Fix Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) Errors in Windows 7

This guide shows you how to fix blue screen of death errors (or BSoD errors) for Windows 7.

Contents

If you see a blue screen error, but Windows 7 restarts immediately and you can’t read the error text, follow these instructions to disable the Automatically restart option:

  1. Right-click on My Computer
  2. Go to Properties
  3. Go to the Advanced tab
  4. At the Startup and Recovery section, click the Settings button
  5. At the System failure section, make sure the “Automatically restart” option is unchecked
  6. Click OK

If you can’t boot into Windows, try booting into Safe Mode, follow the instructions above and then restart your computer again. To boot Windows 7 in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Press F8 before the Windows logo appears
  3. Use the arrow keys and select “Safe Mode” from the boot menu
  4. Press Enter

Common fixes

To fix Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors in Windows 7, you can try any of the following tips:

Tip #1: System Restore

Follow the instructions from Restore Windows 7 guide on how to run System Restore for Windows 7.

Tip #2: Install updates

Similar to Windows Vista, installing recent updates from Microsoft might fix any errors you are experiencing in your Windows 7 system.

If Windows Update isn’t enabled to install the updates by itself, follow these steps to do so manually:

  1. Click Start
  2. In the search box, type “Update”
  3. Choose Windows Update from the list of results
  4. Click Check for updates, on the left
  5. Review any pending updates
  6. Click Install updates

Tip #3: Install the latest drivers

Make sure you have the latest device drivers installed on your system. Go to your computer’s manufacturer and check the driver’s latest version.

Many blue screen errors can be caused by an incompatible device driver. You can try removing any recently installed device driver and restarting your computer.

Tip #4: Check for hard disk errors

Windows 7 has several utility tools that can help you identify and fix certain errors. You can use these utility tools to check for hard disk or memory issues.

Check for hard disk issues:

  1. Click Start
  2. Go to Computer
  3. Right-click on the main drive, where Windows 7 is installed on, and click Properties
  4. Click the Tools tab and at the Error-checking section click Check now
  5. Select both Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors
  6. Click Start

Check for memory issues:

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Control Panel
  3. Type “Memory” in the search box
  4. Click on Diagnose your computer’s memory problems from the list of results
  5. Follow the next set of instructions on the screen

Tip #5: Startup Repair

You can run the Startup Repair tool manually if you have a recovery option preinstalled on your computer, or have the original installation disk, or have the system recovery and repair disk.

If you have Startup Repair preinstalled on the system:

  1. Remove any CDs, DVDs or USBs from the system
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Press and hold F8 as your computer boots, but before the Windows 7 logo appears
  4. At the Advanced Boot Options screen, select Repair your computer using the arrow keys and hit Enter.

    If Repair your computer option isn’t listed, it means that your computer doesn’t have the preinstalled recovery option available. Use the original installation disk or a recovery disk.

    Advanced Boot Options on Windows 7

  5. Select a keyboard layout and click Next
  6. At the System Recovery Options window, click Startup Repair

If you have the original installation disk or a recovery disk available:

  1. Insert the installation or recovery disk
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Press any key to boot from the disk
  4. Choose your language and keyboard layout (if this option is available), and then click Next
  5. Click Repair your computer, if you’re using the Windows 7 installation disk
  6. At the System Recovery Options screen, click Startup Repair

0x000000ED (UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME)

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

The 0x000000ED blue screen error code is also called UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.

For situations where the UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error is caused by incorrect or outdated information regarding the Windows partition in the boot configuration files (BOOT.INI or the BCD) for NTLDR or BootMGR, Easy Recovery Essentials can normally recreate the boot configuration with the correct settings and parameters to allow for Windows to boot correctly:

  1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here. Choose your Windows version (XP, Vista, 7 or 8) before you go to download
  2. Burn the image. Follow these instructions on how to burn the bootable ISO image very carefully, as making a bootable CD can be tricky!
  3. Boot into Easy Recovery Essentials
  4. Choose Automated Repair option and click Continue

    Easy Recovery Essentials Automated Repair

  5. Choose your Windows installation drive’s letter (usually C:\) and click Automated Repair
  6. Wait for Easy Recovery Essentials to complete the process

    Easy Recovery Essentials Repair Complete

  7. Once the process is complete, click Restart

For Windows 7, we covered how to fix UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME here.

