Blue Screen (BSOD) Diagnostic

Different stop codes have different, specific causes. If you caught the code name on the crash screen, this gets you to the exact guide fast — if you didn't, start with the first question.

Did you catch the stop code's name or number before it restarted?
No — it flashed by too fast, or restarted before I could read it

This is genuinely common, and there's a real way to find out after the fact. Our general BSOD guide covers checking the crash minidump to identify exactly what happened, plus the broad first steps that apply no matter which stop code it turns out to be.

Yes — I caught the code

Good — move through the next questions to find the guide built for your exact code.

Does the code mention "IRQL" (like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or IRQL_UNEXPECTED_VALUE)?
Yes

Go straight to our IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL guide — it covers both this code and IRQL_UNEXPECTED_VALUE, since the underlying causes and fixes overlap almost completely.

No

Move to the next question.

Does the code say MEMORY_MANAGEMENT?
Yes

Go straight to our MEMORY_MANAGEMENT guide.

No

Move to the next question.

Does the code say CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED?
Yes

Go straight to our CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED guide.

No

Move to the last question.

Does the code mention HYPERVISOR, or the number 0x20001?
Yes

Go straight to our HYPERVISOR_ERROR guide — this one is specifically tied to virtualization software (VMware, VirtualBox) conflicting with Windows' own hypervisor features.

No — it's a different code entirely

Whatever the exact code, our general BSOD guide covers the broad causes and diagnostic steps (minidump analysis, driver checks, memory and disk testing) that apply across nearly every stop code, including ones without their own dedicated guide yet.

Don't know the code and the crash keeps happening? Next time it occurs, the code is usually shown directly on the blue screen itself — take a photo with your phone before it restarts if you can. If it restarts too fast, Reliability Monitor (search "reliability" in the Start menu) keeps a record of past crashes you can check afterward.