WhyCrash

Diagnose your Windows crash in seconds. Free. Fast. Nothing to install.

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Free Rapid Crash Analysis

Drop your minidump file here or browse to select

Found in C:\Windows\Minidump\ — How to find it

❓ How to Find Your Minidump

  1. Open File Explorer
  2. Navigate to C:\Windows\Minidump\
  3. Look for .dmp files — the most recent one is your latest crash
  4. Drag it onto this page

No Minidump folder? Go to System Properties → Advanced → Startup and Recovery → Settings and set "Write debugging information" to Small memory dump. The folder will be created after the next crash.

📋 Frequently Asked Questions

What is a minidump file?

A minidump is a small file (usually 256 KB – 2 MB) that Windows creates when your computer crashes. It contains technical crash data — error codes, driver information, and the sequence of operations that led to the crash. No personal files, photos, or browsing data.

Does my file get uploaded?

The initial free analysis runs entirely in your browser — your file never leaves your computer. If you choose to run a confidence check, the file is sent to our analysis engine for cross-verification. You can opt out of file retention via the checkbox.

What causes a Blue Screen of Death?

BSODs are caused by critical errors that Windows can't recover from. The most common causes are:

  • Faulty drivers — GPU, network, and storage drivers are the top culprits
  • Hardware failures — bad RAM, failing SSD/HDD, overheating
  • Windows updates — sometimes a new update conflicts with existing drivers
  • Security software — antivirus, anti-cheat (BattlEye, Vanguard), and VPN software
  • Overclocking — unstable CPU/GPU/RAM overclocks

Blue Screen vs Black Screen — what's the difference?

Windows 10 shows a blue screen (BSOD). Windows 11 briefly switched to a black screen in early versions, then went back to blue. Both produce the same crash dumps with the same error codes. WhyCrash reads both.

Can WhyCrash fix my blue screen?

WhyCrash diagnoses the cause and gives specific fix steps — which driver to update, which hardware to check, or which settings to change. It pinpoints the root cause so you know exactly what to fix instead of guessing.

What if I don't have a minidump file?

If Windows isn't creating minidumps, go to System Properties → Advanced → Startup and Recovery → Settings and set "Write debugging information" to Small memory dump. The next crash will create a .dmp file in C:\Windows\Minidump\.

What are the most common BSOD error codes?

The top crash codes we see are DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION (0x133), DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0xD1), KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR (0x7A), PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (0x50), and SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (0x3B). Each points to a different type of problem — WhyCrash explains exactly what each one means.

Is WhyCrash free?

Yes. The core crash analysis is completely free and runs in your browser. We offer an optional confidence check that cross-verifies our diagnosis against Microsoft's debugging engine, and a premium detailed report for complex cases.