Question:

What could be the cause of intermittent blue screen errors on my computer?

I have been experiencing blue screen errors on my computer every few months, and I cannot identify the common trigger. The errors occur randomly, regardless of how many applications I have open or what kind of activities I am doing. The most recent error happened when I was browsing the web, playing a game, and chatting on Discord.

I am not very skilled at troubleshooting computer issues, but I looked at the event viewer and found a BugCheck report that said this:

The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. The bugcheck was: 0x0000000a (0xffff830e000008f8, 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000, 0xfffff8074c4707bc)

I have uploaded the dump file and the zip file containing all the files in my Minidump folder to MediaFire. Here are the links:

• [Dump file]
• [Zip file]

My computer specifications are:

• MOBO: B450 Tomahawk Max
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
• PSU: Corsair RM850x 80+ Gold

I

would appreciate any assistance in understanding what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again. Thank you.

Answer:

What could be the cause of intermittent blue screen errors on my computer?

Blue screen errors, also known as blue screen of death (BSoD) or stop errors, are one of the most dreaded problems that can affect Windows computers. They usually indicate a serious hardware or software issue that causes the system to crash and restart unexpectedly, resulting in data loss and frustration. In this article, we will try to explain what could be the cause of intermittent blue screen errors on your computer, and how to troubleshoot and fix them.

A blue screen error is a type of system error that displays a blue screen with a message that says something like “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart” or “Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer”. The message also includes a technical information section that shows a hexadecimal code, such as 0x0000000a, and a set of parameters, such as (0xffff830e000008f8, 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000, 0xfffff8074c4707bc). This code and parameters are known as the bug check code and the bug check parameters, respectively. They provide clues about the cause of the error and the faulty component or driver.

A blue screen error also generates a memory dump file, which is a snapshot of the system memory at the time of the crash. This file can be used to analyze the error in more detail using specialized tools, such as WinDbg or BlueScreenView. The memory dump file is usually located in the C:\Windows\Minidump folder, and has a name like 021124-20203-01.dmp.

What could be the cause of intermittent blue screen errors?

There are many possible causes of blue screen errors, but they can be broadly categorized into two types: hardware and software.

Hardware causes include faulty or incompatible hardware devices, such as RAM, CPU, GPU, motherboard, hard drive, or power supply. Hardware errors can also be caused by overheating, dust, or physical damage. To troubleshoot hardware issues, you can try the following steps:

• Remove any new hardware that you installed before the error occurred, and see if the problem persists.
• Run a hardware diagnostic test, such as the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool, to check for memory errors or other hardware failures.
• Update the firmware or BIOS of your motherboard, if available.
• Check the temperature and fan speed of your CPU and GPU, using tools like HWMonitor or SpeedFan, and make sure they are not overheating.
• Clean the dust from your computer case and fans, and ensure proper ventilation and airflow.
• Replace any faulty or old hardware components, such as RAM, hard drive, or power supply, with new ones.

Software causes include corrupted or outdated drivers, system files, or applications, such as Windows, antivirus, games, or browsers. Software errors can also be caused by malware, viruses, or registry errors. To troubleshoot software issues, you can try the following steps:

• Update your Windows to the latest version, using Windows Update, and install any available security patches or bug fixes.
• Update your drivers to the latest version, using Device Manager, Windows Update, or the manufacturer’s website, and uninstall any drivers that are not in use or that are causing conflicts.
• Run a system file check, using the command prompt and the command sfc /scannow, to scan and repair any corrupted or missing system files.
• Run a disk check, using the command prompt and the command chkdsk /f /r, to scan and repair any errors or bad sectors on your hard drive.
• Run a malware scan, using a reputable antivirus or anti-malware software, such as Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or Norton, and remove any detected threats or infections.
• Run a registry cleaner, using a reliable registry cleaning software, such as CCleaner, Wise Registry Cleaner, or Glary Utilities, and fix any invalid or obsolete registry entries.
• Uninstall any unnecessary or problematic applications, such as games, browsers, or utilities, that may be causing the error, and reinstall them if needed.

How to prevent blue screen errors from happening again?

To prevent blue screen errors from happening again, you should follow some best practices, such as:

• Backup your important data regularly, using an external hard drive, a cloud service, or a backup software, such as Windows Backup and Restore, EaseUS Todo Backup, or Acronis True Image.
• Keep your Windows, drivers, and applications updated, and avoid installing any untrusted or incompatible software.
• Use a good antivirus and anti-malware software, and scan your system regularly for any potential threats or infections.
• Avoid overclocking or modifying your hardware settings, unless you know what you are doing and have adequate cooling and power supply.
• Avoid opening multiple applications or tabs at the same time, and close any programs that are not in use or that are consuming too much memory or CPU resources.
• Avoid exposing your computer to extreme temperatures, humidity, or physical shocks, and handle it with care.

Conclusion

Blue

screen errors are one of the most annoying and frustrating problems that can affect Windows computers. They can be caused by various hardware or software issues, and can result in data loss and system instability. However, by following the steps and tips outlined in this article, you can troubleshoot and fix the cause of the error, and prevent it from happening again. We hope this article has helped you understand what could be the cause of intermittent blue screen errors on your computer, and how to deal with them. Thank you for reading.