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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe “reboot up to 15 times” advice referred to recovery attempts after a faulty CrowdStrike Falcon update disrupted some Windows computers in July 2024. Microsoft’s official guidance did not require exactly 15 restarts or promise that repeated rebooting would fix every device: it said some customers had recovered after multiple restart attempts. Other affected systems needed Safe Mode or Microsoft’s recovery tool.
What caused the worldwide blue-screen outage?
On July 18, 2024, CrowdStrike released a Falcon software update that affected some Windows systems. Microsoft identified the affected devices as Windows endpoints running the CrowdStrike Falcon agent; some displayed blue-screen errors 0x50 or 0x7E and repeatedly restarted. Microsoft said the incident was caused by CrowdStrike’s update, not by a Microsoft software update. Microsoft’s July 20, 2024 update said the company was working with CrowdStrike and others to support customers.
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Microsoft estimated on July 20, 2024, that 8.5 million Windows devices had been affected, or less than one percent of all Windows machines. That was Microsoft’s estimate at the time, not a new or independently verified count. Microsoft noted that the disruption’s broad economic and social effects reflected CrowdStrike’s use by enterprises operating critical services.
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What did “reboot 15 times” actually mean?
Microsoft’s endpoint support guidance said it had received reports of successful recovery from some customers “attempting multiple restart operations.” It did not set 15 as a required number, and it did not say every affected PC would recover through restarting alone. Contemporary reporting summarized early advice as rebooting “as many as 15” times; that phrase describes a possible number of attempts, not a guaranteed fix.
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CrowdStrike’s technical alert explained that restarting could give a host an opportunity to download a reverted channel file, and recommended a wired connection to get online faster. If a host crashed again, the alert described recovery through Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment. It instructed administrators to delete only a matching C-00000291*.sys file from the CrowdStrike driver directory and warned: “Do not delete or change any other files or folders.”
What recovery options did Microsoft document?
Microsoft’s incident-specific instructions covered Windows 10 and Windows 11. They described entering the Windows recovery flow, starting in Safe Mode, finding files matching C-00000291*.sys in the CrowdStrike driver directory, and deleting the matching file. Windows may request a BitLocker recovery key. These steps address this CrowdStrike incident; they are not general instructions for every blue screen.
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Microsoft also released a signed recovery tool with Windows PE and Safe Mode options. Microsoft says it can recover Windows clients, servers, and Hyper-V virtual machines, and documents PXE recovery for situations where USB media is unavailable. The right route depends on the device and the recovery access available:
- Can reach Safe Mode: Use the incident-specific Safe Mode procedure, taking account of any BitLocker prompt.
- Cannot use Safe Mode but can boot recovery media: Consider Microsoft’s Windows PE recovery option.
- No USB access: Microsoft documents PXE recovery as an alternative, where the organization has that infrastructure.
- Server or Hyper-V virtual machine: Check the recovery tool’s instructions for the relevant system type rather than assuming the endpoint steps fit.
What should IT teams know before using the recovery tool?
For creating USB recovery media, Microsoft’s instructions require a 64-bit Windows computer with at least 8 GB of free space, administrator privileges, and a USB drive between 1 GB and 32 GB. The process erases existing data on the drive and formats it as FAT32, so use a drive whose contents can be deleted. The USB drive is only a way to prepare recovery media; it does not fix a computer by itself.
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Encryption can affect which route works. Microsoft says Windows PE recovery may require a BitLocker recovery key. Its Safe Mode option may allow recovery on some BitLocker-enabled devices without entering the key, depending on the protectors configured and access to a local administrator account. Devices using TPM+PIN may still require the PIN or recovery key.
Microsoft recommends testing a recovery option on multiple devices before deploying it broadly. That matters in an enterprise environment, where device configuration, encryption, and recovery access can vary across the fleet.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does this apply to a blue screen happening now?
No—not by itself. The restart and file-removal procedures were published for the July 2024 CrowdStrike Falcon incident. A blue screen caused by another driver, update, or hardware problem may need different troubleshooting. If a computer is currently failing, identify its error and any recent software or hardware change, and consult current guidance from the device maker or the relevant software vendor before applying incident-specific steps.
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