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How to Fix the Red Screen of Death on Windows

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How to Fix the Red Screen of Death on Windows

The Red Screen of Death, also called RSOD, is a rare Windows crash. It can appear on Windows 10 or Windows 11. The screen turns red and shows a STOP code, like the one in the image you shared. This error stops Windows to prevent damage. Most of the time, it comes from GPU problems, driver issues, BIOS faults, or damaged system files.

This guide explains the causes and shows simple steps to fix RSOD and get your PC working again.

What Is the Red Screen of Death?

The Red Screen of Death is a crash screen that appears when Windows hits a serious system failure. It is less common than the Blue Screen of Death but usually means a deeper problem. RSOD often appears before Windows loads. It may also show up while gaming, updating drivers, or changing BIOS settings.

When Windows cannot recover, it stops and shows the red error screen.

Common Causes of RSOD

RSOD does not appear without reason. Here are some common triggers:

Fixing RSOD means finding which area is unstable.

How to Fix the Red Screen of Death on Windows

If you are facing the Red Screen of Death on Windows, follow the steps below one by one. These steps help you fix the problem safely.

Fix 1. Restart Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Windows with basic drivers only. This helps you undo changes that cause RSOD.

Steps:

  1. Hold Shift and select Restart
  2. Open Troubleshoot
  3. Choose Advanced options
  4. Select Startup Settings
  5. Pick Safe Mode

Once inside Safe Mode, uninstall bad drivers or undo any recent changes.

Fix 2. Remove or Reinstall GPU Drivers

GPU drivers cause most RSOD cases, especially on systems using AMD or NVIDIA cards. A broken driver blocks Windows from loading the graphics layer.

What to do:

If the issue repeats, use a clean install from AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel.

Fix 3. Undo GPU or CPU Overclocking

Overclocking tools like MSI Afterburner or Intel XTU can push hardware too far. This causes firmware or voltage errors that lead to RSOD.

Fix this by:

If the RSOD stops, the overclock was the cause.

Fix 4. Reset BIOS or UEFI to Default

Bad BIOS settings lead to RSOD, especially wrong memory timings or unstable XMP profiles.

To reset BIOS:

This restores stable factory settings.

Fix 5. Run SFC, DISM, and CHKDSK

Corrupted system files create kernel errors that trigger RSOD.

Run these tools:

SFC:

DISM:

CHKDSK:

These tools repair Windows system files, the system image, and disk errors.

Fix 6. Update BIOS, GPU Firmware, or Motherboard Drivers

Old firmware causes problems with GPUs, RAM, and PCI devices. This can trigger RSOD on boot or while gaming.

Check for:

Install updates carefully and restart.

Fix 7. Disconnect or Test Hardware

Loose or damaged hardware can cause RSOD. GPU or RAM problems create memory and firmware errors.

Try these steps:

If RSOD stops after removing one part, the faulty hardware was the cause.

Fix 8. Use Windows Recovery Tools

If Windows still shows a red screen, use recovery tools.

Try:

These tools can restore Windows when normal fixes fail.

Conclusion

The Red Screen of Death may look scary, but most causes can be fixed. GPU drivers, BIOS settings, system files, or faulty RAM often trigger it. Safe Mode, clean driver installs, BIOS resets, and repair tools usually solve the problem.

If one of these steps helped your system, feel free to share your experience so others can fix their RSOD issue too.

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