Fixing Windows 10 Critical Process Died Error – 10 Solutions

In my exploration of troubleshooting Windows 10, I have discovered ten effective solutions to fix the critical process died error.

Understanding the Reason for Critical Process Died

The Critical Process Died error in Windows 10 is a frustrating issue that can cause your computer to crash and display the infamous Blue Screen of Death. It typically occurs when a critical system process encounters an error and cannot continue running.

To fix this error, it’s important to understand the underlying cause. This error can be triggered by a variety of factors, including corrupted system files, faulty device drivers, or software bugs.

To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following solutions:

1. Run the System File Checker tool to scan and repair corrupted system files. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges and enter the command “sfc /scannow“.

2. Boot your computer in Safe Mode to narrow down the possible causes of the error. Press the Windows key + R, type “msconfig“, and go to the Boot tab to select Safe Boot.

3. Use the Windows File Protection feature to restore corrupted system files. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges and enter the command “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth“.

Restarting Computer in Safe Mode

To restart your computer in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and the R key on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” into the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.
4. Under the Boot options section, check the box next to “Safe boot” and select the type of Safe Mode you want to use (such as Minimal or Network).
5. Click Apply and then OK.
6. A prompt will appear asking if you want to restart your computer now or later. Click Restart.

Your computer will now restart in Safe Mode, which allows you to troubleshoot and fix issues with your Windows 10 operating system. Remember to undo these changes in the System Configuration window once you’re done troubleshooting by unchecking the “Safe boot” option.

For more detailed instructions and additional solutions to fix the Windows 10 Critical Process Died error, refer to the rest of the article.

Upgrading All Drivers

To fix the Windows 10 Critical Process Died error, it’s important to ensure that all your drivers are up to date. Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause system instability and lead to this error.

To upgrade your drivers, follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting it from the menu.
2. Expand the categories and locate the device drivers you want to update.
3. Right-click on the driver and select Update driver.
4. Choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Windows will search for the latest drivers and install them if available.

Alternatively, you can visit the manufacturer’s website to manually download and install the latest drivers for your specific hardware.

Regularly updating your drivers can help prevent errors and improve overall system performance. Make sure to also consider creating a backup before making any driver updates, just in case.

By keeping your drivers up to date, you can ensure a more stable and reliable Windows 10 experience.

Using SFC /Scannow to Fix Corrupted System Files

Using SFC /Scannow is a helpful solution for fixing corrupted system files that may be causing the Windows 10 Critical Process Died error. To use this tool, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and type “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
2. Right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results and select “Run as administrator”.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
4. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time.
5. If any corrupted files are found, the SFC tool will attempt to repair them automatically.
6. Restart your computer after the scan is finished.

Using SFC /Scannow can help resolve issues related to corrupted system files, which can lead to the Critical Process Died error. This tool is built into Microsoft Windows and can be a useful troubleshooting step.

Running DISM to Repair System Image

If you’re experiencing the Windows 10 Critical Process Died error, you can try running the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to repair your system image. DISM is a command-line tool that can fix corruption issues with your operating system.

To run DISM, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X, then select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the command prompt window, type dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter.
3. DISM will start scanning your system for corruption and attempt to repair any issues it finds. This process may take some time.
4. Once DISM completes the repair process, restart your computer and check if the Critical Process Died error has been resolved.

Running DISM is just one of the solutions you can try to fix the Windows 10 Critical Process Died error. If this method doesn’t work, you can explore other solutions mentioned in this article.

Performing a Clean Boot

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. In the General tab, select “Selective startup” and uncheck “Load startup items.”
4. Go to the Services tab and check “Hide all Microsoft services.”
5. Click “Disable all” to disable all third-party services.
6. Go to the Startup tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
7. In Task Manager, disable all startup programs by right-clicking and selecting “Disable.”
8. Close Task Manager and click “OK” in the System Configuration window.
9. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

If the error is resolved after performing a Clean Boot, it indicates that a startup program or service was causing the problem. You can then enable the disabled services and startup programs one by one to identify the culprit.

Uninstalling the Latest Software

To uninstall the latest software on your Windows 10 computer and fix the Critical Process Died error, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and click on “Settings.”
2. In the Settings window, click on “Apps.”
3. In the Apps & features section, you will see a list of all the installed software on your computer.
4. Scroll down and locate the software you want to uninstall.
5. Click on the software, and then click on the “Uninstall” button.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
7. After uninstalling the software, restart your computer.

If you are still experiencing the Critical Process Died error after uninstalling the software, you may need to try other solutions mentioned in the article.

Restoring to a Previous Point

To restore to a previous point, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter to open the System Properties window.
3. In the System Properties window, click on the System Protection tab.
4. Click on the System Restore button.
5. Click Next and select a restore point from the list.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restoration process.

Restoring to a previous point can help undo recent changes that may have caused the Critical Process Died Error. However, please note that it will not affect your personal files. It is always recommended to backup your important data before performing any system changes.

If the issue persists after restoring to a previous point, you may need to try other solutions mentioned in this article to resolve the Critical Process Died Error.

Checking and Repairing Bad Errors in Hard Drive

Making a Backup for Important Data on Disk

Creating a backup for your important data is crucial to protect it from unexpected events like system crashes or hardware failures. Follow these steps to make a backup on disk:

1. Connect an external storage device, such as a USB drive or an external hard disk, to your computer.
2. Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
3. Navigate to the files and folders you want to back up.
4. Select the files and folders by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each item.
5. Right-click on the selected items and choose Copy.
6. In the File Explorer, navigate to the external storage device.
7. Right-click on an empty space and choose Paste.
8. Wait for the files to finish copying to the external storage device.
9. Once the copy is complete, safely eject the external storage device from your computer.

Running Virus Scan

1. Open your Windows 10 device and ensure that you have a reliable antivirus program installed.
2. Launch the antivirus program and navigate to the scan options.
3. Choose a full system scan to thoroughly check your device for any viruses or malware.
4. Click on the “Scan” button to initiate the virus scan.
5. Wait for the scan to complete, this may take some time depending on the size of your device and the number of files.
6. Once the scan is finished, review the scan results for any detected threats.
7. If any viruses or malware are found, follow the instructions provided by your antivirus program to remove or quarantine the threats.
8. Once the threats have been dealt with, restart your device to ensure that all changes take effect.
9. After restarting, run another virus scan to confirm that your device is now free from any viruses or malware.
10. Regularly update your antivirus program and perform scans to keep your device protected in the future.

Refreshing or Resetting Windows 10

Refreshing or resetting your Windows 10 operating system can help resolve critical errors like the “Critical Process Died” blue screen of death. Here are 10 solutions to fix this error:

1. Refresh Windows 10: This option keeps your personal files but reinstalls Windows and removes apps that don’t come standard with Windows.
2. Reset Windows 10: This option removes everything from your PC and reinstalls Windows.
3. Create a recovery drive: Use a USB drive to create a recovery tool to troubleshoot and fix issues.
4. Run Windows File Protection: Scan and repair corrupt system files using the command-line interface.
5. Update device drivers: Visit the Device Manager and update drivers for your hardware.
6. Check for software bugs: Uninstall recently installed software to identify if it’s causing the error.
7. Scan for malware: Run a full scan with Windows Defender or your preferred antivirus software.
8. Check for disk errors: Use the Command Prompt to run a disk check and fix any errors.
9. Perform a clean boot: Temporarily disable startup programs and services to identify the cause of the error.
10. Seek professional help: If all else fails, contact Microsoft Support or a certified technician for assistance.

Edwin Lewis