Millions of Windows users around the world are experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error, which causes the system to suddenly shut down or restart. Microsoft said in a message that this error is being caused by the recent CrowdStrike update.
According to reports, this bug has affected many companies, banks and government offices in the US and Australia.
Social media users posted photos of their screens stuck on the recovery page, displaying the message: “It looks like Windows didn’t load correctly. If you want to restart and try again, select Restart my PC below.”
I am aware of a widespread technical outage in Australia this afternoon, affecting many companies and services.
According to our current information, this disruption is related to a technical issue in a third-party software platform employed by the affected companies.
— National Cyber ​​Security Coordinator (@AUCyberSecCoord) July 19, 2024
Blue screen errors, also called black screen errors or STOP code errors, can occur when a serious problem forces Windows to shut down or restart unexpectedly. You may receive a message that says, “Windows has shut down to prevent damage to your computer” or a similar notification.
These errors can result from hardware or software problems. If you recently installed new hardware and encountered a blue screen error, try shutting down your PC, removing the new hardware, and then restarting. If restarting is difficult, you can start your PC in safe mode. For detailed steps, see instructions on how to start your PC in safe mode in Windows.
Additionally, consider updating Windows with the latest patches through Windows Update, seeking assistance from other sources, or restoring Windows to a previous restore point.
If none of these measures resolves the blue screen error, use the Blue Screen troubleshooter available in the Get Help app:
- Open the Get Help app in Windows.
- Type “Troubleshoot BSOD error” in the search bar of the Get Help app.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Get Help app.
