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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Black Screen of Death is incredibly annoying, but often easily diagnosed.
- The most common culprits are outdated software or faulty drivers.
- With a few quick fixes and basic maintenance, you can restore your computer and avoid costly repairs.
Why is it that your computer always decides to crash at the worst possible time? You could be in the middle of a productive work session when suddenly the Black Screen of Death rears its ugly head (or Blue Screen, if you’re still running an older OS than Windows 11). Even the most well-maintained isn’t immune.
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Usually, these problems are caused by something simple, like running too many processes in the background, causing your computer to run out of RAM and crashing under the heavy duress.
Restarting your computer and closing extra apps is often the easiest solution, but sometimes, you’ll need to take a more hands-on approach with your Windows PC.
Outside of downloading the most recent Windows update, I recommend disabling unnecessary startup programs to free up system resources. Follow this path: open Task Manager from the Start menu, head to the “Startup Apps” tab as indicated by the throttle icon, and right-click a program. Click “Disable” to turn off whatever you don’t want launching. It’s a small tweak that can make your PC noticeably faster.
Just be careful not to get too zealous. I recommend closing out processes you recognize. If you’re not sure what something is, a quick Google search can usually give you an idea.
Also: I tested the best antivirus software for Windows
I also suggest running an antivirus to clear out any malware lingering in your files. Windows Security is a highly capable first-party anti-virus program. Under the Virus & Threat Protection tab, hit Quick Scan to quickly check “folders in your system where threats are commonly found”. Scan Options provides access to additional scan tools.
If you prefer a third-party app with more robust features, check out ZDNET’s list of the best antivirus software for Windows. Malwarebytes stands as the best Windows 11 antivirus, but there are other great options.
While in Safe Mode, open the Device Manager > expand “Display adapters” > right-click the entry > Update Drivers > “Search automatically for drivers.” Restart your computer after the update finishes to exit Safe Mode.
If the BSOD persists, the culprit might be another hardware driver, so continue updating other components. You can also remove any recently installed drivers by expanding the same hardware component entry and going to Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. It can take a bit of trial and error; however, in most cases, performing these steps will resolve the Black Screen of Death without needing a full system reinstall.
I’ve been writing about software and consumer electronics for nearly a decade, and in that time, I’ve seen just about every kind of PC problem imaginable. Learning how to troubleshoot and maintain my own system has become a vital part of my life.
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Through years of hands-on experience, I’ve learned that most PC problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for. My goal is to help you understand how to diagnose common computer issues before they turn into major headaches. The advice I share isn’t a strict rulebook. It’s primarily a starting point to help you build good habits.
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