[Windows 11/10] Troubleshooting - Blue Screen Errors in Windows (BSOD)

If during the startup process, you encounter a blue screen error with the stop code 'INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE', try changing the current Intel VMD Controller settings to another option. (For example, if VMD is currently enabled in the BIOS, try changing it to disabled to see if it resolves the issue.)

Note: If you encounter a different stop code than 'INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE', please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

1. When the device is completely shut down, persistently hold the [F2] key on the keyboard and simultaneously press the [Power button] to boot up. Once the BIOS configuration screen appears, you may release the [F2] key. Learn more about How to enter the BIOS configuration. 
   Note: For some older desktop models, you may need to press and hold the [Del] key during startup to access the BIOS configuration screen. 
   Note: For gaming handhelds, press and hold the [Volume Down] button and then press the power button.
2. Upon entering the BIOS configuration screen, you will encounter two types of interfaces: UEFI interface and MyASUS in UEFI. Please refer to the following steps based on the BIOS screen of your device:

Back to Table of Contents

Regularly updating BIOS, Windows, and drivers can enhance system stability and performance. Ensure that your device is using the latest versions. Learn more about updating BIOS:

How to update the BIOS version in Windows system

How to use EZ Flash to update the BIOS version

(For desktop products, please refer to ASUS Motherboard EZ Flash 3 Introduction.)

Learn more about updating Windows and drivers:

How to execute Windows Update

How to update drivers via System Update in MyASUS

If the problem persists after you have updated BIOS/Windows packages/drivers to the date, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

User can inspect whether the hardware device is good by the Hardware Diagnostic via MyASUS, and run further checking on Blue Screen Error. If any error occurs after diagnosing, we recommend that you visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device.

1. Type and search [MyASUS] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. 
   Note: If you cannot find MyASUS, it may not be installed on your device. Refer to How to install MyASUS. 
   
2. In the MyASUS app, click [System Diagnosis]③. 
   Note: If your device does not display the system diagnosis page in MyASUS software, it means your device does not support this feature. Continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting. Here you can learn more about Why can I only see the partial features in the MyASUS app. 
   
3. In [Diagnostic Tool]④, select [All] check items of Customized diagnosis⑤, and then click [Checkup]⑥. Here you can learn more about MyASUS System Diagnosis - Introduction. 
   
4. If any error occurs, please visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device. Here you can learn more about How to use Customer Support to contact ASUS for the further repair request. 
   If no issue found after 'Hardware diagnostic', please go back to the System Diagnosis screen and select [Blue screen error]⑦ for the further check. 
   
5. Click [Checkup]⑧. 
   
6. If any error occurs, please visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device. Here you can learn more about How to use Customer Support to contact ASUS for the further repair request. 
   If no issue found after 'Blue screen error' check, it means your hardware devices are good. Please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

Sometimes, the external devices connected to your device can be the cause of Blue Screen Errors, so please try to remove them, such as external hard drives, printers, memory cards, external ODD (if your device is with internal ODD, please remove CD/DVDs), dongles, etc.  After that, restart your device. If you don’t experience the issue after restarting your device, the external device may be the cause of the problem. We recommend that you do not use this device and contact your device manufacturer for support.

If you do not use any external devices or the problem still persists after removing them, please confirm whether you had ever installed / replaced any hardware devices, such as disk drives (HDD or SSD) or Memory modules. The compatibility problem could be the cause and exist between new hardware devices and ASUS products / system, so please try to remove the hardware device. If you don’t experience the issue after removing the hardware device, we recommend that you do not use this device and contact your device manufacturer for support.

If the problem persists after above steps, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

Installing multiple antivirus programs at the same time can slow down the system, cause errors, and may lead to the risk of protection mechanisms failing due to conflicts between antivirus software. Therefore, it is not recommended to install multiple antivirus programs on the same device.

If you already have antivirus software installed on your device and wish to install another antivirus program, it is advisable to completely remove the original antivirus software before installing the new one. Here you can learn more about The Impact of Installing Multiple Antivirus Programs on the System.

If you are uncertain about which antivirus programs are installed on your system, please refer to this article: How to Check if Your Device Has Antivirus Software Installed.

Should you wish to uninstall an antivirus application, you might find a dedicated uninstaller on the software's official website, or you could employ the built-in uninstallation method provided by Windows (Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps). For more detailed instructions, please refer to this article: How to Uninstall Applications.

Back to Table of Contents

Some problems may occur after Windows Update or a specific application installed in your device, including the compatibility issue between applications and system, or Windows core programs may be crashed.

You can view update history to check recently installed updated items.

1. Type and search [Windows Update settings] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. 
   
2. Select [Update history]③. 
   
3. In Update history, it will list Feature Updates, Quality Updates and Driver Updates, etc. that had been installed in your device. 
   
4. You can confirm the installed date and whether you experience Blue Screen Errors after that, and then refer to the following steps to know how to uninstall or go back to the previous version.

Back to Table of Contents

If the problem happens recently, and if you have ever created a restore point or there is an automatic system restore existed, try to restore the device to a point before the problem began to resolve the problem. Here you can learn more about How to use restore point to restore the system.

If the problem persists, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

If the problem persists after all troubleshooting steps are completed. Please backup your personal files, then reset the device to back to its original configuration. Here you can learn more about How to reset the system.

