(FIXED) Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart

Windows 8 has completely redesigned BSOD errors and the way to fix them. Compared to Windows 7 and earlier versions, it opted for a more user-friendly approach so that casual users can look up stop codes on Microsoft’s support page.

When Windows 10 encounters a fatal error, it does everything it takes to prevent major data loss and corruption, showing a blue screen with a sad smiley face and white text saying Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart, we’re just collecting some error info.

It’s not an issue when you stumble upon this scenario only once since you can restart your computer and pick up where you left off. But it becomes truly problematic when the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message enters a loop. Sometimes it gets stuck at 100% and fails to boot Windows, forcing you to restart it.

What causes the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error?

Your PC could be affected by a software event, hardware failure, or both. Here are some possible causes:

Hardware failure
Bad sectors in the disk
Corrupt system files or component store
Outdated operating system, drivers, or BIOS
Incorrect BIOS or registry settings
Insufficient disk space
Incompatible applications, system updates, or hardware
Malware infection
System memory problems
Overheating resulted from overclocking

How to fix Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart on Windows 10

There are several ways in which you can approach troubleshooting. But you should set up a system restore point before proceeding with the first solution on this list. This way, you can always revert changes if you make any mistakes.

1. Start Windows in Safe Mode

If you can’t boot your operating system to reach the desktop and perform any actions because you’re immediately sent into a Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart loop, then you can start Windows in Safe Mode. It’s a precautionary measure that creates a safe environment for diagnosis.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode without boot:

Launch Windows and interrupt the boot sequence
Do this three times to boot to the Troubleshoot menu
In the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot
Go to Advanced options
Select Startup settings
Click Restart
Press F4 to enable Safe Mode

2. Run a clean boot

If the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error doesn’t get triggered in Safe Mode, you can clean boot Windows 10 to disable any non-essential process, driver, or service that could cause the problem. Here’s how to make it happen:

Click the Start button, type System Configuration, and press Enter
Go to the Services section
Uncheck Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable All
Switch to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager
Select an app with the Enabled status and click Disable
Do this for all apps with the Enabled status
Restart your PC and check for issues

3. Run Windows Update

It’s critical to keep Windows updated with the latest hotfixes and security patches, in order to avoid system stability problems and the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message.

Press the Win key, type Check for updates, and press Enter
Click Check for updates and wait
If Windows finds anything, click Download
Reboot your PC after the update is complete and check for errors

4. Inspect the system log

Windows collects logs about all major events happening on your machine, including crashes. To find out more details about the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error, you can inspect the system log using Event Viewer or BlueScreenView.

Event Viewer is a system information tool built into the operating system. You can use it to analyze the minidumps created by system crashes, in order to find out what drivers caused the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error.

How to use Event Viewer:

Restart your operating system immediately after the crash
Click the Start button, type Event Viewer, and open this app
Access the Windows Logs section on the left side
Open the System folder
Select the first error in the list
Analyze information about the system crash in the General and Details tabs

If you prefer a more user-friendly approach toward investigating minidump files, you can install and use BlueScreenView. It’s a lightweight, portable, and simple-to-use tool.

How to use BlueScreenView:

Download BlueScreenView from the official website
Launch the app and open the .dmp file created by the system crash
Discover the driver files that caused the event

5. Check your device drivers

Once you discover the malfunctioning drivers that triggered the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message, you can troubleshoot them in three methods: reinstall the adapters, update the drivers, or roll back the drivers to the previous version.

How to reinstall adapters:

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
Select the faulty device from the list, right-click it, and choose Uninstall device
Follow the on-screen steps
Select any device, open the Action menu, and click Scan for hardware changes
Reboot your PC. The missing adapter will be automatically reinstalled by Windows
Check for additional system stability problems

This solution should get rid of the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message if it was caused by a device not properly connected to the operating system.

