CrowdStrike Issues Urgent Instructions to Fix ‘Blue Screen of Death’ Loop

Cyber firm CrowdStrike has issued urgent instructions for anyone trapped in a ‘blue screen of death’ loop, causing global chaos and major disruptions to businesses and individuals alike.

Earlier today, a Windows glitch wreaked havoc on GPs, banks, airlines, media companies, and individuals, forcing major companies offline and leaving passengers stranded at UK airports. The IT outage also impacted access to medical records, doctor appointments, and train services, leading to long queues and delays.

Despite initial fears of a cyberattack, Sky News’ science and tech editor Tom Clark attributed the issue to the blue screen of death, with CrowdStrike reportedly installing a Windows update that caused the error. The firm, known for providing security protection for cloud software, identified a corrupted file on Windows hosts as the root cause of the problem.

CrowdStrike President George Kurtz assured customers that the issue has been isolated and a fix has been deployed, emphasizing that it was not a security incident or cyberattack. He urged organizations to communicate through official channels for updates and support.

Instructions on how to resolve the blue screen of death were shared on Reddit, advising users to boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment, locate and delete a specific file in the CrowdStrike directory, and then boot the host normally.

As the situation unfolds, individuals are encouraged to stay informed and follow official guidance to address any issues related to the IT outage. If you have a story to share about your experience with the blue screen of death, email liam.gilliver@reachplc.com for a chance to be featured.