Crash Errors

It is highly recommended that all drivers are installed from the Dell website. Second choice for drivers if they are not available on the Dell website are from the component manufacturers like Intel, Nvidia, etc. If you use 3rd party websites you don't know what you are getting. We have had many with BSOD. We recommend that they uninstall all of the 3rd party drivers. And if they cannot do that then a clean install.

The component manufacturers make drivers for many computer manufacturer's and then the computer manufacturers may modify the drivers. So it's always best to go directly to the computer manufacturer for drivers.

dalchina said:

I think you should consider a clean install. Download the latest Win 10 iso and create a bootable disk.
Tutorials in the tutorial section explain how to do both if you need guidance.

Do you have backups? Would a clean install be an acceptable way to go?
I don't want to try to hit a moving target.

By a clean install, do you mean erase the entire HD?

The laptop is a DEll Inspirion 15m501 (2011) that came with Windows 7, if I erase the HD - how do I go back online and get Windows 10?

I've ordered Windows 10 64-BIT Reinstall Install DVD Home and Professional - 2017 Driver DVD Included - 2 Disc Installation Kit

1 disk System Installation
1 disk Drivers

The laptop originally came with Windows 7, I downloaded & installed Windows 10. So I have not had any Media to do repairs or reinstall from.

If you upgraded windows 7 to windows 10 during the free upgrade period you have a digital license and do not need to purchase any recovery media.

If you create a bootable windows 10 iso you can perform repairs and clean install.
Download Windows 10

zbook said:

If you upgraded windows 7 to windows 10 during the free upgrade period you have a digital license and do not need to purchase any recovery media.

If you create a bootable windows 10 iso you can perform repairs and clean install.
Download Windows 10

It's been well over I year since I downloaded & installed Windows 10. How do I use my license?

Also, as of this tonight, I am not even able to get to my log in screen, after I start up I get a blue screen with some kernal error. I have tried to get into safe mode Start-up + holding down Shift or F2 key and neither works.

zbook said:

If you upgraded windows 7 to windows 10 during the free upgrade period you have a digital license and do not need to purchase any recovery media.

If you create a bootable windows 10 iso you can perform repairs and clean install.
Download Windows 10

I cannot login to the laptop to be able to do that - my only other computer is a Mac with an optical drive (which is what I'm using now). I have a few Memorex DVDRW but there only 4.7GB

zbook said:

If you upgraded windows 7 to windows 10 during the free upgrade period you have a digital license and do not need to purchase any recovery media.

If you create a bootable windows 10 iso you can perform repairs and clean install.
Download Windows 10

I've tried copying it onto a USB Flashdrive using my Mac, the flashdrive is initialism for windows, but the laptop is not reading the flashdrive after I push the start button. It was reading the Dell diagnostics disks. That's why I decided to order the Windows DVD's.

To boot to a device you need to click the applicable keyboard key or temporarily change the bios boot order:
List of PC brands with their corresponding hot-keys

Thanks for the link. When I pres F2 with the Start button it opens what I think is the BSOD, the USB is in position 3. I've tried changing it to position 1 (which is where the DVD drive is). and I hold down the F2 key while Starting up, but it stills starts to the HD.