How to update drivers:

Head back to Device Manager
Right-click the obsolete device and select Update driver
Click Search automatically for updated driver software
If it doesn’t find a driver, click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update
Restart your PC and check for OS errors

Obsolete drivers can cause computer crashes, so updating them should do the trick. However, if Windows Update fails to find a newer driver, it’s up to you to download and install it from the manufacturer’s website.

It’s risky, however, since you could accidentally install an incompatible driver. To avoid this scenario, it’s better to use a driver update application that downloads and installs newer drivers automatically.

On the other hand, if your operating system started crashing after a driver update, it might be because the latest version doesn’t fully support Windows 10. When this happens, you should roll back the driver to the previous, stable version.

How to roll back drivers:

Return to Device Manager
Select the device, right-click it, and go to Properties
Select the Driver section
Click Roll Back Driver and follow the steps
If you can’t click the button because it’s greyed out, it means that there’s no previous driver version available on your PC, so you can’t complete the rollback
Restart the computer and test it for errors

6. Check your disk space

Your operating system constantly requires free disk space for various operations. Otherwise, it could crash and keep you locked out of your PC until you resolve the matter. It’s possible to allocate more disk space to your OS partition from another drive or to remove existing files to make room.

How to increase the OS partition size with Disk Management:

Press Win key + R, type diskmgmt.msc, and hit Enter
Pick a big drive beside the one with Windows
Right-click it and select Shrink Volume
Set the driver’s new size and click Shrink
Now, right-click the Windows partition and select Extend Volume
Specify the new size by adding the free disk space you previously acquired
Finalize changes, restart your PC, and check for crashes

If it’s not possible to allocate more disk space from another partition, then you can delete existing files. For instance, you can move your collection of photos and movies to an external disk, upload it to a cloud account, or burn it to DVDs. Large games and applications you don’t need anymore should be uninstalled.

And, when it comes to junk data, you can get rid of it by turning to a system cleaner. Or, if you don’t want to install more apps, you can use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool.

How to use Windows Disk Cleanup:

Make sure to sign in to Windows 10 with an admin account
Go to Downloads and Recycle Bin to check if there are any files you wish to keep before deletion
Click the Start menu, type control panel, and hit Enter
Select Administrative Tools
Double-click Disk Cleanup to launch this app
Pick the Windows partition and click OK
At Files to delete, select all items, and click Clean up system files
Once the scan is over, choose all files again
Click OK and Delete files to confirm deletion
Don’t shut down or turn off your PC during the cleanup
Once it’s over, reboot your PC and check for system stability issues

7. Unplug new hardware devices

The Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error can be triggered by peripheral devices that have compatibility issues with your computer and operating system. If you notice that you started having problems with your computer after plugging in a new piece of hardware, you should take it out.

It can be anything, from a webcam to a Wi-Fi adapter. Furthermore, if the peripheral device is connected through a USB cable, then you should switch USB ports in case not all of them are functioning correctly.

8. Scan your PC for malware

If your computer was infected with malware, it’s possible that critical processes and services were disabled in an attempt to take down your defenses. It often translates to system crashes, too, represented by a blue screen with an error message and perhaps a stop code.

How to run Windows Defender:

Press the Windows key, type Windows Security, and open this app
Select the Virus & threat protection section
Click Scan options
Pick Quick scan and click Scan now
If the scan doesn’t reveal anything suspicious, select Windows Defender Offline scan and click Scan now
Once Defender removes the infected files, restart your PC and check for errors

If you have any antivirus solution installed beside Windows Defender, make sure to adapt the steps above.

9. Check the system memory

Any issues with your RAM card can affect the entire computer, leading to system crashes and various stop codes. However, you can quickly verify the system memory with the help of Windows Memory Diagnostic, a built-in tool.

How to use Windows Memory Diagnostic:

Save your work and close all programs
Click the Start button, type Windows Memory Diagnostic, and open this app
Click Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
Your PC will reboot and start checking your RAM
Once it repairs all memory problems, boot Windows and check for stability issues

Windows Memory Diagnostic is pretty good at what it does. But if you’re looking for something a little more advanced, you should check out MemTest86.

