• The Windows blue screen occurs when Windows experiences a fatal error that causes the system to cease functioning. If the blue screen occurs regularly, it signals that your operating system is unstable. In addition to potential damage to software components, the sudden shutdown associated with the blue screen can potentially cause you to lose data. Windows has three main methods by which you can troubleshoot the operating system and determine the cause of the error.
  
  

Reading the Blue Screen

• To troubleshoot the blue screen, you should halt the automatic reboot. The reboot occurs too quickly for you to process the information about the error. According to Microsoft, this can be done by accessing Advanced Startup and Repair Options. To access this, right-click "My Computer," then click "Properties." Choose the Advanced tab, then "Startup and Recovery," then "Settings." Uncheck the "Automatically Restart" option.
  
  If the blue screen occurs regularly, make a note of when it occurs and what you were doing on your computer immediately prior.
  
  

Safe Mode

• Safe Mode is a mode of Windows that loads using only the minimal amount of drivers needed to run the operating system. To access Safe Mode, press F5 in Windows XP before the operating system starts loading. Press F8 in Windows Vista or 7 and choose the "Safe Mode" boot option. Avoid using the "Safe Mode with Networking" option.
  
  When your computer boots, operate it as you normally would and try to replicate the conditions that caused the blue screen. Sometimes the error occurs when Windows runs out of RAM and virtual memory to continue operating the computer. You can remedy this by adding more RAM or by increasing the maximum page file size for virtual memory. In the most likely scenario, the cause of your blue screen will be software or driver incompatibility, which you can resolve by running a System Restore. System Restore is most useful when dealing with recurring blue screens.
  
  

System Restore

• System Restore is a utility introduced to Windows XP and included in subsequent versions of Windows. System Restore keeps an image of your system registry--a database of values that tell the components of your computer how to interact with one another. You can use System Restore to reset your computer's settings to an earlier date before the blue screen began occurring. Windows usually creates a System Restore Point immediately after making any changes to the system, such as installing new software or device drivers.
  
  To run System Restore, click "Start" and type "System Restore" into the search box in all versions of Windows. Press "Enter" and choose the most recent Restore Point prior to the reappearing blue screen.