The “Critical Process Died” error, also known as the “Stop Code 0x000000EF” or “Blue Screen of Death” (BSoD), is a fatal system error that occurs in Windows 10. This error indicates that a critical system process has unexpectedly terminated, causing the operating system to crash and display a blue screen with the error message.
When this error occurs, the computer may enter a reboot loop, continuously crashing and restarting due to the critical process failure. The error typically appears after a Windows 10 system upgrade or the installation of new hardware or software.
Causes of Critical Process Died Error
The main causes of the Critical Process Died error in Windows 10 include:
- Corrupted system files or registry entries
- Incompatible or faulty device drivers
- Hardware malfunctions, such as failing hard drives or memory modules
- Malware or virus infections
- Incompatible software installations or updates
- Corrupted or missing system files
How to Fix the Critical Process Died Error
If you encounter the Critical Process Died error, you can try the following solutions to resolve the issue:
- Boot into Safe Mode: Restart your computer and press Shift F8 before Windows 10 starts loading to enter Safe Mode. This can help prevent the error during startup.
- Update or reinstall device drivers: Check for any faulty or outdated drivers in Device Manager and update or reinstall them as needed.
- Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool: Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the command “sfc /scannow” to scan for and repair corrupted system files.
- Check for hard drive errors: Use the “chkdsk /f /r c:” command in an elevated Command Prompt to scan for and repair bad sectors on your hard drive.
- Perform a clean boot: Disable third-party services and startup items to identify any conflicting software that may be causing the error.
- Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE): Boot into WinRE and use the System Restore feature to roll back your system to a previous restore point.
- Perform a clean install of Windows 10: If all else fails, consider performing a clean install of Windows 10 to resolve any underlying issues causing the Critical Process Died error.
It’s important to note that the Critical Process Died error can be caused by various factors, and the solutions may vary depending on the specific cause of the issue. If you are unable to resolve the error using the above methods, it’s recommended to seek further assistance from Microsoft Support or a qualified technician.