10. Disable overclocking tools

Gamers typically use overclocking tools like MSI Afterburner, AMD Overdrive, CPU-Z or GPU-Z to crank up their systems and enhance their gaming experience. However, it’s not often done properly.

For example, you must have a cooler powerful enough to handle the heat resulted from overclocking. Else, your PC will shut down and show the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message to prevent overheating and protect itself.

So it’s a good idea to turn off all overclocking software solutions you have on your PC, whether you applied them for your GPU, CPU, or RAM. Then, reset the clock settings to default and check your PC for any additional stability problems.

11. Reset BIOS to default

It’s possible to control many computer settings from the BIOS area, including overclocking and caching. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can end up harming your PC and triggering system crashes with can’t carry out its activities properties due to missing or damaged files. However, you can try to fix these problems by resorting to three command-linethe Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message.

But you can fix it by resetting all BIOS settings to their factory values. Here’s how to make it happen:

Restart your computer
During reboot, press the key shown on the screen to access BIOS mode on your computer
Find the advanced options
Locate the setting that resets configuration data and turn it on
Save the current BIOS layout and exit
After Windows starts, check for stability issues

12. Update BIOS

Since you’re already changing BIOS settings, it’s a good idea to update BIOS to the latest version to avoid computer functionality problems and the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart loop. Here’s how:

Click the Start button, type System Information, and open this app
Select the System Summary area
Take note of the BIOS Version/Date
Start a web browsing session and visit the website of your BIOS manufacturer
Find and download a newer BIOS version that’s compatible with your PC
Unzip the downloaded archive and copy contents to a USB flash drive
Restart your PC and press the key that enters BIOS mode
Back up the current BIOS version and save it to the pen drive
Begin the BIOS update and proceed with the on-screen instructions
Don’t shut down or restart your PC during the update
Start Windows and check for errors

13. Repair disk and system errors

Your hard disk may have bad sectors, or your operating system may have corrupt files. As a result, Windows 10 can’t carry out its activities due to missing or damaged files. However, you can try to fix these problems by resorting to three command-line tools built into the OS: CHKDSK (Check Disk), SFC (System File Checker), and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).

How to fix bad sectors with CHKDSK:

Press Win key + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with admin rights
If Windows is installed on the C: drive, run chkdsk c: /f. Otherwise, replace c: with the right partition letter
Type y and press Enter when you’re asked to schedule the task at the next system startup
Restart your PC and wait for CHKDSK to do its job
Once it finishes, start Windows as normal and check if it still crashes

How to fix system errors with SFC:

Run Command Prompt as administrator
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter
SFC will begin to scan and repair any problems it detects
Once it finishes, restart your PC and check for issues

How to fix component store issues with DISM:

Run CMD with elevation rights
Type DISM /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and press Enter
If it finds any problems, fix them using DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Reboot your PC
Launch CMD as admin again and run SFC
Restart your PC one last time to check for stability issues

14. Remove new system updates

Many users report getting the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart, we’re just collecting some error info error message right after installing a new Windows update. It’s quite possible that the system update does not fully support Windows 10, resulting in crashes.

To fix this problem, you have to uninstall the most recent system update. Here’s how:

Press the Windows key + R, type control panel, and press Enter
Go to Programs and Features
Click View installed updates on the top-left corner
Click the Installed On column to sort the update (newest first)
Right-click the first update in the list and select Uninstall
Click Yes to confirm
Restart your PC to inspect results

15. Uninstall third-party applications

Some types of software are known to cause PC functionality problems due to their poor support for Windows 10 as well as the fact that they require access to sensitive parts of the system. It’s the case of several free antivirus and VPN tools for Windows, to name a couple of examples. You just have to get rid of them to restore your computer’s performance.