Back to Table of Contents

If during the startup process, you encounter a blue screen error with the stop code 'INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE', try changing the current Intel VMD Controller settings to another option. (For example, if VMD is currently enabled in the BIOS, try changing it to disabled to see if it resolves the issue.)

Note: If you encounter a different stop code than 'INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE', please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

1. When the device is completely shut down, persistently hold the [F2] key on the keyboard and simultaneously press the [Power button] to boot up. Once the BIOS configuration screen appears, you may release the [F2] key. Learn more about How to enter the BIOS configuration. 
   Note: For some older desktop models, you may need to press and hold the [Del] key during startup to access the BIOS configuration screen. 
   Note: For gaming handhelds, press and hold the [Volume Down] button and then press the power button.
2. Upon entering the BIOS configuration screen, you will encounter two types of interfaces: UEFI interface and MyASUS in UEFI. Please refer to the following steps based on the BIOS screen of your device:

Back to Table of Contents

Regularly updating BIOS, Windows, and drivers can enhance system stability and performance. Ensure that your device is using the latest versions. Learn more about updating BIOS:

How to update the BIOS version in Windows system

How to use EZ Flash to update the BIOS version

(For desktop products, please refer to ASUS Motherboard EZ Flash 3 Introduction.)

Learn more about updating Windows and drivers:

How to execute Windows Update

How to update drivers via System Update in MyASUS

If the problem persists after you have updated BIOS/Windows packages/drivers to the date, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

User can inspect whether the hardware device is good by the Hardware Diagnostic via MyASUS, and run further checking on Blue Screen Error. If any error occurs after diagnosing, we recommend that you visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device.

1. Type and search [MyASUS] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. 
   Note: If you cannot find MyASUS, it may not be installed on your device. Refer to How to install MyASUS. 
   
2. In the MyASUS app, click [System Diagnosis]③. 
   Note: If your device does not display the system diagnosis page in MyASUS software, it means your device does not support this feature. Continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting. Here you can learn more about Why can I only see the partial features in the MyASUS app. 
   
3. In [Diagnostic Tool]④, select [All] check items of Customized diagnosis⑤, and then click [Checkup]⑥. Here you can learn more about MyASUS System Diagnosis - Introduction. 
   
4. If any error occurs, please visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device. Here you can learn more about How to use Customer Support to contact ASUS for the further repair request. 
   If no issue found after 'Hardware diagnostic', please go back to the System Diagnosis screen and select [Blue screen error]⑦ for the further check. 
   
5. Click [Checkup]⑧. 
   
6. If any error occurs, please visit ASUS repair center to replace the hardware device. Here you can learn more about How to use Customer Support to contact ASUS for the further repair request. 
   If no issue found after 'Blue screen error' check, it means your hardware devices are good. Please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

Sometimes, the external devices connected to your device can be the cause of Blue Screen Errors, so please try to remove them, such as external hard drives, printers, memory cards, external ODD (if your device is with internal ODD, please remove CD/DVDs), dongles, etc.  After that, restart your device . If you don’t experience the issue after restarting your device, the external device may be the cause of the problem. We recommend that you do not use this device and contact your device manufacturer for support.

If you do not use any external devices or the problem still persists after removing them, please confirm whether you had ever installed / replaced any hardware devices, such as disk drives (HDD or SSD) or Memory modules. The compatibility problem could be the cause and exist between new hardware devices and ASUS products / system, so please try to remove the hardware device. If you don’t experience the issue after removing the hardware device, we recommend that you do not use this device and contact your device manufacturer for support.

If the problem persists after above steps, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

Installing multiple antivirus programs at the same time can slow down the system, cause errors, and may lead to the risk of protection mechanisms failing due to conflicts between antivirus software. Therefore, it is not recommended to install multiple antivirus programs on the same device.

If you already have antivirus software installed on your device and wish to install another antivirus program, it is advisable to completely remove the original antivirus software before installing the new one. Here you can learn more about The Impact of Installing Multiple Antivirus Programs on the System.

If you are uncertain about which antivirus programs are installed on your system, please refer to this article: How to Check if Your Device Has Antivirus Software Installed.

Should you wish to uninstall an antivirus application, you might find a dedicated uninstaller on the software's official website, or you could employ the built-in uninstallation method provided by Windows (Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps). For more detailed instructions, please refer to this article: How to Uninstall Applications.

Back to Table of Contents

Some problems may occur after Windows Update or a specific application installed in your device, including the compatibility issue between applications and system, or Windows core programs may be crashed.

You can view update history to check recently installed updated items.

1. Type and search [Windows Update settings] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. 
   
2. Select [View update history]③. 
   
3. In View update history, it will list Feature Updates, Quality Updates and Driver Updates, etc. that had been installed in your device. 
   
4. You can confirm the installed date and whether you experience Blue Screen Errors after that, and then refer to the following steps to know how to uninstall or go back to the previous version.

Back to Table of Contents

If the problem happens recently, and if you have ever created a restore point or there is an automatic system restore existed, try to restore the device to a point before the problem began to resolve the problem. Here you can learn more about How to use restore point to restore the system.

If the problem persists, please continue to the next chapter for troubleshooting.

Back to Table of Contents

If the problem persists after all troubleshooting steps are completed. Please backup your personal files, then reset the device to back to its original configuration. Here you can learn more about How to reset the system.

Back to Table of Contents