0x0000007B (INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE)

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x0000007B” is also named “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE” can be caused by data corruption on the hard drive.

The 0x0000007B error

To fix this error, do any of these fixes.

Fix #1: Hard disk cables

Make sure all your hard disks cables are connected properly.

Fix #2: Run chkdsk /f /r

The chkdsk tool ships with Windows and can be used to check (and sometimes repair) your drives for file system corruption.

  1. Insert your Windows installation DVD
  2. Power up your PC
  3. Press any key when you see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…”
  4. Click Repair your computer
  5. Choose your operating system and click Next
  6. Choose Command Prompt
  7. Once Command Prompt is launched, enter the following command: 
    chkdsk /f /r
  8. Hit Enter

Fix #3: Rebuild the BCD

BCD stands for Boot Configuration Data, contains boot configurations options of Windows. To repair boot configuration data, you need to use the Bootrec.exe tool.

You can access the Bootrec.exe utility with a Windows 7 installation disk:

If you don’t have the installation disk, use Easy Recovery Essentials to rebuild the BCD.

  1. Insert and boot from the installation disk
  2. Press any key to boot from the disk
  3. Choose Repair your computer
  4. Select your operating system from the list and click Next
  5. Select Command Prompt
  6. Enter this command: 
    bootrec /rebuildbcd
  7. Press Enter

0x00000024 (NTFS FILE SYSTEM)

In Windows 7, the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x00000024” also has the name “NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM” and can be caused by hard disk data corruption.

The 0x00000024 error

To fix this error, try running the chkdsk utility tool. If chkdsk does not work, try removing any hardware you may have recently added to your system. Also, if you installed new software or device drivers, uninstall those too.

Your hard drive might be damaged, so consider replacing it if none of the solutions presented here work for you.

Method #1: Run chkdsk

  1. Insert the installation DVD and boot your PC
  2. Press any key
  3. Click Repair your computer
  4. Choose your operating system, then click Next
  5. Choose Command Prompt
  6. Once Command Prompt is launched, enter the following command:
    7. chkdsk /f /r
  7. Hit Enter

More information about this error is available in the “Fix 0x00000024” guide.

0x0000007E (SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED)

0x0000007E

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x0000007E” (and “SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED” as name) can be potentially fixed by any of the following:

  • Make sure you have enough hard disk space
  • Your BIOS version is the latest available and it’s compatible with your computer
  • Your video drivers are compatible with Windows 7
  • Your device drivers are properly configured and compatible with your system

Your computer’s manufacturer website should have more information on how to update BIOS and that are the drivers you need to install for Windows 7.

0x0000008E (KERNEL MODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED)

0x0000008E

To fix the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x0000008E” and the name “KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED”, you can try the following:

  • Make sure BIOS is up to date. Go to your computer’s manufacturer website on how to update BIOS
  • Uninstall any recently added drivers or make sure you have the latest version available that is compatible with Windows 7

0x00000050 (PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA)

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x00000050” (and the name “PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA”) can be caused by incompatible drivers with Windows 7 or hard disk corruption.

The 0x00000050 error

To fix this error, you can try:

  • Reboot Windows 7 into the Last Known Good Configuration mode
  • Remove any new installed software or drivers (and making sure you’re using the latest available versions for these drivers that are compatible with Windows 7)
  • Check the hard disk cables to be connected properly

To boot Windows 7 into the Last Known Good Configuration mode:

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo appears
  3. Choose “Last Known Good Configuration (Advanced)” from the boot options menu
  4. Press Enter

0x000000D1 (DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO)

0x000000D1

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error with the code “0x000000D1” (and the name “DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO”) can be caused by an incompatible driver you may have recently installed.

To fix this error, try booting Windows 7 into Safe Mode and then uninstall the problematic driver.

0x000000EA (THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER)

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) with the code “0x000000EA” and the name “THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER” is most likely caused by an issue with the video driver and Windows 7.

0x000000EA

To fix this error, make sure you have the latest driver available for the video adapter that is compatible with Windows 7. Your computer’s manufacturer website should have more information and resources on the drivers available.

If the driver isn’t causing the 0x000000EA to appear, try either updating BIOS to the latest available version or try exchanging the video card.

More Information

Linked Entries

Support Links

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

  • Windows 7 (all editions)

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