How to fix Starfield crashing with BSOD in Windows?

Question

Issue: How to fix Starfield crashing with BSOD in Windows?

I was stoked to finally play Starfield, and the first few hours of the game worked great – no stutters, no significant FPS drops, etc. Then, suddenly, the game crashed with a BSOD. Now, whenever I attempt to load a save or start a new game, the blue screen repeats. What is going on? I can't play the game anymore.

Solved Answer

Starfield is one of the most anticipated releases from Bethesda Game Studios in recent years. Launched in September 2023, it marks a significant milestone for the developer, being their first new franchise in 25 years. Designed as an action role-playing game, Starfield thrusts players into an expansive space-themed environment. While critics and users alike have mixed opinions about the game, the general reception is positive, and millions of players are playing the game.

Nevertheless, with such a large release comes its set of technical challenges. Post-release, a number of Windows users reported game crashes manifested in the form of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Specific error codes frequently identified by users included “DRIVER_OVERRAN_STACK_BUFFER,” “KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED,” and others.

Some users lamented that post-crash, attempting to reload Starfield resulted in recurrent PC crashes. This severity meant that a portion of the player base was entirely barred from delving back into the Starfield universe.

Starfield BSOD crashes can arise from several underlying issues. With their high graphical demand and complex computing requirements, games like Starfield may expose weak points in a system's drivers or hardware. Incompatibilities between the game software and certain PC configurations might also trigger these crashes.

Moreover, issues related to memory management or corrupt game files can culminate in a BSOD, especially if the game tries to access protected or non-existent memory areas.

For those searching for a remedy, comprehensive instructions to address these BSOD errors will be provided below. Ensuring that your PC's drivers are updated, the game's integrity is verified, and potential conflicts with other software are ruled out is crucial.

For persistent and unidentifiable BSOD origins, it might be worthwhile to consider using the FortectMac Washing Machine X9 PC repair tool. Designed to diagnose and resolve Windows-based challenges, this tool can autonomously identify and rectify underlying system anomalies, offering players a smoother Starfield experience.

Fix 1. Update graphics drivers

Graphics drivers are crucial for the optimal performance of video games. An outdated or incompatible driver can cause games to crash, freeze, or encounter a BSOD. You can start by using the built-in Windows feature:

• Right-click on Start and pick Device Manager.
• Expand the Display Adapters section.
• Right-click on your graphics card and select Update Driver.
• Select Search automatically for drivers and wait.
• Once done, restart your device.

It is worth noting that updating GPU drivers this way might not always be successful (Windows sometimes fails to find the latest software). To address this, it is always better to install drivers manually through the official website or employ specialized software such as DriverFix.

Fix 2. Check game integrity

Corrupt or missing game files can lead to crashes. Most gaming platforms, like Steam, offer a way to verify and repair game installations.

• Open Steam and go to your Library.
• Right-click on Starfield and select Properties.
• Go to the Installed Files section.
• Click Verify integrity of game files and wait till the process is complete.
• Launch the game as normal.

Fix 3. Run as administrator

Some games require higher permissions to access certain files or processes. Running the game as an administrator might resolve such issues.

• Go to Steam's library and select Starfield.
• Right-click on it and pick Browse local files.
• In the game's installation folder, right-click on the game's executable file.
• Select Properties.
• Go to the Compatibility tab.
• Under Settings, tick the Run this program as administrator checkbox.
• Click Apply and OK.

Fix 4. Adjust game settings

Reducing the graphics settings can relieve stress on your hardware and potentially avoid crashes.

• Launch Starfield.
• Navigate to the Settings menu.
• Go to Display.
• Reduce graphics settings like shadows, textures, and resolution.
• Save changes and restart the game.

Fix 5. Update Windows

Having the latest Windows updates ensures system stability and can resolve compatibility issues.

• Type Updates in Windows search and press Enter.
• In the new window, click Check for updates.
• If optional updates are available, install them too.
• Wait until all the files are downloaded and installed, then restart your PC to implement the changes.

Fix 6. Roll back Windows updates

Some users reported that they started receiving Starfield crashes as soon as Windows updates were installed (KB5029351, in particular, is causing issues). If that is the case for you, you can uninstall the most recent update as follows:

• Type Control Panel in Windows search and press Enter.
• Select Programs > Uninstall a program.
• Click on View installed updates on the left side of the window.
• Sort all the updates by date.
• Right-click on the most recent update and select Uninstall.
• Proceed with on-screen instructions.
• Then, type Updates in Windows search and press Enter.
• Click Pause the updates for 7 days (in Windows 11, you can pick a different time period).

Fix 7. Reinstall the game

Sometimes, a fresh installation can solve persistent issues by removing any corrupt files or settings.

• Type Control Panel in Windows search and press Enter.
• Go to Programs > Uninstall a program.
• Find the client, right-click, and pick Uninstall.
• Proceed with on-screen instructions.
• Once done, reboot your PC.
• Re-download and reinstall the game.

Fix 8. Use a System Restore point

If the issue started recently, reverting to a previous system state can help.

• Type in Create a Restore point in Windows search and hit Enter.
• In the System Protection tab, pick System restore.
• Click Next.
• Click Show more restore points (if available).
• Pick the time before the problem occurred and click Next.
• Your computer will restart.

Fix 9. Run SFC and DISM

If your system files are corrupted, games may crash. To address this, perform the following:

• Type cmd in Windows search.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt result and select Run as administrator.
• User Account Control (UAC) will ask if you want to make changes – click Yes.
• Now copy and paste the following commands, pressing Enter every time:
  sfc /scannow
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Close down the Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

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