Constant blue screens on my laptop

Joseph Farrugia 0 Reputation points
2026-09-07T21:45:41.23+00:00

My laptop (acer nitro V 15 Nvidia RTX 2050) has been getting frequent blue screens for a while now, it started while my fans were damaged and i assumed that the fans where the cause of this, after getting replacement fans i didnt seem to be getting them for a bit until they started happening again recently usually short after starting it up but sometimes after ive been using it for a while, temperatures are normal and there is no overheating, my laptop was given in to my school and had been organized by them but i am now out of school and windows has automatically deactivated and i am unable to install the latest windows update and keep getting this error code (im not sure how much of this is relevant as i am not educated on any of this and am just trying to cover whatever information i can) Visually searched image

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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  1. Clary-N 16,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-08T04:47:59.1533333+00:00

    Hi Joseph Farrugia,

    Thank you for providing these details. Based on the information shared, there are a few additional checks that may help separate a possible hardware problem from the Windows Update and activation issues.

    Because the blue screens began while the cooling fans were damaged, I recommend backing up your important files first. Even though the temperatures are currently normal, please run Acer’s built-in hardware diagnostics or have the laptop inspected by Acer or a qualified technician. The RAM, SSD, motherboard, cooling connections and power components should be checked for possible hardware damage.

    To help identify the cause, please take a photo of the next blue screen and note the exact stop code and any driver or file name displayed. Also check whether recent .dmp files exist in: C:\Windows\Minidump

    These files may help identify the driver or component causing the crashes. Avoid posting dump files publicly because they may contain system information.

    If the laptop remains stable in Safe Mode, try a clean boot:

    1. Search for msconfig and open System Configuration.
    2. On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all.
    3. On the Startup tab, select Open Task Manager and disable the enabled startup items.
    4. Restart the laptop and test it normally.

    *Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

    These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track. 

    If the blue screens stop, re-enable the services and startup items gradually to identify the conflicting program.

    For the 0x80073712 Windows Update error, clear the update cache:

    1. Press Windows + R, enter services.msc and press Enter.
    2. Find Windows Update, right-click it, and select Stop.
    3. Open C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete the contents inside the folder.
    4. Return to Services, start Windows Update again, restart the laptop and retry the update.

    If the error continues and the laptop is stable enough, check Settings > System > Recovery for Fix problems using Windows Update > Reinstall now. This reinstalls the current Windows version while keeping personal files, installed applications and settings. However, you should still back up important files before proceeding.

    Regarding activation, the school-provided organizational license may no longer apply now that you have left the school. Open Settings > System > Activation and note the installed Windows edition and complete activation error. Run the Activation troubleshooter if available. If the laptop does not have its own digital license or product key for the installed edition, you may need to purchase a valid personal Windows license.

    Please share the exact blue-screen stop code, whether minidump files are being created, the activation error, and the Windows version and build shown by winver. Kindly remember not to post a product key or other private information.

    I hope this helps point you toward the cause.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-07T21:46:03.14+00:00

    Frequent blue screens on this laptop are most commonly caused by a hardware device, its driver, or related software. Since the crashes happen soon after startup as well as during normal use, use this order of troubleshooting:

    1. Start in Safe Mode Use Safe Mode first so only minimum drivers and services load. From Safe Mode, continue with the remaining checks.
    2. Check Device Manager for driver problems Right-click Start > Device Manager.
      • Look for any device with an exclamation mark (!).
      • Right-click that device and select Update driver.
      • If updating does not help, try Disable device or Uninstall device.
    3. Install Windows updates Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Windows updates can also provide updated drivers.
    4. Update drivers, especially graphics-related drivers If the blue screen identifies a device or driver, manually update that device’s driver. Graphics drivers are a common cause of stop code errors.
    5. Check free disk space Keep about 10% to 15% of the drive free so Windows can create swap files and perform normal system functions.
    6. Check Event Viewer Open Event Viewer and review the System log for critical errors that happened at the same time as the blue screens. This can help identify the device or driver involved.
    7. Run Windows Memory Diagnostics In Control Panel, search for Memory, then select Diagnose your computer’s memory problems. After the test, check Event Viewer for MemoryDiagnostics-Results in the System log.
    8. Use System Restore or Recovery options If the problem started after a recent change such as a driver, app, or update, use a restore point or another recovery option.
    9. If a specific graphics driver is named in the crash For graphics-related stop errors, disable the identified driver or get an updated driver from the manufacturer. Also make sure graphics-related software is up to date.

    About the 0x80073712 Windows Update error shown in the screenshot: the available context only supports that installing the latest Windows updates is a recommended troubleshooting step for blue screens. It does not provide a supported fix for that specific update error.

    The Windows deactivation issue is separate from blue screen troubleshooting and is not required to begin the checks above.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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