Question Red Screen of Death ?

Hello,
A Red Screen of Death (RSOD) is relatively rare in modern Windows versions and is often linked to hardware-related problems or low-level driver conflicts, particularly with graphics or firmware.
Since Safe Mode with Networking works fine, we can reasonably assume the issue is tied to a driver or third-party service that loads during normal startup.
Here’s a step-by-step list of things you can try, arranged from simplest to more advanced:

1. Clean Boot Test
Try performing a clean boot to rule out third-party software conflicts:
- Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter
- Under the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services”, then click “Disable all”
- Go to the Startup tab > Open Task Manager > disable all startup items
- Reboot normally and check if RSOD appears
If RSOD doesn't appear, one of the disabled services or startup items is likely the cause.

2. Roll Back or Use Older GPU Driver
Although you’ve tried a clean install of the latest NVIDIA driver, sometimes a recent driver can introduce instability.
- In Device Manager > Display Adapters > NVIDIA device > Properties > Driver tab > select “Roll Back Driver” if available
- Alternatively, download a previous stable version from NVIDIA’s official site and install it manually

3. Check for Firmware or BIOS Updates
An outdated or corrupted firmware (BIOS/UEFI) can sometimes cause RSODs:
- Visit your laptop manufacturer’s support page
- Check if there is a BIOS update available for your model
- Follow the official instructions carefully when updating

4. Memory or Hardware Stress Test
Since RSOD can also indicate hardware-level issues (e.g., bad RAM, overheating GPU):
- Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe)
- Use a tool like HWMonitor to check system temperatures
- If you can, test the system with a different GPU or RAM stick (if modular)

5. System File Check
Corrupted system files could also lead to unusual boot behavior:
Run the following in an elevated Command Prompt:

sfc /scannow

Then also:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

6. Check Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer
Go to Control Panel > Security and Maintenance > Reliability Monitor to check for red “X” events around the time of the RSOD.
Also check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System or Application for critical errors.

If none of the above resolves the issue and you're confident it's not hardware-related, a Windows Repair Install (In-Place Upgrade) may be the next step. It will keep your files and apps intact while replacing system components.