve the blue screen.
2. Check for Hard Drive or RAM Failure
The hard drive and RAM are essential components in your laptop and must be in good condition. Your laptop won’t run the OS or programs without encountering an issue if the hard drive gets physically damaged or develops errors.
Moreover, mismatched, faulty, or insufficient RAM can make your laptop crash because computer systems need temporary memory to access and run information and data. You can check the status of your hard drive and RAM or get a technician to do it.
Running a memory test helps you confirm if your memory module is bad.
3. Boot Problems
Your laptop cannot access the files needed to start the operating system if the blue screen appears while trying to reboot your Dell laptop. This can happen because of connection problems or corrupted files on the motherboard or hard drive.
You must ensure all the cables in your laptop are securely connected, then repair the operating system problems by inserting the Windows installation disc. An experienced technician will help you troubleshoot boot problems in detail.
4. Check for Overheating
The delicate laptop parts don’t do well with too much heat; that’s why computers shut down automatically to prevent damage if they overheat. If your Dell laptop was unusually hot before the blue screen appeared, this could be the cause.
Let your laptop cool down, then clean the cooling fan and the vents to remove dust accumulation and boost airflow.
Note:
You should also scan your laptop for viruses and malware and if you can’t troubleshoot your computer because it keeps going to a blue screen, go into safe mode and then troubleshoot it.
If all your attempts to fix the blue screen fail, restore your laptop’s system to a date it was working well, then trace the changes you made that created the problem.
How To Troubleshoot Common Blue Screen Error Messages
- Click start
- Type “Advanced System Settings”
- Select the Advanced tab
- Choose Startup and Recovery Section and select Settings
- Select System Failure, then clear the box beside Automatically restart.
- Click OK
- Click Apply and Ok
Final Remarks
A blue screen on your laptop would have been pretty terrifying in the past. However, thanks to the newest Windows versions and technological advancements, this issue occurs less frequently, and when it does, you can troubleshoot and fix it.
