Windows · 6 min read
Blue Screen After a Windows Update — Perth Edition
Every couple of months we get a run of Midland customers through the door with the same story: "Windows updated overnight and now it boots to a blue screen." If you're on a reasonably recent machine, you can usually fix this yourself in about 15 minutes. Here's how.
First — don't panic
A BSOD after a Windows update almost never means your files are gone. The update affects system files (drivers, kernel bits); your photos, documents, and programs sit in separate directories that are untouched. What you're seeing is Windows failing to start — not your drive failing.
Step 1 — Trigger Automatic Recovery
If the machine has already blue-screened twice, Windows should offer the Automatic Repair screen on the next boot. If not, force it: turn the machine on, hold the power button to cut it off as soon as you see the Windows logo, and do that three times in a row. On the fourth boot, Windows will launch the recovery environment on its own.
Step 2 — Get into Safe Mode
From the recovery screen:
- Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
- When the PC restarts, press 5 to start in Safe Mode with Networking.
Safe Mode loads only the minimum drivers — it sidesteps whatever broken driver the update brought with it. If you can get here, you have a path forward.
Step 3 — Uninstall the last update
Once you're on the desktop in Safe Mode:
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history.
- Click Uninstall updates.
- Sort by "Installed On" — remove the most recent update (quality update or driver update). Don't remove feature updates unless you're sure.
- Restart normally.
Nine times out of ten, the machine boots cleanly.
Step 4 — Pause updates for 7 days
Once you're back in, Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates for a week. By then Microsoft usually pulls or patches whatever broke, and your next update round will be safe.
When to stop and call us
Bring your machine into the workshop (or give us a ring for remote support) if:
- You can't get into the recovery environment at all — the PC just keeps rebooting or sits on a black screen.
- The blue screen error references
NTFS,INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE, or says the drive can't be found. These often indicate a failing SSD, not a software problem. - You don't have recent backups and want the recovery done by someone who's done it a thousand times.
Bring it in or book remote
We're at 2C Stafford Street, Midland — walk-ins Mon–Fri 8am–4pm, or book a drop-off online and we'll confirm within 2 hours. Most Windows update repairs are turned around the same day.