FIX: Red Screen errors on Windows 10 [RSoD error]

by Milan Stanojevic

Deputy Editor

Last update:October 5, 2020

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If you’re a Windows 10 user, you are probably familiar with Blue Screen of Death, but some users have reported red screen on Windows 10.

After the red screen shows, you won’t be able to do anything, and you’ll be forced to manually restart your computer. What is the cause of the red screen and how to fix it?

In most cases, a red screen on Windows 10 is caused by a hardware error, especially if you overclock your computer. Sometimes a red screen can be caused by incompatible drivers or BIOS issues, so let’s see how to fix that.

A red screen is an unusual problem that can occur on Windows 10. Speaking of red screen issues, users reported the following problems as well:

• Windows 10 red screen startup – Sometimes red screen can appear right on system startup. This issue might be caused by third-party software or by outdated drivers.
• Blank red screen Windows 10 – This is most likely caused by overclocking, so be sure to remove all overclock settings.
• Windows 10 red screen loading – Your PC can get stuck while loading on a red screen. This is an unusual problem, but you might be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
• Red screen on laptop – Can appear on desktop PCs as well as laptops. If you have this issue on your laptop, the problem might be with your graphics card.
• Red screen Windows 10 with cursor, audio – This is most likely caused by your graphics card or your drivers.
• Red screen Windows 10 explorer.exe, Excel – This issue can appear while using Windows Explorer or Excel. Try reinstalling your graphics card drivers or the problematic applications.
• Red screen Windows 10 two monitors – If this happens, the cause is most likely your configuration or a graphics card driver.
• Red screen Windows 10 just flashes – If the red screen keeps flashing on your Windows PC, the problem might be caused by your overclock settings. In some cases, the issue might be faulty hardware.
• Red screen Windows 10 Nvidia – Can appear while using Nvidia graphics. Be sure to remove overclock settings and update your drivers.

How can I fix Red Screen of Death (RSoD) errors on Windows 10?

1. Install the default graphic card driver / update your graphic card driver

1. In the Search bar type Device Manager and select it from the list of results.
2. Find the Display adapters section and expand it. Right-click your device in the Display adapters section and choose Uninstall from the list.
   
3. Check Delete the driver software for this device and click on Uninstall.
   
4. After the current driver has been removed, restart your computer.

In addition, you might want to update your graphics card drivers. If you use a desktop PC, go to your graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your graphics card.

If you use a laptop, go to your laptop manufacturer’s website, find your laptop model, and download the latest drivers for it.

Update drivers automatically

In order to prevent PC damage by installing the wrong driver versions,  we suggest to do it automatically by using DriverFix.

After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution and it will prevent you from installing the wrong driver and causing more damage to your PC.

DriverFix is extremely easy to use but first, you will need to download and install it. Don’t worry about finding its icon because it will start automatically.

It will also begin scanning your PC for driver problems so you don’t have to click anything yet. In just a few seconds you will get a list with the recommended drivers for installation.

This is the only moment when your input is needed. You can either click on the Update All button from the top or to select individual drivers by checking their boxes from the left.

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2. Remove the overclocking settings

In order to get the best performance out of their hardware, users often overclock their CPU or GPU. Overclocking means changing the hardware clock rate, multiplier, or voltage.

Although this gives you increased performance, it also increases the heat that your CPU or GPU produces.

Due to increased heat, your CPU or GPU might become unstable, or in the worst-case scenario, you can permanently damage your hardware if you’re not careful.

As you can see, overclocking isn’t for basic users, and if you’re getting a red screen on Windows 10, you might want to remove any overclocking settings.

Removing overclocking settings is usually done through BIOS, and it’s different for each type of BIOS. If you haven’t overclocked your CPU or GPU, you can skip this solution.

3. Update your BIOS / UEFI

Sometimes red screen on Windows 10 might be caused by your BIOS / UEFI, and in order to fix it, you need to update it.

