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Why Should I Identify Crash Types?
Common Types of Crashes
Hard Shutdowns
DescriptionPossible Causes
Hard Restarts
DescriptionPossible Causes
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
DescriptionPossible CausesSteps
Application Crashes
DescriptionPossible Causes
Troubleshooting Tips
Document the CrashCheck System LogsUpdate Drivers and SoftwareRun DiagnosticsReduce System Load
What's Next?
Knowledge Hubchevron-rightSoftware and Apps Not Workingchevron-right

How to Identify Crash Types

10 Mins
Intermediate
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Understanding the type of crash your PC is experiencing is crucial for diagnosing and resolving the root cause. Here are the common types of crashes and their characteristics.

Understanding the type of crash your PC is experiencing is crucial for diagnosing and resolving the root cause. Here are the common types of crashes and their characteristics.

Why Should I Identify Crash Types?

Identifying the type of crash helps in:

  • Accurate Diagnosis: Knowing the specific type of crash can pinpoint the underlying issue more effectively.
  • Efficient Troubleshooting: Allows for targeted troubleshooting steps, saving time and effort.
  • Preventative Measures: Helps in understanding what causes these crashes and how to prevent them in the future.

Identifying the type of crash helps in:

  • Accurate Diagnosis: Knowing the specific type of crash can pinpoint the underlying issue more effectively.
  • Efficient Troubleshooting: Allows for targeted troubleshooting steps, saving time and effort.
  • Preventative Measures: Helps in understanding what causes these crashes and how to prevent them in the future.

Common Types of Crashes

Hard Shutdowns

Description

  • The PC instantly and unexpectedly shuts off.
  • The screen immediately goes black, and the PC loses power completely.

Possible Causes

  • Power supply issues
  • Overheating
  • Hardware failures
  • Electrical problems
Post Image

Description

  • The PC instantly and unexpectedly shuts off.
  • The screen immediately goes black, and the PC loses power completely.

Possible Causes

  • Power supply issues
  • Overheating
  • Hardware failures
  • Electrical problems
Post Image

Description

  • Similar to a hard shutdown, the PC suddenly powers off.
  • The screen goes black, and the PC loses power.
  • However, the PC then automatically restarts, with power returning without the user pressing the power button.

Possible Causes

  • Overheating
  • Power supply issues
  • BIOS or firmware issues
  • Faulty hardware components

Hard Restarts

Description

  • Similar to a hard shutdown, the PC suddenly powers off.
  • The screen goes black, and the PC loses power.
  • However, the PC then automatically restarts, with power returning without the user pressing the power button.

Possible Causes

  • Overheating
  • Power supply issues
  • BIOS or firmware issues
  • Faulty hardware components

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Description

  • The PC crashes and displays a blue screen with a sad face :( symbol.
  • The screen provides a stop code, typically located at the bottom left corner, which can help diagnose the issue.

Possible Causes

  • Driver issues
  • Hardware failures
  • Software conflicts
  • Corrupt system files

Steps

  • Note the stop code or take a picture of the BSOD for reference.
Post Image

Description

  • The PC crashes and displays a blue screen with a sad face :( symbol.
  • The screen provides a stop code, typically located at the bottom left corner, which can help diagnose the issue.

Possible Causes

  • Driver issues
  • Hardware failures
  • Software conflicts
  • Corrupt system files

Steps

  • Note the stop code or take a picture of the BSOD for reference.
Post Image

Description

  • Specific games or applications crash.
  • An error message may appear, indicating the cause of the crash.
  • Sometimes, the game or application crashes to the desktop without showing any error message.

Possible Causes

  • Software bugs or incompatibilities
  • Insufficient system resources
  • Driver issues
  • Corrupt files within the application

Application Crashes

Description

  • Specific games or applications crash.
  • An error message may appear, indicating the cause of the crash.
  • Sometimes, the game or application crashes to the desktop without showing any error message.

Possible Causes

  • Software bugs or incompatibilities
  • Insufficient system resources
  • Driver issues
  • Corrupt files within the application

Troubleshooting Tips

Document the Crash

  • Note down any error codes, stop codes, or specific error messages that appear during the crash. This information can be invaluable for diagnosing the issue.

Check System Logs

  • Use tools like the Windows Event Viewer to check system logs for error messages and warnings that occurred around the time of the crash.
Post Image

Document the Crash

  • Note down any error codes, stop codes, or specific error messages that appear during the crash. This information can be invaluable for diagnosing the issue.

Check System Logs

  • Use tools like the Windows Event Viewer to check system logs for error messages and warnings that occurred around the time of the crash.
Post Image

Update Drivers and Software

  • Ensure all your drivers, firmware, and software are up to date. This includes the operating system, graphics drivers, and any critical software.

Run Diagnostics

  • Utilise built-in diagnostic tools or third-party software to check for hardware issues, such as failing memory or overheating components.

Reduce System Load

  • If application crashes occur under heavy load, try running the applications with lower settings or fewer concurrent tasks to see if the issue persists.

Update Drivers and Software

  • Ensure all your drivers, firmware, and software are up to date. This includes the operating system, graphics drivers, and any critical software.

Run Diagnostics

  • Utilise built-in diagnostic tools or third-party software to check for hardware issues, such as failing memory or overheating components.

Reduce System Load

  • If application crashes occur under heavy load, try running the applications with lower settings or fewer concurrent tasks to see if the issue persists.

What's Next?

After identifying the type of crash and gathering relevant information, you can better diagnose and address the underlying causes. If you're unable to resolve the issue or if it persists, consider troubleshooting further with the following guides:

If you need further assistance or have any questions, feel free to reach out for additional support - we're always happy to help!

Post Image

After identifying the type of crash and gathering relevant information, you can better diagnose and address the underlying causes. If you're unable to resolve the issue or if it persists, consider troubleshooting further with the following guides:

If you need further assistance or have any questions, feel free to reach out for additional support - we're always happy to help!

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