Have you ever encountered the famous blue screen (of death) on your computer?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
September 6, 2011 8:33am CST
I recently did; something to do with a bad pool caller. I've tried to find advice on the net as to how to go about fixing it. I phoned my computer dealer, and they helped me, and offered more, but I'm out of warranty, so would have to pay to proceed. And things are quite hard for me financially right now. I've read...go into safe mode; I tried that, but still get the screen. I've read, download this, download that...I can't...because I can't get beyond the screen. I've done all sorts of system scans, but nothing is revealed as being wrong as I can see it. In the meantime, I'm working on a substitute PC, which is not bad, but probably about 10 years old and very slow. How about you? Have you ever encountered this screen? How did you feel? What did you do?
3 people like this
11 responses
@maean_19 (4655)
• Philippines
6 Sep 11
Hi Carl,
Did you mean blue screen with some sort of messages? Read it and you'll know what is causing it. Sometimes, it is due to incompatible programs or that your memory or even your HD had crashed or perhaps you need a BIOS update. I guess, you need to ask for a technical assistance for that.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Sep 11
True. If you can find out what it is, it is easier to fix it.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Hi maean_19 and Steph, yes it came with a whole series of messages, none of which meant a single thing to me, but one of the first was BAD_POOL_CALLER. I've researched it but still don't know what it is. I phoned my computer dealer, and a series of tests were run over the phone which revealed nothing.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
I was offered additional, deeper tests, but am out of warranty. I'm a little strapped for cash right now. But if my financial situation improves soon, I'll get back to them, and get to the bottom of this.
@2wicelot (2945)
•
7 Sep 11
I have encountered the dreaded BSOD and it is a horrible experience. It is caused by many things among which is overheating of the computer. Many times it is possible to fix the computer after the BSOD but on some occasions it may be the end. Hope yours gets fixed.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Hi 2wicelot and charlestng, and thanks for writing. Yes, it sure is a horrible experience. Like many of us, I've been dependent on my PC for so much recently; work, creative writing, social, entertainment, and to be greeted by this screen is indeed chilling. It's like being "cut off" somehow, suddenly, and mysteriously.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
7 Sep 11
Yes I have . I felt so frustrated , I had just been taught to be hopeful and I was trying my best to remain that way . With my laptop she was windows 2000. My nephew found a CD that would restore her but I needed a code. It took months to find a code . I Finally got her to be reloaded only for her to get stuck trying to reboot. That's when I finally had to get a new lap top. I hope everything works out Love.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Hi Sarah, and thanks for wishing me well about this. I had my PC for about three years, and had no trouble whatsoever. Right now, I'm working on my dad's old PC, which is probably about ten years old. It's working pretty well considering and I've done quite a lot of work to make it more me-friendly, but it is a bit of a struggle. Way better than nothing though...to say the least.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Sep 11
Oh yeah. I have experienced that blue screen and just thinking about it, makes me sick to my stomach LOL. That means I have to pay out money to fix it or buy a new one and be without a computer until then.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Hi Steph, sick is right, I was stressed at the time anyway, and see that blue screen, well you can imagine.
Hi Hardworkinggurl, I know! I can't afford the extra cash right now, so am trying to work out how to fix it myself while using an ancient slow spare PC, which is way better than no PC at all. I babied my PC like nobody's business, and then this! One tiny little false move and I'm without my beloved PC, which I depended on for so much!
Hi chalestng, it's true. My Lot rules. And yes, that's what I'm trying to do, do it on my own, I have a few expenses right now, and just can't afford the repair fee.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
6 Sep 11
I get this a lot and usually just let it run its course with start up repair or opening in a safe mode. Or if all else fails then just switch it off and wait and then try rebooting it. My pc is about 4 years old but I really could not buy another at this point. What I desperately want is an iPad but probably not for another year as I have more pressing tings to do with the money I earn - like get out of debt.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Sep 11
I used to get this alot also. Come to find out, it was the modem causing it.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 11
Hi Cynthiann and Steph. My PC is about 3-4 years old I think, and I can't afford a new one. Luckily I've got an old spare one I'm using right now until I figure out what to do about the one that's just gone down.
@obe212003 (2299)
• Philippines
6 Sep 11
it could also mean hardware failure, either the memory module or the hard disk drive. replacement would be the only option, either buy a new one or a second-hand replacement. in my case, i bought a second-hand replacement at a cheaper price, got my CPU working and then sold it, and bought a new CPU with higher specs.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 11
I'm using a spare PC right now, it's very slow, but way better than nothing.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Sep 11
That is true but even the more expensive computers can go down quick also. I found that out the hard way.
@srirambond007 (524)
• India
11 Sep 11
May i suggest you something? Can you just open up the case and check for any dust or loose connections. Just tighten all the cables to the hard disk. Remove and fix the Ram module once again. If that didn't work, then try disconnecting any other peripherals, other than the CPU,motherboard,RAM,Boot Hard disk, Keyboard,mouse, monitor and try booting up..
Please let me know what happened.. I have a few more troubleshooting to do. lets take it step by step
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
12 Sep 11
Hi srirambond007, and thanks for your advice. I hesitate to open up the case; but that's a very good idea to boot up without peripherals, I'll try that later today, and let you know what happens. Thanks again.
@shorty08322 (1270)
• United States
6 Sep 11
yea but it can be fixed if you have the cds for it you can reboot it that what happened to mind but i fixed it dnt take it to bestbuy becouse they will miss you up big time so you be batter of fixing it your self and you will save alot of money
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Hi shorty08322 and thanks for responding, I'm not sure which CDs to use, but I'm going to see if I can order a computer restore CD from Amazon. I can't really afford to get it fixed professionally right now. In the meantime, I'm using my ancient spare PC.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
8 Sep 11
I have encountered that once in my life, but luckily I know of someone who works with computers and knows how to fix them, so I just took it to him and he kept it overnight and then gave it back to me the morning after and it was as good as new again. I was lucky that I knew him though, because some bigger companies charge a lot of money for fixing things like that when it might only actually be a job that would take them a couple of minutes if they knew how to do it. I would urge you not to just buy a computer when you get things like this, as you might be able to find someone who is able to fix it for you very cheaply.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 11
Hi Gemma and thanks for responding. I an't afford a new PC, but I'm using a spare one right now. In the meantime, I'm trying to work out how to fix my main computer by using the spare.
@chiwasaki (4694)
• Philippines
8 Sep 11
I already encountered this blue screen in my laptop. The OS is no longer loading and I was advised by my friend to have it reformatted. So we reformat the laptop and he update the software. And the laptop is fine after that. 
@z1234y (29)
• China
6 Sep 11
I once encountered the bule screen several times ,for the time I changed three computer,I have resolved the question now.You need repair the suspected computer startup items for a software .
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 11
Thanks for responding, z1234y. I'm lucky I've got a spare computer; not as good my original but not bad. I really should take my PC in to be fixed, but I'm very strapped for cash right now. In the future, I may be better placed. We'll see.
