How to Fix “Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart” Error in Windows

Sep 14, 2025

—

If you’ve ever seen the “Your PC Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart” message, followed by a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), you know how frustrating it can be. This error can occur on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and is usually caused by system file corruption, driver conflicts, hardware issues, or recent updates.

In this guide, we’ll explain the causes of this error and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it.

What Causes “Your PC Ran Into a Problem” Error?

Corrupted System Files
- Missing or damaged Windows files can trigger a restart loop.
Driver Conflicts or Outdated Drivers
- Graphics, network, or storage drivers may be incompatible or outdated.
Recent Windows Update
- Sometimes updates introduce bugs or conflicts that cause system instability.
Hardware Issues
- Failing hard drives, RAM problems, or overheating can trigger BSODs.
Malware or Virus Infection
- Malicious software can corrupt critical system files.

Step-by-Step Fixes

1. Restart Your PC

A simple restart can sometimes fix minor glitches.
Disconnect external devices like USB drives to rule out conflicts.

2. Boot Into Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers:

Turn off your PC → Turn it on → Press F8 or Shift + F8 (Windows 10/11 may require multiple tries).
Navigate to Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Enable Safe Mode.
Once in Safe Mode, you can uninstall recent updates or problematic drivers.

3. Uninstall Problematic Updates

Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → View update history → Uninstall updates.
Remove the most recent updates causing the issue.

4. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files are a common cause:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Run:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

SFC checks and repairs corrupted files.
DISM repairs the Windows image if needed.

5. Check Disk for Errors

Open Command Prompt → type:

chkdsk /f /r C:

Press Y to schedule a check on next restart.
This fixes bad sectors and disk errors.

6. Update or Rollback Drivers

Open Device Manager → check drivers for yellow exclamation marks.
Update outdated drivers or rollback recent updates causing BSODs.

7. Disable Automatic Restart

This lets you see the exact error code:

Boot into Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Disable automatic restart.
Note the stop code for further troubleshooting.

8. Perform a System Restore

Restore Windows to a point before the error occurred:

Advanced Options → Troubleshoot → System Restore
Choose a restore point and follow prompts.

9. Reset or Reinstall Windows

If all else fails:

Advanced Options → Troubleshoot → Reset this PC
Choose Keep my files (retains personal files) or Remove everything for a fresh install.

Quick Fix Table

Step	Action	Purpose
1	Restart PC	Fix minor glitches
2	Safe Mode	Troubleshoot with minimal drivers
3	Uninstall updates	Remove conflicting updates
4	SFC & DISM	Repair corrupted system files
5	Check Disk	Fix bad sectors & disk errors
6	Update/Rollback drivers	Resolve driver conflicts
7	Disable automatic restart	See exact error code
8	System Restore	Revert to stable state
9	Reset/Reinstall Windows	Full fix if other methods fail

Tips to Prevent This Error

Keep Windows up-to-date.
Regularly check and update drivers.
Scan for malware using a trusted antivirus.
Avoid installing unstable updates or third-party tweaks.
Backup important files regularly.

FAQs

Q1. Will this error delete my files?
Not usually. Using Safe Mode or System Restore keeps files safe. Only a full reset will remove data if selected.

Q2. Can faulty RAM cause this error?
Yes, defective RAM is a common reason for BSOD errors. Consider running Windows Memory Diagnostic.

Q3. How do I identify the exact cause?
Disabling automatic restart reveals the stop code, which helps pinpoint the issue.

Q4. Can malware trigger this error?
Yes, malware can corrupt critical system files and cause a restart loop.

Q5. Is a full reinstall necessary?
Only if other fixes fail. Try Safe Mode, SFC, DISM, and System Restore first.