Kumbaya, My PC! What Does a Blue Screen After Windows 10 Update Mean? (Learn the Cause, Prevention, and Solution)
published 4/27/2020You have just woken up to find your PC updating.
Windows 10 does this often enough so you are not that alarmed to see this on your screen.
You walk away to go fill up your coffee cup, expecting the updates to be installed by the time you come back.
Instead, you find the blue screen of death for Windows 10.
This is it. The blue screen of death. You have never experienced it before, so you have no idea how to fix it.
Have no fear! The Windows update blue screen can be resolved. Read on to learn what caused it, how to prevent a blue screen after Windows 10 update, and how to fix it.
What Does a Blue Screen After Windows 10 Update Mean?
The blue screen after Windows 10 update means a few things. It happens whenever Windows detects a serious error and it shuts down or restarts itself to avoid damage.
Sometimes, you might see an error code or a simple loading screen with a buffer circle and text that says, "Just a moment..."
You may have never seen this before, but sometimes it is a recurring problem indicating another issue.
Why Is the Windows Update Causing a Blue Screen?
Your other issues may stem from your PC's hardware or the blue screen of death could be caused by software issues. There are a few things that might factor into either cause.
Hardware
Your external or internal hardware might not be properly installed. Or, one of your hardware devices is not working correctly. This could be your random access memory (RAM), central processing unit (CPU), or your internal hard disk itself.
You or your information technology department possibly installed a new hardware device inside your PC which is incompatible with the unit's operating system. If you installed something new, you can take it in for computer repair to possibly diagnose the problem, too.
Software
There are a few more issues with software that could be causing your blue screen of death.
You may not have enough free space where the Windows operating system is installed or you installed an incompatible update or program. Your hardware driver is possibly out of date, most likely the graphics driver.
Your system files might be damaged or corrupted from a virus attack. Windows 10 itself might be suffering from a bug and malfunctioning.
Your BIOS is out of date, misconfigured, or overclocked.
How to Prevent the Blue Screen of Death
The easiest thing for you to do is to not update your computer with an optional update known to cause the blue screen.
If Microsoft has announced that their latest Windows 10 update is causing this bug, you can fix it prettily easily. If you do not quite know what caused the blue screen, the best and easiest way for you to prevent this bug is not install any hardware or software you're unfamiliar with.
In fact, if it is a personal computer and not a work computer, you will want to take it to local experts, like the Data Doctors, who can help you whenever you need it. Professional knowledge is easily the simplest type of prevention for the blue screen of death.
Solving the Causes of Windows 10 Update Blue Screen
Of course, prevention only works so well to avoid seeing the Windows 10 update blue screen.
Bugs are bugs for a reason. They are pesky and unpredictable, which is how they get their name. The following are a few possible scenarios and solutions which may have caused your blue screen.
After an Upgrade to Windows 10
There are a couple of different error codes you might receive which are the root cause of your problem.
- C Drive Might Run in Low Disk Space
- C1900101-20017
- 0XC1900101-0X40017
These are all potential upgrade errors if you had a previous version of Windows and attempted to upgrade to Windows 10. All of these are relatively quick fixes, too.
For a system with low disk space, you will have to clear out some extra data. The other error codes involve configuring your BIOS on startup. If you are uncomfortable doing so, take it into a local expert for personal service.
On Startup of Your PC
A blue screen of death on the startup of your PC most likely came from a user error. You possibly installed some software that caused a bug.
The best thing for you to do is to uninstall the most recently installed software (i.e., optional update, program, or driver). After uninstalling, simply restart your PC. If Windows still shows a blue screen, you may have another problem. Before uninstalling any programs, it is best to back up your data in Windows File History.
Your other solution, if you are stuck in a restart loop, is to uninstall the problem software in Safe Mode. Again, if you are uncomfortable with any do-it-yourself technology solutions, it is best to take it to professionals like the Data Doctors.
You Shouldn't See the Blue Screen of Death Anymore
Now that you know some possible solutions for your blue screen problem, you should not have to see it appear on your PC anymore.
If you have only seen it once and now know the cause of the blue screen, then you should be able to prevent yourself from facing it again in the future.
If you can't fix the problem yourself, that is okay. Solving even common problems like a blue screen after an update can take a lot of patience and research and even then might not fix the problem.
If you have explored the solutions above and find yourself still faced with a blue screen after Windows 10 update, take comfort in knowing that you can always explore your local professional options.
Data Doctors offers personalized, affordable IT service at your door. Be sure to check out their site for more helpful information on troubleshooting your technology. They'll have the skills, expertise, and patience to get your technology up and running again.
