1) Download Debugging Tools for Windows program, there are a 32 Bit and 64 Bit versions:
2) Once installed open the Debugging Tools program. Under the start menu you will find it under the corresponding folder name and the program is titled WinDbg.
3) Now you will need to browse to your Minidump files. They are generally located within this folder:
My Computer > C Drive > Windows > Minidump
The date will tell you when the last time the computer crashed. Start from your latest minidump and then continue from there.
4) Once you open the file you'll see it populate an entire list. For general purposes we won't be analyzing anything indepth. Just type:
!analyze -v
This will prompt it to analyze the dump file and give you the file that is causing the problems.
5) Once the file has been analyze it will report the Image Name (amongst other things). Whatever file is listed there is the cause of the BSOD.
6) Now before you try to figure out the file it would be best to analyze any other dump files that you saw listed. Make sure you note each and every file that caused a crash because the more information that you have the easier it will be to analyze the problem. In order to analyze another minidump though you first have to close the WinDbg program and start the process over again from Step 2.
7) After you have collected all the information on the files that caused the problem, type the file name into Google:
8) After the Google search there will be several websites that have documentation on what the particular files control within the system. By checking out those files sometimes you can find the answer to what may have caused the crash.
9) If you have any further questions feel free to contact me with your query. For help with minidump please attach all the minidump files you have in a Zip format to your email. Also include any file names that you have found when analyzing these files.
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