What does stop code critical service failed mean?

Many Windows 10 users are recently experiencing an issue with their computer. What actually happens is they get a blue screen of death with an error message that says CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED. A lot of the time, theyre stuck in this error and cant get to the login screen.

If youre also experiencing this error, youre no doubt very frustrated. But dont worry! This blue screen error is fixable

Try these fixes

You may not have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

1. Run Startup Repair
2. Repair Windows OS with Reimage
3. Disable drivers signature enforcement
4. Update your device drivers
5. Reset your Windows Update components
6. Run System Restore

Fix 1: Run Startup Repair

This is the first thing you should try when you see the CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED blue screen error. To run Startup Repair:

1. Turn on your computer, and then when your Windows starts loading, turn it off immediately. Do this until you see a message that says Preparing Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced Options.
   If you dont the Advanced Startup Options menu, read this post (the Case 2 instructions) for other ways to get to it. You cant perform the rest of the steps below until you can access the Advanced Startup Options
   
   
3. ClickTroubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Select Startup Repair.
6. Choose your account name and enter your password.
7. Wait for the process to be complete.

Hopefully this fixed your blue screen error. But if not, then move on to Fix 2, below

Fix 2: Repair Windows OS with Reimage

If this issue persit, and youd like to get your computer back to its working state ASAP, you can use Reimage, a powerful tool that specializes in Windows repair.

Reimage will compare your current Windows OS to a brand new and functioning system, then remove and replace all the damaged files with fresh Windows files and components from its continuously updated online database that contains vast repository of system services & files, registry values, dynamic link libraries and other components of a fresh Windows installation.

After the repair process is done, Your PCs performance, stability and security will be restored and improved.

To fix this Windows BSOD issue with Reimage, follow the steps below:

1. Download Reimage.
2. Install and launch Reimage.Youll be asked to run a free scan of your computer. Click Yes to continue.
   
3. Wait for Reimage to scan your PC. This may take a few minutes.
   
4. After the scanning process completed, Reimage will provide you with the PC scan summary.
   
   If theres any issue, then click the START REPAIR button on the lower-right corner, and with just one click, reimage will start repair the Windows OS on your computer.
   
   Note: This is a paid service with 60-day Money-Back Guarantee, which means that youll need to buy the full version to start repair.

Fix 3: Disable drivers signature enforcement

You can bypass this error with the Disable drivers signature enforcement startup option. To do so:

1. Turn on your computer, and then when your Windows starts loading, turn it off immediately. Do this until you see a message that says Preparing Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced options.
   If you dont the Advanced Startup Options menu, read this post (the Case 2 instructions) for other ways to get to it. You cant perform the rest of the steps below until you can access the Advanced Startup Options
   
   
3. ClickTroubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Select Startup Settings.
6. Click the Restart button.
7. Press the 7 or F7 key on your keyboard.

This should help you get through this error. But it may occur again after restarting your computer. To fix it permanently, you should try the fixes below

Fix 4: Update your device drivers

Perhaps youre having this CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED blue screen error because the drivers on your computer are wrong or out of date. To fix this issue, you should update your device drivers

Before updating your drivers, you should either get into your Windows 10 system with the fixes above, or the instructions below to get into safe mode:

1. Turn on your computer, and then when your Windows starts loading, turn it off immediately. Do this until you see a message that says Preparing Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced options.
   If you dont the Advanced Startup Options menu, read this post (the Case 2 instructions) for other ways to get to it. You cant perform the rest of the steps below until you can access the Advanced Startup Options
   
   
3. ClickTroubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Select Startup Settings.
6. Click the Restart button.
7. Press the 5 or F5 key on your keyboard.

Now you should be able to update your drivers.

You can update your drivers manually. But if you dont have the time, patience or skills, you can do it automatically withDriver Easy.

You dont need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you dont need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you dont need to worry about making a mistake when installing. Driver Easy handles it all.

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click theScan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
3. Click the Update button next to your deviceto download the correct version of its driver, then you can manually install it. Or click theUpdate All button at the bottom right to automatically update all the drivers. (This requires the Pro version you will be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All. You get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee.)You can do it for free if you like, but its partly manual.

Fix 5: Reset your Windows Update components

You may also be having issues with Windows Update so you get this blue screen error. To repair Windows Update, you should reset its components.

Before resetting the Windows Update components, you should either get into your Windows 10 system with the fixes above, or the instructions below to get into safe mode:

1. Turn on your computer, and then when your Windows starts loading, turn it off immediately. Do this until you see a message that says Preparing Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced options.
   If you dont the Advanced Startup Options menu, read this post (the Case 2 instructions) for other ways to get to it. You cant perform the rest of the steps below until you can access the Advanced Startup Options
   
   
3. ClickTroubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Select Startup Settings.
6. Click the Restart button.
7. Press the 4 or F4 key on your keyboard.

Now you should reset your Windows Update components.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen, then type cmd. In the list of results, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. In Command Prompt, type the following lines of command and press Enter on your keyboard after typing each:
   • ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.old
   • ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
3. Restart your computer

If the blue screen error is gone, great! But if not, then you may need to try the next fix, below.

Fix 6: Run System Restore

If none of the fixes above worked for you, then you should try running System Restore to revert your system to a previous state.

1. Turn on your computer, and then when your Windows starts loading, turn it off immediately. Do this until you see a message that says Preparing Automatic Repair.
2. Click Advanced Options.
   If you dont the Advanced Startup Options menu, read this post (the Case 2 instructions) for other ways to get to it. You cant perform the rest of the steps below until you can access the Advanced Startup Options
   
   
3. ClickTroubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Select SystemRestore.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your Windows 10 system to a restore point.

Hopefully, one of the fixes above helped you get rid of your CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED blue screen error. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a comment below.