[2025 Guide] Top Windows 11 Blue Screen Errors and How to Fix Them (CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, etc.)

Seeing a Blue Screen error on your Windows 11 PC?

Don’t panic. Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors are surprisingly common—and often fixable without professional help. This guide explains the most frequent stop codes like CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED and MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, along with practical solutions you can try right now.

What Is a BSoD?

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) appears when Windows encounters a critical error it cannot recover from. To protect your system, it shuts down and displays a blue screen with a stop code.

These stop codes help identify the root cause—such as driver conflicts, memory issues, or storage corruption.

Common BSoD Stop Codes and What They Mean

Understanding these stop codes can help you quickly narrow down the root cause of your system crash. While some errors may point to hardware failure, others could simply be driver conflicts or recent Windows updates. Knowing where to start is half the battle—so use this table as your starting point before diving into the specific solutions below.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1．Start Your PC in Safe Mode

• Hold the power button to shut down your PC when the Windows logo appears (repeat 3 times)
• On the “Automatic Repair” screen → Choose “Advanced Options” → “Troubleshoot”
• Select “Startup Settings” → Restart → Press 4 to enter Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special startup mode that loads only the essential Windows components—without third-party drivers or startup apps. It’s one of the most effective ways to troubleshoot BSoD issues because it helps determine whether the problem is caused by your hardware or software.

If your PC runs normally in Safe Mode, it’s a strong sign that a non-essential driver or app is triggering the crash. From here, you can proceed with further fixes in a more stable environment.

2．Update or Remove Faulty Drivers

• Right-click Start → Device Manager
• Check Display, Network, Audio, and Storage drivers
• Right-click each → Properties → Roll Back Driver (if available) or Uninstall and Reboot

Outdated or corrupted drivers are among the most common causes of Blue Screen errors. Since drivers act as the bridge between your hardware and Windows, any instability here can quickly lead to system crashes.

Graphics, network, and storage drivers are especially sensitive. If you’ve recently updated hardware or installed new software, these drivers may have changed in the background—triggering errors without warning.

3．Run System Repairs

• Open Terminal as Administrator
• Run: sfc /scannow
• Then run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

These commands scan for missing or corrupted system files that may be interfering with Windows operations. If found, they automatically replace them with healthy versions from the system image or online sources.

Running both sfc and DISM helps ensure that your Windows core is intact—especially after power outages, failed updates, or forced shutdowns. Once repairs are complete, restart your PC and monitor if the Blue Screen reappears.

4．Check RAM and Storage Health

• Press Win + R → type mdsched.exe → Restart and check for memory errors
• Run chkdsk C: /f /r in Terminal to scan and fix disk errors

Faulty memory or storage devices can cause random system crashes, corrupted files, and unpredictable behavior. These issues are often difficult to detect without specific tests, so it’s important to check them even if your hardware seems physically fine.

If the memory test shows errors, consider replacing your RAM modules. For SSDs, firmware updates or replacing aging drives can often resolve persistent Blue Screen issues related to file system corruption or bad sectors.

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5．Perform a Clean Boot

• Press Win + R → type msconfig
• Go to “Services” tab → Check “Hide Microsoft services” → Click “Disable all”
• Go to “Startup” tab → “Open Task Manager” → Disable all unnecessary items

Clean Boot helps isolate whether a background application or service is causing the Blue Screen. If the system runs fine in this minimal state, you can gradually re-enable items to pinpoint the exact culprit.

6．Reset Your PC (Last Resort)

• Settings → System → Recovery → “Reset this PC”
• Choose to keep your files or remove everything

Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows and restores system settings to default. It’s an effective way to eliminate deep-rooted problems that other methods couldn’t fix—especially if system files or drivers are severely damaged.

You can choose to keep your personal files or erase everything. Be sure to back up important data beforehand, and note that you’ll need to reinstall apps after the reset.

Bonus Tips and Warnings

• Don’t force shut down immediately: Let Windows finish collecting crash data
• Take a photo of the stop code: It helps when searching for fixes
• Update BIOS or firmware: Especially if you recently upgraded hardware

These bonus tips can help you avoid unnecessary frustration during troubleshooting. While not all users will need them, they’re especially useful if you’ve already tried the basic fixes and are still seeing random crashes.

It’s also worth keeping a small notebook or digital log of the stop codes, steps you’ve tried, and changes you’ve made. This makes it easier to trace patterns or explain the issue if you end up seeking professional help.

Conclusion

Blue Screens can be frustrating—but they don’t always mean your PC is dying. By following these steps, most users can recover their system and prevent future crashes.

Start with Safe Mode, update your drivers, and check your hardware health. And remember: understanding the stop code is the key to fixing the problem.

✔️You might also find these helpful:

▶︎Fixing Windows 11 Update KB5058411: Common Errors and Solutions

▶︎[July 2025] Windows Update Causing PC to Freeze? How to Fix It Step-by-Step

▶︎Why Your Windows PC Is Sluggish & How to Fix It (Extremely Detailed Guide)

💡 Looking for more tips? Check out our full list of Windows Help Guides.

タグ: system troubleshooting, Windows 11, BSOD, Blue Screen, Windows Errors, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, Stop Code, 2025 windows guide, PC crashes