Q. What are Windows blue screen errors?

A. The dreaded blue screen of death as it is called in programming circles can be incredibly frustrating. You’ll be tooling along on your computer and suddenly everything will stop and all you will see is a blue screen. While this doesn’t happen a lot, when it does, it can be extremely frustrating if not terrifying if you’re not used to this kind of error. There are several reasons that the blue screen error can occur.

Q. What commonly causes blue screen errors?

A. By far, the most common reason that you’ll see a blue screen is because something happened to the components inside your computer. Usually, it means that there was a voltage spike that occurred, and that something inside your computer has been destroyed. In some cases, a device may simply not be functioning properly and may have a temporary issue that causes the blue screen to appear.

Q. How do I fix a blue screen error?

A. First, power off your computer and let it sit for a few minutes. Now, turn it back on. If everything sounds ok and the computer is working as normal, then it was simply a passing error that is no longer an issue.

However, if your computer will not start or if there is a bigger problem at work, the blue screen will reappear. In bad cases, you may be able to start up but the blue screen will chronically interrupt you.

When this happens, it is a sign that your components are damaged. Turn off your computer and unplug it. Press the power button for a few seconds in order to discharge any remaining electricity. Now, open it up carefully and look inside.

If you see anything that has melted, smoking or appears to be very warped, that is most likely the issue. If you don’t see any damage, but the inside is very hot, then you managed to avoid the worst, but you will need to take special care to avoid this in the future.

Voltage spikes are quite common and if you are not using a power strip, they can destroy the inside of your computer. If it is a brief spike, you may get away with just some overheating and no real damage. However if it is prolonged, then you will have melting, smoking and massive destruction inside your computer. Any damaged parts will need to be replaced before you can use the computer again.

Q. How do I prevent this from happening again?

A. Always use a power strip to protect your computer from voltage spikes. They can occur even in new homes, so it is best to be cautious. If you have known problems with your electricity, it is best to avoid the outlets in your home that are known offenders for spikes. With the proper power strip, you can really minimize the amount of damage done to your computer. Most now have protection plans that will replace your equipment if a voltage spike causes damage when the strip was used properly.