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This isn’t a procedure intended for basic users, and if you don’t do it properly, you can cause permanent damage to your computer.

In order to update your BIOS / UEFI, you need to visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest version.

Most motherboard manufacturers have instructions on their website on how to update BIOS, so if you’re planning to update your it, make sure that you read those instructions first in order to avoid any unnecessary damage.

If you don’t know how to update BIOS properly, here’s an excellent guide to learn all about it.

4. Check for hardware malfunctions

Sometimes a red screen can be caused by faulty hardware, and users have reported that a faulty graphics card can cause this problem.

If your computer is under warranty, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take it to the repair shop to have it checked for hardware malfunctions.

Few users have reported that a red screen was caused due to a faulty graphic card, and after replacing the problematic card, everything went back to normal.

There are also reports that CD / DVD readers may cause this issue in some rare cases, so you might want to temporarily remove your CD / DVD reader.

5. Remove recently installed software

1. Click the Start button and choose Settings.
   
2. Click on Apps.
   
3. In the left pane choose Apps & features. Find the recently installed software on the list, click it, and then click the Uninstall button.
   

Sometimes in order to fix this problem, you need to remove all files associated with the software you uninstalled. The fastest and most effective way to do that is to use an uninstaller application.

If you need an uninstaller app, we strongly recommend you to try IObit Uninstaller. It’s extremely simple to use thanks to it’s clean and friendly user interface.

If you don’t know anything about IObit Uninstaller, this is an excellent tool that not only can wipe out all traces of an application but it also warns you if you’re trying to install any harmful applications.

After running this software, your computer will run faster and you will be surprised by how much hard drive space you will reclaim.

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6. Reinstall AMD drivers without Catalyst Control Center

1. Remove your currently installed graphic card driver like we showed you in Solution 1 (you can use software such as Display Driver Uninstaller to uninstall your drivers).
2. Download the latest AMD drivers.
3. Run the setup and extract files to a specific folder on your computer (remember where you extract these files because you’ll need them later).
4. If the setup automatically starts, cancel it.
5. Open Device Manager and expand the Display adapters section. Find your graphics adapter and right-click it. Choose Update driver.
   
6. Choose to Browse my computer for driver software.
   
7. Find the folder where AMD drivers are extracted and click Next to install the drivers but make sure that the Include subfolders option is checked.
   
8. Restart your computer.

7. Recover the atikmdag.sys file

1. Open the AMD driver folder and find atikmdag.sy_ file. Copy it to your Desktop.
2. Search for cmd and click on Run as administrator to run Command Prompt.
   
3. In Command Prompt, change your current folder to Desktop. You can do that by typing the following line and pressing Enter on your keyboard:
   • chdir Desktop
4. Type the following and press Enter to run it:
   • EXPAND.EXE atikmdag.sy_ atikmdag.sys
5. Go to the following folder and find atikmdag.sys:

   C:\Windows\System32\Drivers

   Rename the file to atikmdag.sys.old.

6. Now move the atikmdag.sys file from your Desktop to

   C:\Windows\System32\Drivers

7. Restart your computer.

You can’t run Command prompt as administrator? Read this guide to fix the problem

8. Change the settings.ini file

1. Open Documents, go to the BFBC2 folder, and find the settings.ini file.
2. Find the following line:
   • DxVersion=auto
     and change it to:
   • DxVersion=9
3. Save the changes, and try to run the game again.

Note: Users report that the red screen affects Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and in order to fix this issue, you need to change the game’s settings.ini file.

9. Underclock your graphic card

Sometimes underclocking your device can fix the red screen issues on Windows 10. Few users have reported that lowering the original takt rate on AMD 7870X graphic card has fixed the red screen issues for them.

Once again, if you don’t know how to underclock your graphic card, ask a professional to do it for you.

Red screen issues in Windows 10 can be quite serious, and in most cases, these issues are related to your hardware, so while fixing this problem on Windows, be careful to avoid any potential damage.

As always, make sure to leave your comments in the section below.

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