It’s a sunny morning, and you open your laptop to get some work done quickly. But, alas! You stumble upon the dreaded white screen of death (WSOD). Unless you’re tech-savvy or have faced this problem before, it can be a nerve-racking experience.
One of the major causes of the white screen of death is hardware failure. But it can also be triggered by software issues. Furthermore, the problem isn’t OS-specific. Both Windows and Mac users can experience this. If you are a Mac user, the best trick to recover from a white screen is to boot your system into Safe Mode and clean it up.
As for Windows users, continue reading how you can remedy the white screen of death without calling the technician.
● Force restart your system
Did you encounter the white screen of death while trying to boot your system? The first hack to try is forcefully restarting your machine.
Sometimes, the problem is caused by a minor system glitch or a certain application. Then, a force restart should fix it. Press and hold the Power key to initiate force restart, and don’t let go of the keys until the shutdown operation is complete.
Then, boot your Windows device to see if the problem is fixed.
● Boot your device into Safe Mode
The WSOD might be resolved by operating your device with the basic functions by booting in Safe Mode. This mode also disables third-party apps and runs the machine with default settings.
Boot your system in Safe Mode by pressing the Windows and R keys > in the dialog box, enter msconfig, and press Enter > choose the Boot option on the System Configuration window > check the Safe boot button.
● Remove all the external devices connected via USB
If force restart did not resolve the issue, try removing all the external devices connected to your system via USB. One of the peripherals might be the culprit, and you can find that out by disconnecting all of them. Then, you need to force restart your computer again.
If your Windows OS starts normally, you need to connect the external devices one by one. So, if any of the devices is not running as it should, you know which one’s causing the WSOD.
● Update the graphic drivers
The display drivers might be the reason behind the faulty screen, and you can fix it by updating them. Typically, the WSOD is caused by graphic drivers that are incompatible or outdated.
Update the drivers by clicking on the Windows icon > selecting Device Manager > locating the Display Adapters option > clicking the Update option for each driver. Then, let the process finish and reboot your system.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, choose to Uninstall drivers and reboot your system. Then, Windows will reinstall the updated version of the drivers.
● Conduct hardware tests
If the issue persists, you need to run some tests. The problem might be with some non-functioning hardware components. It might be a faulty graphics card, the GPU, the monitor, the motherboard, or the hard disk.
It is important for all the hardware components to work perfectly. If they aren’t, it’ll be in vain no matter what troubleshooting methods you apply. For performing such hardware tests, you may need to call your technician or take your machine to the service center.
● Install the latest Windows updates or update Windows
Check for updates and install them. The issue might be solved by simply updating your Windows OS. Usually, Windows releases periodic updates to fix potential errors and bugs.
You can check for updates by clicking the Start icon > choosing the Update & Security option > choosing Windows update (or additional updates). If there are any pending updates, download them and wait for the entire process to complete. Once the updates are downloaded, you need to reboot your system to allow the changes to take effect.
Hopefully, the WSOD won’t bother you anymore.
Alternatively, if the issue arises after you have updated Windows, you can uninstall the update and see what happens. In the Update & Security window, you must select Windows Update and find the View Update History option. Select this option and uninstall the updates.
The bottom line
Encountering the white screen of death can be a scary experience, but you don’t need to feel panicked as the issue is fixable. The tips mentioned above should help you quickly solve the WSOD and get back on track with your work.
Furthermore, while you are fixing the WSOD, you get the opportunity to inspect the RAM, processor, motherboard, screen, and hard drive for underlying problems. By knowing which components are failing, you can take steps early to prevent future issues.
However, if nothing works, you need to call your technician or go to an authorized service center.
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