A user is complaining of a problem with their computer that shows a blue error screen where the display turns blue and diagnostic information is shown. What is the first step for troubleshooting this problem?
A) Reboot the computer and revert to an earlier system configuration from a restore point.
B) Document the error description, technical information, and any filenames for additional online research.
C) Turn off the computer and reseat all adapter cards and cables.
D) Restart the computer and run the computer manufacturer’s hardware diagnostics.
The answer: B) Document the error description, technical information, and any filenames for additional online research.
The infamous “blue screen of death” Windows STOP errors indicate that an error occurred that was so big that the operating system couldn’t continue. These problems are somewhat difficult to diagnose because of the scope involved; the problem could be related to physical hardware, drivers, operating system library files, or bad application software. To solve the problem, you’ll need to begin gathering as much information as possible about the specific issues reported in the STOP error.
The incorrect answers:
A) Reboot the computer and revert to an earlier system configuration from a restore point.
Although a STOP error may be related to a system configuration, it’s too early to start restoring from backups.
C) Turn off the computer and reseat all adapter cards and cables.
Without doing research, we’re not sure yet if our problem is related to the hardware. It can’t hurt to confirm that the hardware is properly installed, but it shouldn’t be your first course of action.
D) Restart the computer and run the computer manufacturer’s hardware diagnostics.
Hardware diagnostics usually take a long time for a thorough test, and we’re not yet sure our problem is related to the hardware. It’s best to research the exact error message before starting any hardware diagnostics procedures.
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Want to know more? Watch “Common Operational Issues.”Windows is a great operating system, but it isn’t foolproof. If you’ve ever needed to troubleshoot the infamous blue screen of death, random operating system lockups, device problems, or application errors, this video should help you through some of these more common operational issues. |