Saying Goodbye to the Blue Screen Forever

If you could calculate all of the different ways Microsoft has contributed to modern society, an overwhelming percentage of that calculation would be positive. However, there are a few contributions that can be described as nothing but negative. The dreaded Blue Screen, often called the Blue Screen of Death, is known far and wide as a productivity killer. Thankfully, Microsoft has instituted automatic saving mechanisms in many of their programs that help negate the worst aspect of the Blue Screen, but if you are unlucky enough to get the Blue Screen while working in a non-Microsoft program, you might just be out of luck. Let’s take a look at what this error message means and how you can avoid it in the future.

What is the blue screen trying to tell me?

To sum up the blue screen in one sentence, it is the warning your computer gives you when a critical error has occurred. The emphasis here is on the word critical. The blue screen is the closest your computer can come to having a nervous breakdown. Something has gone very, very wrong, but luckily, if you can get a clear enough look at the Blue Screen, it will tell you exactly what is wrong with your machine. You may have to go into your control panel and change your settings so that your computer doesn’t automatically restart every time you get your blue screen, however. The information that is displayed on your blue screen is vitally important for you to understand how to fix the issue.

How did things get this way?

While it is impossible to guarantee what caused your particular blue screen issue, it is often a case of compatibility or a virus. First off, Windows Vista has had well documented compatibility issues for many years now. You probably remember installing Vista and realizing that the programs you had installed from Windows XP or 98 simply weren’t compatible any longer. Most of us went ahead and uninstalled these programs so they wouldn’t cause a problem, but if you didn’t, you have likely discovered the real cause of your blue screen of death.

Another possible cause of your blue screen issues is a virus. While most viruses are created to take over people’s computers so that personal information can be stolen and used for nefarious purposes, other viruses are used to simply make peoples lives a living hell. You may have one of these viruses that is causing you to get the blue screen of death on a regular basis. It could be affiliated with a particular program you have, such as a newly downloaded piece of freeware or shareware. There are other places you could have gotten a virus like this, as well.

Despite all of the advancements in the world of email, attachments are still the most common place where people get bugs they don’t want. Try and choose an email client that automatically scans all of your attachments as you download them. This will save you time and it could save your entire computer, as well.

One somewhat rare cause of a bug like this is with hardware that you may have just purchased and installed. Much of today’s hardware comes with preinstalled software built in. Sometimes, that software can be corrupt or the systems at the factory where the part was made and programmed could have been infected. You plug in your new keyboard, mouse or speakers, and before you know it, your machine is experiencing blue screen issues.

How can I avoid blue screen issues in the future?

The first step in avoiding blue screen issues is simply being careful where you download things and being careful of what you download. If you stick to factory made software that is bought through legal channels, you won’t have any compatibility issues later on down the road.

You can also help to avoid blue screen issues in the future by paying attention to odd warning signs that your computer is exhibiting. If you notice that your PC is working harder than normal or it appears that programs are taking longer and longer to open, you may want to take steps to try to see if a virus is present on your machine.

One final tip, once a blue screen happens, it is important that you take action to fix the situation as soon as possible. If a virus has invaded your defences, it is important that you take steps to fix things as quickly as possible so additional problems that could be fatal to your entire PC.

The Blue Screen has been causing heartache and nightmares for as long as Microsoft has been dominating the world of personal computers, and although today’s advanced operating systems have significantly reduced the number of blue screens, the problem is still with us and will be into the foreseeable future.