How to uninstall recent programs:

Right-click the Start button and go to Apps and Features
Click the menu next to Sort by and select Install date (newest first)
Choose the first application in the list and click Uninstall
Click Uninstall again to confirm its removal
Once the app is removed, restart your PC to check for errors

This method won’t work for applications that have made significant changes to the system registry. However, you can turn to a program uninstaller, which is more thorough than the Windows default uninstaller because it also eliminates leftover files and registry entries.

16. Repair registry settings

If there are incorrect settings in the system registry, like an entry with a wrong value or a missing key, then you should expect system crashes and error messages like Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. However, it’s possible to apply some quick fixes using a registry cleaner or the Command Prompt and without having to use an OS emergency disk.

Press the power button to open a menu
Hold down Shift and press Restart to trigger Recovery mode
Or, if you can’t boot Windows at all, interrupt the startup sequence three times to start Recovery mode
Select Troubleshoot
Go to Advanced
Click Command Prompt

Copy and paste the following lines (press Enter after each line):

```
cd c:\Windows\System32\config
```

ren c:\Windows\System32\config\DEFAULT DEFAULT.old

ren c:\Windows\System32\config\SAM SAM.old

ren c:\Windows\System32\config\SECURITY SECURITY.old

ren c:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE SOFTWARE.old

ren c:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM SYSTEM.old

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\DEFAULT c:\Windows\System32\config\

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\DEFAULT c:\Windows\System32\config\

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SAM c:\Windows\System32\config\

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SECURITY c:\Windows\System32\config\

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM c:\Windows\System32\config\

copy c:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SOFTWARE c:\Windows\System32\config\

Reboot your PC and inspect results

17. Use System Restore

Any software events that you can’t identify can be reversed by rolling back Windows 10 in System Restore more. But that means that you must have created a restore point before you started experiencing system stability problems that led to the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message.

How to use System Restore:

Press Win key + R, type control panel, and press Enter
Click Recovery
Click Open System Restore (you need administrator rights)
Choose a restore point. You can click Scan for affected programs to learn more about the changes
Click Next and follow the steps
Restart your PC and check for errors

If you can’t boot Windows, interrupt the startup sequence three times to start Recovery mode. Then, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options to access System Restore.

18. Reset Windows 10

Resetting your OS to factory values is among the last solutions you should try when you can’t get rid of the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message. You will keep your personal files, but all applications will be removed, so you will have to reinstall everything afterward.

How to reset Windows 10 without boot:

Interrupt the Windows boot three times to enter Recovery mode
Click Troubleshoot
Select Reset this PC
Click Keep my files
Follow the on-screen instructions

19. Run System Image Recovery

If Windows Backup is enabled on your PC and if you created a backup before experiencing blue screen issues, then you can restore the backup and regain the functionality of your computer, thanks to System Image Recovery. However, don’t try to restore a system image created on an entirely different computer since it won’t work.

How to use System Image Recovery:

Restart Windows
Interrupt the boot sequence three times to trigger Recovery mode
Go to Troubleshoot and select Advanced Options
Click System Image Recovery and proceed with the given steps

Conclusion

To review, the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error message is shown on the screen when your display turns blue and your operating system is trying to protect itself from data loss and corruption. It can be caused by various events at the software or hardware level.

However, you can try to repair this error by starting Windows in Safe Mode, running a clean boot, using Windows Update, investigating the system log, checking the device drivers and disk space, or unplugging new gear.

It’s also a good idea to scan your computer for malware infections, check the system memory, disable overclocking tools, reset BIOS to default, update BIOS, repair disk and system errors, and remove new system updates that may not be compatible with your PC.

In addition, you can uninstall third-party applications, repair registry settings, use System Restore, reset Windows 10, and run System Image Recovery.

What solutions did you use to get rid of the Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart error? Did we miss any important steps? Let us know in the comment area below.

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Elena Constantinescu

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