Understanding and Troubleshooting Blue Screen Errors: Unexpected Store Exception, Driver Power State Failure, and Black Screen Issues
Encountering persistent blue screen errors can be a frustrating experience for any Windows user. In this article, we will explore a real-world scenario involving multiple Windows 10 blue screen errors, including “Unexpected Store Exception,” “Driver Power State Failure,” and black screen symptoms. We will analyze the diagnostic steps taken, common causes, and effective troubleshooting strategies to resolve such issues.
Case Overview
The device initially exhibited a recurring “Unexpected Store Exception” blue screen. To resolve this, the user performed a clean installation of Windows 10 using Rufus. Despite this reset, the system continued to encounter “Driver Power State Failure” errors during startup. Accessing BIOS to modify Windows boot settings temporarily alleviated the issue but the problem reappeared the following day.
Hardware Testing and Diagnosis
The user conducted several hardware tests to identify potential causes:
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RAM Testing: Tested each of the four RAM slots sequentially (two at a time) during multiple boots. While no blue screen appeared during these tests, some RAM modules caused black screens and system reboots. Reinstalling all RAM modules temporarily eliminated the blue screen, but the issue persisted the next day.
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MemTest86: Ran thorough memory diagnostics with MemTest86, which reported no errors, indicating RAM stability.
Software Updates and System Reset
To address potential software conflicts, the user reset Windows 10 and installed updates. Notably, one update installed successfully without prompting for immediate restart, unlike previous installations via Rufus, which caused frequent restarts. These steps aimed to ensure system stability and patch known bugs.
Power Management and Hardware Checks
The user attempted to replicate previous issues by allowing the system to enter sleep mode, testing for driver power state failures. During this test, a blue screen appeared, forcing a manual shutdown. Additionally, changing the power supply cable was attempted:
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First day: No blue screen occurred with a different power cable.
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Next day: Blue screens and black screens reoccurred, followed by system reboots.
Current Symptoms and Observations
After two days, the blue screens have ceased. However, the system now exhibits a black screen followed by automatic reboots, indicating ongoing hardware or driver-related issues.
Key Takeaways and Troubleshooting Recommendations
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Hardware Inspection:
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RAM: Despite passing MemTest86, intermittent issues may be hardware-related. Consider testing with known-good RAM modules or testing the current
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