Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
A Blue Screen of Death (a.k.a BSOD or Bluescreen) is an error screen that Windows produces when it encounters an error that it cannot recover from. They can be caused by any number of problems, and can be problematic to troubleshoot. Thus, knowing the different parts of a BSOD can aid you in figuring out the cause.
Enabling BSODs
By default, most current versions of windows won't show a BSOD at all. They will simply reset upon experiencing a showstopping problem. This is fine if the PC is working great, but is annoying if a system is experiencing repeated problems. To prevent Windows from starting automatically and display the BSOD, follow these steps:
Windows XP Navigate to the Start Menu, and open the Control Panel. Go to System, open the Advanced tab. Under Startup and Recovery, Click settings. On the window that comes up, make sure that the box next to Automatically Restart is unchecked, then click Ok.
Windows Vista/7 Navigate to the Start Menu, and open the Control Panel. Go to System, and choose Advanced system settings on the left side. Under Startup and Recovery, Click settings. On the window that comes up, make sure that the box next to Automatically Restart is unchecked, then click Ok.
Parts of a BSOD
Caused by In the picture above, the second section of text says "The problem seems to be caused by this file:". If windows is able to detect which file the problem occurred in, it may list that file here. This does not always show up in a BSOD, and doesn't appear to show up in BSOD's for Vista or 7 at all.
Error Name In the picture above, the third section of text says "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA". This section is the error name, and can help give you a better example of what caused the BSOD. This part of a BSOD shows up in every BSOD from XP and on.
Troubleshooting a BSOD
What can be maddening about BSODs is the fact that even if you are given both a 'caused by' and 'error name' on the BSOD, it can prove to be annoying to research.
Your first step is to google the 'error name' and the 'caused by'. There is a good chance that someone on the internet has encountered at least a BSOD with the same error name. This will lead you to a bunch of websites. Attempt to find one that describes both the type of BSOD you experienced, as well as a similar build. You may luck out and find out the exact solution to your problem.
If the different Microsoft websites don't show up in your search, it might behoove you to search Technet for your error name, and the MSDN might have info on your problem as well.
Finally, if you are unable to find any info on your specific situation, your next best bet is to find a reputable and thriving tech website with a forums, or a website focused on troubleshooting computers. Start a thread, outline your specific BSOD, current rig, and hope that somebody will help you.