Can Geek Squad Help With BSoD? [Fix BSoD]

The Geek Squad is a technical support service offered at Best Buy stores. The team of certified technicians specializes in troubleshooting and fixing computers, laptops, and other tech.

The service provides comprehensive solutions for software and hardware problems, ranging from simple fixes like virus removal and data recovery to complex repairs like motherboard replacement and screen repair.

You may be wondering whether the service can help with the dreaded blue screen of death (BSoD) on Windows.

What is the BSoD?

The hint is in the name. The BSoD is an error on a blue screen that occurs when Windows must shut down due to a serious problem. It can be hardware related, such as an old component failing, or a new component not being configured correctly.

On the other hand, a good percentage of blue screen crashes occur because of damage to Windows, such as corrupted system files or a broken Registry.

Whatever the cause, if it happens more than once, it needs to be fixed immediately else the computer will not work properly and faces constant crashing.

Do I need professional help to fix a blue screen?

While it can depend on the severity of the problem, most people do not require professional help to fix a BSoD. If it is not a physical hardware problem, built-in Windows utilities and third-party Windows repair software can easily fix the operating system.

You should only seek professional help as a last resort. If the problem is because of broken hardware, you might not be comfortable opening the PC case and changing or reseating components yourself (if that doesn’t void any warranty).

However, even that is not very difficult if you follow an online guide. Every component has a designated slot and modern PCs are designed to work right away after the hardware is replaced.

Is it worth paying Geek Squad to fix BSoD?

A service like Geek Squad is not free and fees for fairly simple tasks can add up. There is also the risk of staff only being trained in the basics and not even being able to fix the BSoD.

While there are many positive online reviews, some users have had negative experiences trying to get their computers serviced with a BSoD.

You should only consider Geek Squad if you are a beginner to computers and none of your friends and family can help.

However, if you know your way around Windows and can use its programs and additional software, you can fix the Blue Screen of Death safely yourself!

How can I fix the BSoD?

The BSoD can occur due to hardware failure, driver issues, corrupted system files, malware infections, or a combination of them all. Fortunately, when it happens, a stop code is displayed that can help you diagnose the cause.

Below are the best ways to resolve the issue. Many of these will be done by the Geek Squad themselves if you pay for the service.

If the BSoD happens upon booting to the desktop, you will need to hold F8 before the Windows logo appears to open Advanced Boot Options. Here you can boot in Safe Mode or choose from several recovery options.

• Check for malware – Run a virus scan to check for malware infections that can cause BSoD errors.
• Update the drivers – If the problem occurs with a new piece of software or you recently updated Windows, outdated or incompatible drivers can cause the BSoD. Make sure to update these ASAP.
• Use System Restore – If you recently made changes to your system that caused the crash, use revert to a previous restore point.
• Check for hardware issues – Faulty hardware components like RAM, hard disk, or motherboard can instantly lead to a blue screen. If you only just installed a new component, you may need to remove it or reconfigure it. Otherwise running diagnostic tools like CHKDSK (Check Disk) for the hard drive or Memory Diagnostic for RAM, can help detect what’s happening.
• Repair the system files – If it’s not hardware, then it’s the operating system. The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files.

Use a Windows repair tool

A good Windows repair tool combines many features that can help solve a BSoD. For example, Fortect:

• Replaces corrupted or missing system files and shared DLLs, restoring the operating system to its proper condition.
• Repairs and cleans a damaged Windows registry, which is difficult to impossible to do by yourself.
• Provides a summary of your hardware to reveal any obvious hardware causes.

All you have to do to get started is:

1. Download and Install Fortect on your PC.
2. When you launch the program, accept the request to scan.
3. Click a category and View & Fix to run individual repairs.
4. Click Start Repair to fix the entire system.

If you’re having trouble booting Windows altogether, Fortect works in Safe Mode. You can also run it after doing basic fixes like Startup Repair to ensure the problem has truly been solved.

While the Geek Squad is an acceptable solution for those without much computer knowledge, there’s no guarantee staff will be able to fix your BSoD. A more cost-effective solution is to try the built-in tools available on Windows, alongside a reputable Windows repair tool like Fortect.