Windows Bug Check

Windows blue screen CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

Bug Check 0xEF: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

Windows stopped with a CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED bug check because a critical system process terminated or became corrupted.

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIEDruntime

Observed message

Bug Check 0xEF: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED

Why it happens

A critical Windows process terminated unexpectedly.
Corruption or damage affected a process required for core operating-system integrity.
A recent driver, firmware, or hardware change destabilized a critical system path.

How to fix it

Check for recent hardware, driver, firmware, or service changes and roll back the most likely suspect.
Review system logs and crash data from the same time window as the blue screen.
Update the system BIOS, firmware, and key drivers if the problem tracks to an outdated platform component.

Official reference

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