Solved: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED in Windows 10 [7 Ways + 1 Tip]

What to do if encounter CRITICAL PROCESS DIED in Windows 10? You will find the 7 easy ways and 1 tip for you to fix or prevent the BSOD CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED error.

By @Ivy Last Updated October 20, 2022

CRITICAL PROCESS DIED in Windows 10?

How to fix Windows CRITICAL PROCESS DIED?

I own a Lenovo S-510p laptop. I recently tried upgrading to Windows 10. I am currently using the Windows 8.1 - 64 Bit. The Download finished fully and installation started, but at around 55% of installation, the system crashed due to a BSOD Critical Process Died Error. I tried installing Windows 10 twice and both times this error was displayed. Please Help.

- Question from answer.microsoft.com

The BSOD CRITICAL PROCESS DIED error show the following information:

Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’ll restart for you. Stop code: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED 

The Causes to Critical Process Died

According to the Microsoft website, the CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED bug check has a value of 0x000000EF. This indicates that a critical system process died. And this Windows 10 blue screen Critial Process Died error probably happen due to the system statebeing corrupted or system damage.

How to Fix Stop Code Critial Process Died in Windows 10?

There are some solutions for you to fix Windows CRITCIAL PROCESS DIED issue, let’s find out:

1. Remove recent added hardware

If you recently added a hardware like HDD, SSD or other devices to your computer, you could remove it to check if the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED error exist; Or ensure the hardware is compatible with the Windows.

2. Uninstall/Update newly installed drivers or system services

Before the Windows blue screen CRITICAL PROCESS DIED, if you installed drivers or system services, please update them or just uninstall it to check whether the problem solved or not.

3. Update BIOS or firmware to latest version

Check the manufacturer to see if an update for BIOS or firmware is available.

4. Check hard disk for errors

  1. If you have Windows installation media, boot your computer from the media, and choose Troubleshoot > Advanced > Command Prompt.

  2. Run the following command:

chkdsk C: /f /r /x (this command will find errors and recover readable infomation automatically)

5. Run antivirus software

Because the virus can affect the system files and make it unbootable.

6. Repair System Files

Run System File Checker (SFC) to repair the corrupted system files that cause the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED in Windows 10.

The system file checker command is: sfc /scannow

7. Perform System Restore

If you create a restore point before, you could restore Windows 10 from boot. And the Windows 10 installation media is required.

1. Boot from your Windows 10 computer from the bootable media, choose Repair your computer.

2. And then select Troubleshoot > Advanced > System Restore.

3. It will bring up the system restore wizard, select the restore point and click Next.

4. And follow the Windows 10 system restore finished, and you will fix the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED error eventually.

Note: If the restore point created a long time ago, you will lose many data you created since then.

Better Way to Get Rid of Windows 10 CRITICAL PROCESS DIED

To prevent the stop code CRITICAL PROCESS DIED while boot up and restore almost all data, it’s highly recommended to backup your system files regularly, like daily, weekly, monthly, etc. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free backup software for you to backup Windows system, entire hard disk, partition(s) easily in Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Please download the free backup software now and get it a try:

Here are the steps to backup Windows 10 system automatically to prevent CRITICAL PROCESS DIED stop code:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard, choose Backup > System Backup subsequently.

Step 2. Rename the Task Name and choose a destination to save the Windows 10 system image backup.

Step 3. Click Schedule > select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, or USB plug in in General tab, and Incremental Backup in Advanced tab.

Step 4. (Optional) Tap Scheme to delete old backup images automatically while the backups over the number you retain to free up space.

Step 5. Press Start Backup >> to backup Windows 10 OS automatically.

Tips:

  • Event triggers and USB plug in in Schedule, and the Scheme are premium features, please upgrade to AOMEI Backupper Professional or other editions to enjoy.

  • Options is capable of comment, split, compress, encrypt(paid) the system image backup, use volume shadow copy (VSS), enable email or SMS notification, etc.

Wait for about 30 minutes, and it will be finished. And it’s time to add AOMEI Backupper recovery environment to boot options: Tools > Recovery Environment.

If you encounter the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED in Windows 10 computer, you just need to boot into BIOS, and enter into AOMEI Backupper, find the latest backup version before the stop code CRITICAL PROCESS DIED occurred to restore Windows 10 easily.

The End

It’s easy for you to fix CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED in Windows 10 according to the above solutions and tips. And a great backup habit will save your life if the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED happened.

If you want to protect your servers, please try AOMEI Backupper Server.