5 Ways to Overcome the “Your PC Ran Into A Problem And Needs To Restart” Error

 Has your Windows computer or laptop suddenly crashed, stopped working, or refused to boot? If so, you may be experiencing the "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" error.

This is a common error and is often referred to as the “blue screen of death”. We will explain to you how to deal with this error.

What is the “Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart” Error?

Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart

As you can see in the image above is the image "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart" error. This is often called the “blue screen of death” (or BSOD). You can see why!

This example says, “We'll restart for you”. The screen might also say “. But it's also possible that the screen says “We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you”.

This error usually occurs when your computer shuts down or restarts unexpectedly, or if something stops booting.

At the top of the screen is a sad face, followed by an error message. Next, the line reads:

For more information about this issue and possible fixes, visit https://www.windows.com/stopcode

When you enter this URL into your internet browser, it will take you to Microsoft's support page. Because this error can occur for a variety of issues, the support on this page is general and not specific to your issue. You can also scan the QR code (the part at the bottom left) on your phone to be taken to the same page.

The most important part of this screen is at the bottom where it says “Stop Code”. In this example, the stop code is “BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO”. Maybe yours can be different. That's because the stop code is an identifier that helps understand why you received this error in the first place.

You should write down this stop code so you can refer to it later. You can contact Microsoft support, follow their automated help, then when you contact an agent, you can give them a stop code message. Because there are hundreds of possible stop code errors. Some examples are:

* CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

* SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

* IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

* VIDEO_TDR_TIMEOUT_DETECTED

* PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

* SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

* DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION

How to Fix a Specific Stop Code Error

Admin has written an article on how to fix certain stop code errors. If you see your error listed below, click it to visit the article. If yours isn't listed, keep reading for some common troubleshooting suggestions.

* SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

* WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR

* CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

* MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

How to Fix Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart Error

As discussed, there are many reasons why you might see the “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” error, which means it's impossible to provide a guaranteed solution. However, there are things that are more likely to cause this error. Having said that, follow these troubleshooting steps and it might fix the problem.

1. Unplug External Hardware

Unplug External Hardware

Did you recently install a new external drive, mouse, keyboard, or something similar on your computer? If so, this could be causing problems.

Unplug everything you don't need and see if the problem goes away. If it does, plug in one device, restart it, and see if things stay stable. Repeat this process until you identify the faulty hardware, then contact the manufacturer.

2. Uninstall Recently Added Software

Apps & features

The software you download and install can cause unexpected problems. If you receive a blue screen error after you've recently installed something, you should remove it. This is usually the case with antivirus software.

To remove programs, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Click Apps This will display a list of all the programs you installed. In the Sort by dropdown menu, click this and change it to Installation date.

Now the most recently installed programs will appear at the top. To remove it, select it from the list and click Uninstall.

3. Rollback Drivers

Rollback Drivers

Drivers are software that helps Windows 10 control hardware. For example, your graphics card, printer, and network adapter all use drivers.

Drivers are updated regularly to ensure compatibility with the latest versions of Windows 10. However, sometimes driver updates can break your system. Because of this, you may need to revert driver updates, i.e. go back to a previous version.

To do this, press Windows key + X and click Device Manager. This tool displays categories such as Display adapters and Monitor , which you can double click to expand and see the devices within.

Right click the device and click Properties > Driver. Take a look at Driver Date , as it will tell you when the driver was last updated. If that date coincides with when you started having the problem, click Roll Back Driver (if available) or Uninstall Device (the device will reinstall when you restart).

4. Update Windows 10

Windows 10 updates

Windows 10 should continue to update automatically, but there may be updates in the download queue that haven't been processed.

Keeping Windows 10 updated is important because it means you will benefit from the latest features and bug fixes. Your blue screen error might be due to a software or hardware incompatibility which has been resolved in a recent update.

To check, press Windows key + I to open Settings and click Update & Security > Check for updates. If an update is available, follow any prompts to download and install it immediately.

5. Perform a System Restore

If you have previously created system restore points, you should be able to restore your operating system to a previous state when applications and registry files were still functioning in good condition. You can do a system restore

Step 1. In the Windows Boot Options menu, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.

Step 2. Select the previous working state (data) to restore your computer.

Step 3. Wait for Windows to restore your system. Then restart your computer.

System Restore

Conclusion

So, those are some general solutions to fix the “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” error. Hopefully, this will help you understand what the error means and guide you towards suitable support. But if the suggestions above don't help you get rid of the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” error, don't worry. You can still work around it by using third-party applications like WinDbg.